The much awaited companion volume to DHARMA, which has been a bestseller since its release, will soon be published, HarperCollins is happy to inform. The book IDOLS by Amish Tripathi and Bhavna Roy is a perceptive and provocative examination of the practice of murti puja, or idol worship, as some refer to it, and its profound significance in the spiritual life of religious people in India and all over the world. Many cultures around the world, including the Greco-Romans, Pharaonic Egyptians, Celts, Vikings, etc., practiced idol worship in antiquity. However, due to violent and serious intellectual attacks in recent centuries, murti puja has been eradicated from the majority of the world.Temples, universities, and populations of idol-worshipping societies were all destroyed or dispersed. Murti puja, a thoroughly philosophical and intuitively open spiritual path, is still practiced by one of the last remaining cultures, India.

IDOLS, which is set for release on October 16th, blends together well-known tales from ancient traditions and straightforward explanations of religious philosophy from all over the world in the form of an animated discussion between a diverse group of family and friends. Anyone who wants to learn more about religion and its history on a global scale, as well as fans of spirituality and mythology, should read it.

Author Amish says, “I had the privilege of being brought up in a deeply traditional family. But one that was also deeply liberal. If you understand the principles of murti puja, you will know that this is not a contradiction, for with this path of spirituality you can be both traditional and liberal at the same time. Through this book, Bhavna didi and I are sharing what we learnt from our family, and through our reading, about why we are such proud murti pujaks.”

Author Bhavna Roy says, “We live in a time when breakdown of traditions and communities, constant noise caused by technology, and environmental instability with climate change, are all combining to create a perfect storm. We have all kinds of material comforts, but the minds are full of chaos, stress and even depression. Harking back to an ancient spiritual way of life can offer solace, hope and the possibility of respectful harmony. With this book, Amish and I want to share some of our learnings about symbolism and loving devotion. We hope it finds resonance with you.” 

Poulomi Chatterjee, Publisher at HarperCollins India, says, “The practice of idol worship has incited controversy, invited intrigue and fascinated people over millennia. In IDOLS, Amish and Bhavna give readers clear-eyed perspectives on the topic while also regaling them with wonderful stories from mythologies across the world’s ancient cultures, narrated with tremendous flair. We’re delighted to be publishing a book that will be an enduring and invaluable resource for understanding more deeply the significance of different faiths and religious practices, as well as our individual inner spiritual lives.”

WHAT IDOLS ARE
Why do people adore false gods?
Why, despite centuries of prejudice, intolerance, and bloodshed against it, does idol worship stubbornly endure?

Can we ultimately find peace and prosperity via such worship and discover our actual purpose in life?
Your favorite fictional characters are back in IDOLS, a companion book to the best-selling Dharma, along with some new ones, to explore the core and genuine meaning of murti puja.

In this perceptive and stimulating book, Amish and Bhavna address pressing issues surrounding idol worship through straightforward, interesting, and perceptive interpretations of mythology and religious texts. They go into the advantages of bhakti, explore the symbolic meaning of Ishta Devata, and discuss the significance of religion for individuals and society. In the process, they make clear the practice’s broad philosophical underpinnings and how it might help us come to understand the Oneness of God academically, ideologically, and most crucially, in our hearts, through change, acceptance, and love.