Aru Shah and the City of Gold - Roshani Chokshi Page 0,119
disclose events before they happened, his head would explode.
Salwar kameez (SAL-war KAH-meez) A traditional garment composed of a tunic and pants, often with a dupatta (scarf) to accent the piece.
Sanskrit (SAHN-skrit) An ancient language of India. Many Hindu scriptures and epic poems are written in Sanskrit.
Saranyu (SAW-rahn-yoo) The goddess of evening, and wife of Surya. She is the mother of Yama and Yamuna, and once fled her husband’s home because it was too bright.
Shani (SHAH-nee) The Lord of Saturn and also the Lord of Justice. One day, his wife was super annoyed that he wasn’t bothering to look at her (#relatable) and cursed him so that his gaze would be forever devastating, thus forcing his eyes always downward. But the curse was eventually lifted when, based on his karmic actions, he took on the title Lord of Justice.
Shikhandi (SHEE-kahn-DEE) Shikhandi is one of the heroes of the Mahabharata. In a previous life, he was Princess Amba, who swore revenge on Bhishma for ruining her life. Amba performed lots of penance to be the one to kill the invincible Bhishma, and did so in her reincarnation as Shikhandi.
Shiva (SHEE-vuh) One of the three main gods in the Hindu pantheon, often associated with destruction. He is also known as the Lord of Cosmic Dance. His consort is Parvati.
Sindhoor (SIN-door) A traditional mark of vermilion used to distinguish a married woman.
Sita (SEE-tuh) The reincarnation of Lakshmi, goddess of wealth and fortune, and consort of Lord Vishnu. Sita was the long-suffering wife of the god king Rama in the Ramayana. Her kidnapping by the demon king Ravana sparked an epic war.
Sugriva (SOO-gree-vuh) Brother of King Vali of the vanaras. Once, when the brothers fought a demon, Sugriva thought Vali was dead and returned to his kingdom and took his place as ruler of Kishkinda…and even married Vali’s wife. When Vali eventually fought his way out, he was not pleased. He banished Sugriva, because he believed that he had intended to depose him the whole time. Eventually, Sugriva met Rama in the forest. Sugriva offered to help Rama win back Sita, and Rama offered to help him regain his lost status and wife, who had been vengefully taken as a second queen by Vali.
Surya (SOOR-yuh) The god of the sun, and father of many divine children and the demigod Karna.
Takshaka (TAHK-shah-kah) A naga king and former friend of Indra who once lived in the Khandava Forest before Arjuna helped burn it down, killing most of Takshaka’s family. He swore vengeance on all the Pandavas ever since. Wonder why…
Tapti (TUP-tee) A river goddess of renowned beauty whose name means the burning one. She is the daughter of Surya and the mother of Kuru, the ancestral king who lent his name to Kurukshetra, another name for the war in the Mahabharata.
Urvashi (OOR-vah-shee) A famous apsara, considered the most beautiful of all the apsaras. Her name literally means she who can control the hearts of others.
Uttanka (ooh-TUHN-kuh) Uttanka was a revered sage who was granted the boon of being able to demand water whenever he wished. One day, Lord Krishna, wanting to honor his devotee, decided to give him amrita, the nectar of immortality. But Lord Indra devised a test. He appeared to Uttanka as a dirty, wandering hunter and offered him a waterskin that looked decidedly unhygienic. Uttanka, disgusted, refused what was offered and lost the chance to become immortal. Oof. Tough tomatoes.
Vanaras (VAH-nah-ruhs) A supernatural race of monkey-like people who lived in Kishkinda Kingdom. Most notably, they assisted the god king Rama in building a bridge across the sea that went from Kishkinda all the way to Lanka.
Vishnu (VISH-noo) The second god in the Hindu triumvirate (also known as the Trimurti). These three gods are responsible for the creation, upkeep, and destruction of the world. The other two gods are Brahma and Shiva. Brahma is the creator of the universe, and Shiva is the destroyer. Vishnu is worshipped as the preserver. He has taken many forms on earth in various avatars, most notably as Krishna, Mohini, and Rama.
Yaksha (YAHK-sha) A yaksha (male) or yakshini (female) is a supernatural being from Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain mythology. Yakshas are attendees of Kubera, the Hindu god of wealth.
Yama (YAH-muh) See: Dharma Raja.
Yamuna (yuh-MOO-nah) A highly worshipped river goddess and also the name of one of the largest tributary rivers in India. Yamuna is the daughter of the sun god, Surya, and sister to Yama, the god of death.
Coming in Spring 2022
ARU SHAH AND THE NECTAR OF IMMORTALITY
ROSHANI CHOKSHI is the New York Times best-selling author of Aru Shah and the End of Time, Aru Shah and the Song of Death, and Aru Shah and the Tree of Wishes, the first three books in a quintet for middle grade readers about the adventures of the five Pandava sisters. Her acclaimed novels for young adults include The Star-Touched Queen, A Crown of Wishes, The Gilded Wolves, and The Silvered Serpents. The Pandava series was inspired by the stories her grandmother told her, as well as Roshani’s all-consuming love for Sailor Moon. Rosh lives in Georgia and says “y’all,” but she doesn’t really have a Southern accent, alas. For more information, visit her website, RoshaniChokshi.com, or follow her on Twitter @Roshani_Chokshi and Instagram @roshanichokshi.
RICK RIORDAN, dubbed “storyteller of the gods” by Publishers Weekly, is the author of five New York Times #1 best-selling series, including Percy Jackson and the Olympians, which brings Greek mythology to life for contemporary readers. Millions of fans across the globe have enjoyed his fast-paced and funny quest adventures. The goal of Rick Riordan Presents is to publish highly entertaining books by authors from underrepresented cultures and backgrounds, to allow them to tell their own stories inspired by the mythology, folklore, and culture of their heritage. Rick’s Twitter handle is @RickRiordan.