What do you think?
Rate this book
Mansions of the Moon
From the bestselling, award-winning author of Funny Boy and The Hungry Ghosts comes a breathtaking reimagining of ancient India through the extraordinary life of Yasodhara, the woman who married the Buddha.
In this sweeping tale, at once epic and intimate, Shyam Selvadurai introduces us to Siddhartha Gautama—who will later become “the enlightened one,” or the Buddha—an unusually bright and politically astute young man settling into his upper-caste life as a newlywed to Yasodhara, a woman of great intelligence and spirit. Mansions of the Moon traces the couple’s early love and life together, and then the anguished turmoil that descends upon them both as Siddhartha’s spiritual calling takes over and the marriage partnership slowly, inexorably crumbles. Eventually, Yasodhara is forced to ask what kind of life a woman can lead in ancient India if her husband abandons her—even a well-born woman such as herself. And is there a path she, too, might take towards enlightenment?
Award-winning writer Shyam Selvadurai examines these questions with empathy and insight, creating a vivid portrait of a fascinating time and place, the intricate web of power, family and relationships that surround a singular marriage, and the remarkable woman who until now has remained a little-understood shadow in the historical record. Mansions of the Moon is an immersive, lively and thrilling feat of literary imagination.
In this sweeping tale, at once epic and intimate, Shyam Selvadurai introduces us to Siddhartha Gautama—who will later become “the enlightened one,” or the Buddha—an unusually bright and politically astute young man settling into his upper-caste life as a newlywed to Yasodhara, a woman of great intelligence and spirit. Mansions of the Moon traces the couple’s early love and life together, and then the anguished turmoil that descends upon them both as Siddhartha’s spiritual calling takes over and the marriage partnership slowly, inexorably crumbles. Eventually, Yasodhara is forced to ask what kind of life a woman can lead in ancient India if her husband abandons her—even a well-born woman such as herself. And is there a path she, too, might take towards enlightenment?
Award-winning writer Shyam Selvadurai examines these questions with empathy and insight, creating a vivid portrait of a fascinating time and place, the intricate web of power, family and relationships that surround a singular marriage, and the remarkable woman who until now has remained a little-understood shadow in the historical record. Mansions of the Moon is an immersive, lively and thrilling feat of literary imagination.
432 pages, Paperback
Published April 23, 2024
49 people are currently reading
2144 people want to read
About the author
Shyam Selvadurai
14 books429 followersShyam Selvadurai is a Sri Lankan-Canadian novelist who wrote Funny Boy (1994), which won the Books in Canada First Novel Award, and Cinnamon Gardens (1998). He currently lives in Toronto with his partner Andrew Champion.
Selvadurai was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka to a Sinhalese mother and a Tamil father--members of conflicting ethnic groups whose troubles form a major theme in his work. Ethnic riots in 1983 drove the family to emigrate to Canada when Selvadurai was nineteen. He studied creative and professional writing as part of a Bachelor of Fine Arts program at York University.
Selvadurai recounted an account of the discomfort he and his partner experienced during a period spent in Sri Lanka in 1997 in his essay "Coming Out" in Time Asia's special issue on the Asian diaspora in 2003.
In 2004, Selvadurai edited a collection of short stories: Story-Wallah: Short Fiction from South Asian Writers, which includes works by Salman Rushdie, Monica Ali, and Hanif Kureishi, among others. He published a young adult novel, Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, in 2005. Swimming won the Lambda Literary Award in the Children's and Youth Literature category in 2006. He was a contributor to TOK: Writing the New Toronto, Book 1.
Selvadurai was born in Colombo, Sri Lanka to a Sinhalese mother and a Tamil father--members of conflicting ethnic groups whose troubles form a major theme in his work. Ethnic riots in 1983 drove the family to emigrate to Canada when Selvadurai was nineteen. He studied creative and professional writing as part of a Bachelor of Fine Arts program at York University.
Selvadurai recounted an account of the discomfort he and his partner experienced during a period spent in Sri Lanka in 1997 in his essay "Coming Out" in Time Asia's special issue on the Asian diaspora in 2003.
In 2004, Selvadurai edited a collection of short stories: Story-Wallah: Short Fiction from South Asian Writers, which includes works by Salman Rushdie, Monica Ali, and Hanif Kureishi, among others. He published a young adult novel, Swimming in the Monsoon Sea, in 2005. Swimming won the Lambda Literary Award in the Children's and Youth Literature category in 2006. He was a contributor to TOK: Writing the New Toronto, Book 1.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 28, 2022
Fantastic historical book about Yasodhara, Siddhartha Gotama's wife he left behind during his enlightenment, and her own fictional journey towards her own enlightenment.
Yasodhara's character enchanted me - I really truly felt every phase of her life, her anger, her hurt, her struggle to be perceived and to lead the life she wants.
I would give this book more than five stars if I could.
Yasodhara's character enchanted me - I really truly felt every phase of her life, her anger, her hurt, her struggle to be perceived and to lead the life she wants.
I would give this book more than five stars if I could.
June 1, 2022
Shyam Selvadurai creates a compassionate portrait of a woman and a time about which not that much is known, and delivers a lovely, nuanced story of the birth of a religion, the disintegration of a marriage, and how Yashodha copes with trial after trial created by her husband, Siddharta.
I loathed the Herman Hesse book “Siddharta” we were required to read and analyze in high school. Thank goodness for this book, where Selvadurai illustrates a period in India’s ancient history, 6 B.C.E, where women had a little more freedom than they’ve had later in India’s history. Yashodha marries her quiet, thoughtful cousin, whose very thoughtfulness, and the fact that his mother died giving birth to him, makes him a source of pain and derision for his father, raja of Kosala.
Siddharta and Yashodha then are sent North by the raja so Siddharta can administer and rule a northern town. He does a more than capable job, ruling evenhandedly and with respect for the people, and also becomes entranced by an travelling ascetic’s teachings, and spends years ruminating on the radically different ideas from his own religious education. When later they return to Kosala and Yashodha gives birth to their son, Siddharta decides to leave, renouncing his power and worldly goods, so he can wander, and teach others about his philosophy.
Yashodha, already under pressure because of her crumbling marriage, falls apart. When years later, Siddharta comes back into her life, she’s thrown back into confusion, anger, grief, and frustration. She must figure out how to deal with his refusal to rejoin his family or be a father, while also dealing with the upheaval of his presence, as well as others in her life succumbing to the attraction of his teachings.
Yashoda’s feelings, from her sixteen-year old self, to her years as a mother, are wonderfully conveyed by Selvadurai, as well as her legitimate anger with her errant husband. Very few of those surrounding her really confront Siddharta about his desertion and later role of religious leader, especially after he returns with a following. His philosophy is much more gentle than the one people generally subscribe to, and it’s clear that Buddhism has proven itself over centuries, despite its revolutionary beginning.
It’s still hard for me to rationalize Siddharta’s abandonment of his family, even with Selvadurai’s sensitive portrayal of both Yashodha and Siddharta, and I’m not surprised by how misogyny permeated Buddhism’s inclusion of women early on. But I loved Yashoda’s growth as a person, and her sense of peace with her life by the end of this enjoyable book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
I loathed the Herman Hesse book “Siddharta” we were required to read and analyze in high school. Thank goodness for this book, where Selvadurai illustrates a period in India’s ancient history, 6 B.C.E, where women had a little more freedom than they’ve had later in India’s history. Yashodha marries her quiet, thoughtful cousin, whose very thoughtfulness, and the fact that his mother died giving birth to him, makes him a source of pain and derision for his father, raja of Kosala.
Siddharta and Yashodha then are sent North by the raja so Siddharta can administer and rule a northern town. He does a more than capable job, ruling evenhandedly and with respect for the people, and also becomes entranced by an travelling ascetic’s teachings, and spends years ruminating on the radically different ideas from his own religious education. When later they return to Kosala and Yashodha gives birth to their son, Siddharta decides to leave, renouncing his power and worldly goods, so he can wander, and teach others about his philosophy.
Yashodha, already under pressure because of her crumbling marriage, falls apart. When years later, Siddharta comes back into her life, she’s thrown back into confusion, anger, grief, and frustration. She must figure out how to deal with his refusal to rejoin his family or be a father, while also dealing with the upheaval of his presence, as well as others in her life succumbing to the attraction of his teachings.
Yashoda’s feelings, from her sixteen-year old self, to her years as a mother, are wonderfully conveyed by Selvadurai, as well as her legitimate anger with her errant husband. Very few of those surrounding her really confront Siddharta about his desertion and later role of religious leader, especially after he returns with a following. His philosophy is much more gentle than the one people generally subscribe to, and it’s clear that Buddhism has proven itself over centuries, despite its revolutionary beginning.
