The Willing SpiritSpirituality, fantasy, and mythology merge in this “lighthearted, agreeably diverting yarn, duly respectful of India’s cultures and customs” (Kirkus Reviews). Hari, a remarkably well-set-up young lad, has spent his entire life in a small village with his pious widowed mother, and the purity of his soul is largely uncorrupted by worldly sophistication. But now, poised on the brink of manhood, he feels himself moved by strange new urgings—urgings that will lead him far from the quiet life he has known. Though these strings are unfamiliar to him, virtuous Hari recognizes them for what they are: a hunger for spiritual enlightenment. As so many have before, he sets his feet upon the pilgrim’s path, becoming a wanderer in search of true wisdom. But who can know the ways of the gods, or foretell the twists of fortune? Unbeknownst to Hari, his quest has become the subject of wager between two immortals: Mohini, a pulchritudinous Apsara and the vilely demonic Ravana, who lusts after her. Mohini and Ravana are at an impasse. Both are weary of arguing with each other—but while Mohini’s idea of a happy outcome is to have Ravana go away and leave her alone, Ravana’s ideas run along other lines entirely. They settle upon a contest and a wager, with the loser bound to do the winner’s bidding. Verily, the sages have written that there is a seeker born every minute, but Hari’s journey of discovery is fated to be stranger—and far livelier—than most. |
Contents
The Zamindarini | |
The Cave of the Guru | |
The SheDemon | |
The Eye of Kali | |
Pitali City of the Rajah | |
The Rana and the Rani | |
The Loan | |
The Sack of Grain | |
The Lake Palace | |
The Rider in Black | |
The Zamindar | |
Mohini | |
Authors Notes | |
The Endless Caverns | |
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advisor Amul amulet answer ANTHONY New York asked Asura Author PIERS ANTHONY Balram Balu beauty beneath BESTSELLING AUTHOR bird body bowed Brahmin breasts breath cave cavern chapatis clever creature dark demon desire dewan door eyes face farmer floor goddess gods guard guru guru's hand Hari saw Hari's head heard heart hens Kali kill knew Koti Land of Peril Leela looked Madresh marriage Master mataji medallion Meena Mohini mortal mother move Nalini night palace passion path Perhaps pigeons pleasure pray priestess Pudmini pundit question rajah rana rani Ravana remain replied sadhu Saras seduction seemed Shanta Sharmila she-demon silence sister smiled soon soul speak spirit spoke stall Suka Sukunya Sumi sure Surya Suseela talisman tell thank thought told touch traveled turned village voice watched wife wish woman women wondered YORK TIMES BESTSELLING young zamindar zamindarini