Travel with Amma and her boys to the famous Sri Venkateswara Swamy Temple. Enjoy the drive up the lush green hills of Tirumala while listening to the story of how a divine snake became a hill range. Find out how Vishnu came to reside in the very same peaks, first as a boar and then as a heartbroken husband. Wake up bright and early to the hymns of Suprabhatam to see Venkateshwara in all his glory and savour the delicious Tirupati laddu as prasad.
Well written ! - If you want to introduce your children to some of the ancient temples, these are series that are a must buy. My first in these series was the introduction to Golden Temple. I'm now planning to collect the entire series!
Everything about the Tirupathi Temple and the Lord Venkateswara story in a fun and immersive manner - For years our family has been visiting Tirupathi and took my son for the first time a couple of years of ago. My son had a bunch of queries about the History and mythology of Tirupathi ... as in why was this Temple placed on top of Mt Tirumala, etc. This book finally answers all those questions and does it in a fun and immersive manner. Engagingly switching between the story of Lord Venkateswara and various associated stories, the book brings alive the reasons for devotees doing different things at the temple - Shaving off of Heads, Dropping money into the Hundis, the walk up the mountain and finally the laddoos. The Amma Series fills an enormous gap in making various Indian mythology, religion and religious places easily accessible to children of today ... and Dare I say Adults too. :)
"With its fine balance of history, folklore, mythical tales as well as facts about the temple, the books in this series are to today’s children, what, perhaps Amar Chitra Katha was for their parents."
- The Asian Age
"For children who need to an easy introduction to the centres of faith around the country, the books are a valuable resource and may tempt them to go with their parents on exploratory journeys of their own."
- For Reading Addicts (Online)
"The books, styled as the travelogues of a mother and her two young boys, Shiv and Veer, link history, tradition and mythology to bring alive the major temples, churches, mosques and mausoleums of India in an engaging and interactive way."
- Sakal Times
Narmatha –
Delightful read - Amma with her two children, Shiv and Veer goes on a merry trip to visit the Tirupati Balaji Temple. On their way to the sacred Tirumala range, Amma tells exciting stories to the boys about Lord Vishnu's human incarnations on the earth. Special mention of Auspicious Suprabhatam Hymn for waking up the Lord Vishnu and the so popular Tirupati Prasad "the delicious Laddu" are a real treat.
The illustrations on the book are so good. Since, I have never been to Tirupati once and this book took me on a small visual journey with its amusing illustrations. I just adored it.