Indian author and motivational speaker Mayur Kalbag says his next book, the third instalment of his spiritual fiction series Aghori, is being shaped by his encounters and inspiration in Fiji.
Kalbag, who visited the country earlier this year, told The Fiji Times that Fiji’s natural and cultural landscape had become central to the creative direction of Aghori Part Three, now in development.
His earlier works, Aghori: An Untold Story and Aghori 2: The Untold Story Continues, follow the journey of Subbu, a seeker chosen by his guru to travel to the Himalayas and learn from the Aghori sadhus, ascetics known for their intense spiritual practices and deep understanding of life and death. Throughout his quest, Subbu undergoes rigorous training and meditation, eventually having three powerful mantras embedded within him.
In the sequel, Subbu returns transformed but faces new challenges as he attempts to extract and transfer the mantras within him. His journey introduces mystical creatures such as a giant serpent (Naga) and a telepathic starfish, symbolising the struggles between spiritual awakening and dark forces.
Speaking to this newspaper, Kalbag said his third book will expand on these themes while drawing creative and spiritual inspiration from Fiji’s natural and cultural landscape.
“I’m here to do something I love, to explore and research for my next book, which is part three of Aghori,” he said.
“There are fascinating places here like the floating islands in Labasa, the Naag Mandir, and a Kailash-like mountain temple that are said to have strong spiritual energy.”
Kalbag added that local myths, including those linking Fiji to the Indian legend of Kaliya Nag, have sparked his curiosity.
“People say that even the Kaliya Nag from Indian mythology is supposed to be here in Fiji. Some even call Fiji Ramnik Dweep.
“I find that very intriguing.”
He described Fiji’s natural environment as a powerful source of inspiration.
“When I travel along the King’s Road or by the Rewa River, the mountains and the ocean give me tremendous motivation to write.
“The spirituality here doesn’t have a geography, it’s felt everywhere in nature.”
Kalbag noted that elements of the ocean have already appeared in his earlier work, particularly through a sentient starfish character that embodies the idea of universal intelligence.
“There is a pleasant abundance of mention of oceans in my books.
“We often think intelligence resides only in humans, but it exists in all forms of energy, even in sea creatures.”
The author revealed that Aghori Part Three is part of a larger series, which he plans to extend to seven books.
He hinted that in the upcoming story, protagonist Subbu and his spiritual master may travel to Vanua Levu, blending mythological India with the spiritual essence of Fiji.
“Though India is far away geographically, spiritually it feels very close. The spiritual content in Fiji is very strong.”
