HARAPPA SERIES

The Lure of Soma

 

It is middle of third millennium BCE, and the Indus valley civilisation (Country of Bharata) was at its peak. The Avestan country of Ariana was in turmoil. Several major earth quakes had devastated the country. Most of the rivers either had a reduced flow or wholly dried up. This had reduced the food production, and more importantly, the supply of all important sacred Soma had literally dried up. Without all important Soma (Haoma), they could not please their gods, and they felt that their predicament was because of the anger of the gods. The neighbouring country of Bharata (Indus Valley Civilisation) with its abundant rivers was surfeit with Soma.

 

The city of Harappa is at the peak of its development and is called the City of Gold. It is ruled by the powerful sage Shunahotra with the help of the Great Council. Under his rule, the citizens of Harappa and its surroundings are living a life of contentment. The city was known for its quality of its civic amenities, life style and a fair government.Matriya, a rogue Avestan Magus, decides to penetrate deep into Bharata and perform a yajna ritual to gain power to control nature. His plan was to become the most powerful Magus in all Ariana with unimaginable magical powers. He gets help from a Meluhhan traitor in obtaining a supply of Soma. The plan was to divert the mighty river Sindhu (Indus) into his country of Ariana using his magical powers. The Avestan king, Vishtaspa decided to attack the city of Harappa to capture the surplus stock of Soma. He marches on Harappa with a large army of 15000 soldiers, high speed chariots and talented cavalry accompanied by his Magi.

 

Upaas is a physician from Harappa hoping to be the next Master of Medicine, gets kidnapped while returning from harvesting Soma from the sacred lake Sharynavat in the Himalayas. He is taken to the Avestan city of Haozdar for questioning. He manages to escape his captors just before he was due to tortured. He is befriended by Parthava, a free spirited soldier during his escape. Upaas falls in love with beautiful Lopa in Harappa.Enter Shushun from the Elaamite city of Susa. He is charming, extremely knowledgeable and appears to know everything about everything. He takes a liking to Upaas and helps him treat the victims of black magic and sorcery. The three friends help each other during the war with the Avestans.This book unfolds the story of a battle between the right and the wrong.

 

Will the tactics of the Magus Matriya succeed in becoming the most powerful sorcerer in all Ariana? Will the powerful Sages of Harappa save the city of Harappa from the powerful army of Vishtaspa? Will Upaas get back to his love of life, the beautiful Lopa? Is Shushun really Elamite oil merchant? Who is the traitor who was helping the rogue Magus?

 

The author has used extensive evidence from recent archaeological finds along with historical and philological records in building up the environment, life style and the story of the people living in the middle of the third millennium BCE in what is considered as the biggest civilisation of its time, in the world.