Namratha Mohan, creator of one of India’s most influential spiritual content communities, joins the Penguin Ananda list.
New Delhi, 5 January 2026: Penguin Random House India announces the acquisition of two new books by Namratha Mohan, the voice behind The Temple Girl—one of India’s most influential and fast-growing digital communities centred on spirituality, temples and cultural memory. With a deeply engaged audience and a distinctive narrative authority, Mohan brings a rare blend of cultural insight, rigorous research and emotional resonance to the mythology and culture space.
To be published under the Penguin Ananda imprint in early 2027, the first of the two books, Vishnu, reimagines one of Hinduism’s most revered deities for a generation seeking grounding and meaning in an age defined by burnout and constant distraction. Blending immersive reportage, personal reflection and evocative storytelling, the book explores Vishnu as a symbol of consistency, balance and devotion—values that feel increasingly urgent in contemporary life. The second book will focus on Shiva, continuing this exploration of living mythology through a modern cultural lens.
Together, these books promise a compelling mix of narrative elegance, devotional depth and contemporary relevance. Positioned for strong backlist longevity, the series also offers significant potential for expansion across formats and platforms. Namratha Mohan, the author, shares, ‘The Temple Girl began as a way of listening to temples and the people who keep them alive. Over time, I realized these stories needed more space than a screen allows. Writing books on Vishnu and Shiva feels like a natural continuation of that listening. I am grateful to Penguin Random House India for giving these stories the time and care they deserve.’
Premanka Goswami, associate publisher, Vintage, and head of backlist at Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Namratha Mohan represents a new frontier of cultural storytelling— authentic, resonant and deeply connected to her audience. Her ability to translate the sacred into the accessible is unparalleled, and bringing Vishnu and Shiva into the Penguin ecosystem is a decisive step in our commitment to shaping the mythological discourse for young India. We see these books not just as titles but as high-engagement cultural assets with the potential to travel across platforms, formats and generations.’
Commenting on the acquisition of the book, Milee Ashwarya, publisher, adult division at Penguin Random House India, says, ‘Namratha Mohan’s books on Vishnu and Shiva are a natural extension of her rigorous research and long-standing engagement with India’s temple histories and sacred geographies. Written in an accessible manner, these works illuminate the stories, traditions and cultural continuities embodied in our spiritual traditions. I am delighted to welcome Namratha to Penguin Random House India.’
With her expansive digital reach and emotionally grounded storytelling, Namratha Mohan occupies a powerful space at the intersection of tradition and contemporary culture. This acquisition underscores Penguin Random House India’s continued investment in high-impact voices that shape how modern India engages with mythology, spirituality and cultural inheritance.
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