It’s still hard for me to rationalize Siddharta’s abandonment of his family, even with Selvadurai’s sensitive portrayal of both Yashodha and Siddharta, and I’m not surprised by how misogyny permeated Buddhism’s inclusion of women early on. But I loved Yashoda’s growth as a person, and her sense of peace with her life by the end of this enjoyable book.
Thank you to Netgalley and to Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC in exchange for my review.
October 19, 2023
I read Shyam Selvadurai’s Funny Boy back in 2020 and I was instantly taken by his empathetic way of writing. I experienced the same quality still in his latest novel, Mansions of the Moon. In this book that reads gently and deeply, Selvadurai has managed to connect with the readers in a way that is quite hard to explain. This fictionalised tale of Yasodhara’s (Siddhartha Gotama’s wife) journey of becoming a Buddhist nun herself, felt like it was written by a woman because of the compassion and pain that it carries. Yasodhara’s life is a lesser told story and it was hard for me to make sense of why Siddhartha did what he did. How is it fair that right after Yasodhara gave birth to their son, Siddhartha left everything behind in search of enlightenment? This sad tale of love found and then lost stirred up a whirlwind of emotions within me.
Yasodhara and Siddharatha were cousins before they got married at the age of 16. Their sweet friendship and affection blossomed into love as time passed by but the melancholy which always resided within Siddharatha, a quality that at one point of time Yasodhara admired only increased with time. He was restless & desired something more than the usual pleasure of being a family man. Siddharatha and his father, Suddhodana never got along well but old age softened the old man to be a little kinder to his son. But even amidst his family and friends, Siddharatha was always looking for contentment which was found only after he met ascetics. It didn’t take long for everyone to realise that Siddharatha would eventually forsake everything and choose the life of spiritualism.
But this book is more about the wife and mother who was abandoned by her husband. We see Yasodhara’s anguish and fury and her strength to carry on alone when everything else seemed to crumble. This woman, brought up in a royal household even lived a peasant life without complaining about it, forged friendships and companionship with other women who kept her going. It was surprising to see women having more freedom back in 6BCE than they have now. This was a refreshing historical fiction that put things into perspective.
Can’t recommend this enough.
Yasodhara and Siddharatha were cousins before they got married at the age of 16. Their sweet friendship and affection blossomed into love as time passed by but the melancholy which always resided within Siddharatha, a quality that at one point of time Yasodhara admired only increased with time. He was restless & desired something more than the usual pleasure of being a family man. Siddharatha and his father, Suddhodana never got along well but old age softened the old man to be a little kinder to his son. But even amidst his family and friends, Siddharatha was always looking for contentment which was found only after he met ascetics. It didn’t take long for everyone to realise that Siddharatha would eventually forsake everything and choose the life of spiritualism.
But this book is more about the wife and mother who was abandoned by her husband. We see Yasodhara’s anguish and fury and her strength to carry on alone when everything else seemed to crumble. This woman, brought up in a royal household even lived a peasant life without complaining about it, forged friendships and companionship with other women who kept her going. It was surprising to see women having more freedom back in 6BCE than they have now. This was a refreshing historical fiction that put things into perspective.
Can’t recommend this enough.
June 28, 2022
3.5 As someone who has read a fair amount of books inspired by the Buddha’s teachings, when I read the blurb that this was a fictionalized account of his early life and marriage I was intrigued. I had always wondered at how the fact that his wife and children had been abandoned while he went off and founded a new religion wasn’t morally, a terrible thing. Especially considering how particular and rigid about right actions, the tenets of Buddhism can be. I believe that the author presented a plausible scenario and both Siddartha and his wife, Yasodhara, were written in such a way to give life and depth to both. I thought Yasodhara’s arc as a character was engaging, even if I didn’t always quite like her, and which is likely why I didn’t rate this higher.
October 25, 2023
"Mansions of the Moon" is a captivating narrative that takes readers on an epic journey into the life of Siddhartha Gautama before he became 'the enlightened one.' Shyam Selvadurai skillfully blends history, fiction, and mythology to create a vivid portrayal of Siddhartha and his wife Yasodhara. The book beautifully explores their early love and the ensuing turmoil as Siddhartha's spiritual awakening unfolds. