Sidharta Books & Print

Sidharta Books & Print

Book Publishers

The Serpent Rising

John Morrow

Mary Garden’s honest book about her life in the 70s is quite scary and would appear to be unbelievable if you did not know it was true. Mary Garden came from a home where her father was quite strict and her mother was very loving. Not particularly religious, Mary went onto University to gain her degree in teaching and was on her way to gaining her Masters. However, Mary’s life changed completely when she saw a beautifully decorated poster advertising chanting at the Henderson Yoga Centre in Auckland, New Zealand. At age 21 Mary was looking to find herself. She became quickly caught up in her search for her inner self via gurus and prayer. When Mary arrived in India she became a disciple of a yogi who was, in theory, a magician who fleeced rich tourists for all they could give him. After being rudely awoken from this rather unfortunate situation, Mary did not return home to New Zealand. Instead, she quickly became caught up in an ashram which was in the hands of another madman. This is Mary’s story about how she became mixed up with religious cults in India during the 1970s. It is shocking, horrific, scary and quite disturbing. She finally returned to Brisbane, Australia with various diseases, including hepatitis. Mary Garden’s story is quite a common one from the 70s. Mixed up with all the love and peace of the drug area, there were many charlatans ready to take advantage of young women, for their money and sex, and who would prey on life’s uncertainties and fears. This book is a disturbing one and Mary, now in her 50s, looks back and can hardly believe the life she has lived. ‘A book is a private companion’ – John “Life in the 70s was not all about peace and love. It was also the era when charlatans seduced confused young people to manipulate their minds and bodies.”