Publisher's Synopsis
THE HEART OF THE MAYAN KING
In the ancient temples of Tikal, a prophecy is carved in stone: "The divine king shall return, not as flesh, but as the heart that beats for eternity." Eight centuries later, this prophecy creates an inexplicable connection between two souls separated by time, culture, and destiny.
Aritra Chatterjee, a successful author and professor of comparative mythology, is haunted by rejection when Ishani Mehta, a brilliant archaeologist, refuses his marriage proposal in favor of her mysterious academic calling. Fifteen years later, as Ishani lies dying of leukemia, she summons him with an impossible revelation: she has discovered an ancient Mayan golden idol bearing Aritra's face-an artifact that has existed for over a thousand years.
Following her death, Aritra discovers that Ishani spent years performing blood offerings to the idol, extending her life just long enough to prepare him for an ancient ritual. Her journals reveal an extraordinary truth: Aritra bears the essence of a Mayan king whose final ceremony was interrupted in 743 CE, creating a cosmic imbalance that has echoed through centuries.
Guided by Manuel Balam, descendant of the original High Priest, Aritra travels to Guatemala where he undergoes a ritual that places a fragment of ancient jade near his heart, merging his modern consciousness with the king's ancient wisdom. The successful binding reveals a perfectly preserved royal tomb and completes a spiritual circuit thirteen centuries in the making.
As Aritra integrates his expanded awareness, he discovers Ishani's final gift-a foundation established to preserve and share ancient wisdom for contemporary challenges. He also finds evidence that Ishani's spiritual essence has continued in a new form: an orphaned infant girl born at the exact moment of Ishani's death.
Embracing his unique role as both modern scholar and vessel of ancient knowledge, Aritra dedicates himself to translating timeless wisdom into forms accessible to a world facing the same patterns of crisis that brought down Maya civilization. The eternal cycle continues, with love creating patterns that even time cannot erase.
