The Shiv Om Sai Trust was formed in 2012 to monitor and account for the funds generated through the sale of book by the publication house Shiv Om Sai Prakashan towards the development of care home for mentally challenged children at Indore, Madhya Pradesh, with an objective of giving them best of medical, educational and residential facility. Kashi Mamanmukti
Kashi Mamanmukti, written by Manoj Tha
kkar and Rashmi Chhazed, is a spiritual novel that gives a penetrating vision of the splendid journey of its protagonist Maha, an executioner at the Ghats of Benares, towards enlightenment; a journey from Jeev (Being) to Shiva (Lord Shiva); a journey from limited individuality to the absolute union with God; a journey of the Supreme Awakening. The sacred teachings of the Shiva Purana and other Purana's (Indian Scriptures) contained within the pages of this spiritual treasure, revealed in a mystical story narrative form, encapsulate the real essence of Hindu Philosophy, and shows the Path to Salvation. From the tender age of thirteen Mahamrinangam (Maha) makes the burning of funeral pyres as an executioner at the Manikarnika, the great cremation ground of Kashi (Varanasi), his practicing of austerities. Staying in Kashi reveals upon Maha the mysteries of the five elements, while Kabir and Tulsidas, the mystic and the great poet, engulfing his dreams and thoughts elucidate the manifest and unmanifest paths to God. But in a moment of great ignorance, and under the influence of Maya, Maha decides to leave Kashi. The journey that thence unfolds takes him to the zenith of that spiritual practice where everything is non-dual, and where this dweller of the crematory attains oneness with Lord Shiva, the Kashi Vishwanath — Kashi's Lord of the Universe, sovereign of the great crematorium. It is a peaceful mind and not the disciplined one that can understand the true meaning of creation because creation is possible only in a state of absolute freedom, and freedom is the birth child of peace. God has been creating and destroying infinite things through infinite years together, and it is an art. Thus, to understand God in terms of infinity one will have to create a minute part of its infinity as God only, and this book is nothing but a very minute part of that infinite blessing where Thou descended for a few moments in that absolute freedom of a peaceful mind, and where the author, the book and the process of writing became One
The Mystic Faith – for a drop of nectar
The festival of Kumbh is an ambassador to the world of our numerous traditions and culture, and also of our faith collectively as a nation in the innumerable hidden meanings behind their centuries long existence during these times of ephemeralness, and this book is but an interpretation of one those many likely meanings, an attempt to bring forth that meaning whose indication is the very basis of their existence. The Mystic Faith – For a Drop of Nectar, for the most part, is a pictorial book based on the bathing festival of Kumbh, a compilation of one of the most beautiful images of the Kumbh of 2013 held at Allahabad, with all the images, apart from presenting the varied faces of the Kumbh, reflecting that mystic faith, that single most powerful theme, which makes the unique Kumbh festivity what it is. The book, through its text, lends an enchanting overview of the many aspects of the festival of Kumbh, the astrological and mythological aspect, the philosophical aspect, and endeavours, to an extent possible, to brief its reader of the many participants of the Kumbhand its many traditions and history. Though not a professional photographer, Shri Manoj Thakkar believes that these images came as a grace of the Lord, and only on the encouragement and support of those many who saw these pictures, did this book take shape
Pran Kavya – Ek Abhivyakti
His first book was released by Late Shri Bismillah Khan Saheb in 2003. While reading it one feels that Shri Manoj Thakkar has cherished every moment of his experiences with the touch of divinity and this reflects in each sentence of the book. This book is based on Harivansh Rai Bachchan ji’s Madhushala where Madhushala is written in a spiritual form. This master piece of creativity makes the reader feel & recognize his own unity with the ultimate. The reader also senses that each element in this infinite spread of God is complete and is God himself. Some of the eminent known authors like Shri Lal Shukla and Dr. Kashinath Singh while reviewing his book “Pran Kavya-Ek Abhivyakti (philosophy)” were of the opinion that “Giving reviews’ on such a high level book is beyond our scope. It is a language that has been bestowed upon him.” The book has never been sold but has only been gifted to people. About Shri Manoj Thakkar
Shri Manoj Thakkar is a fakir of this day and age in the truest sense of that word, a fakir who believes in dressing like a man of our times and one who living and dealing with all matters worldly, living every moment completely, is yet far detached from it. A learned philosopher, thinker, writer on philosophy and spiritual subject with interest in photography, born on 3rd July 1965, he showed signs of intellectual power and awareness from the very beginning and has authored three books including classic Pran Kavya – Ek Abhivyakti, a philosophical rendering of Madhushala, the best selling and hugely honored Kashi Marnanmukti and magnificent The Mystic Faith – for a drop of nectar He does not have any ambitions for himself and is a person who believes in living in the present. He has studied twenty seven subjects and possesses in-depth knowledge of various fields and life in general. Taking Shri Sai Baba, a wondrous Saint of Shirdi, as his Guru, he has always showed all those who come to him for strength and guidance, the path towards self realization, eventually leading to one’s spiritual growth. He is also an inspiration behind the foundation of commercial organization “United Works Corporation”. This is an organization which does not have an employer-employee relationship and thus no organizational structure but everyone in the organization is like a family. This was Sir’s vision that such an organization can be formed and it is he who brought us together where we work professionally to reach great heights. The foundation stone of our group’s growth has been ‘Kashi Marnanmukti’ only. It is because of his blessings and Vision that we have been able to venture in food processing, textiles exports, library solutions provider, management consultancy, printing and a charitable trust since its inception in 2008. Rashmi Chhazed (Gadia)
Rashmi as a disciple of Shri Manoj Thakkar herself has given a remarkable contribution as the co-author of the book Kashi Marnanmukti and was instrumental in the deep and thorough research required during the writing of the book. Kashi Mamanmukti is her first literary endeavor. Jayesh Rajpal
JayeshRajpal, co author of The Mystic Faith is an alumnus of the ITM Institute of Financial Markets, Mumbai, from where he received his post-graduation. He is an Executive Director at United Works Corporation and looks after the Foods vertical. This soft spoken gentleman puts his soul in his work and apart from the Kumbh travelled to other places as well during the making of the book to meet sādhus of different orders. All the sale proceeds from both the book are being dedicated towards the development of a care home for mentally challenged children at Indore (TillorKhurd). All the money from Kashi Marnanmukti has been used to purchase the land for the care home and shall continue to be used to further the cause, along with The Mystic Faith - For a Drop of Nectar now.
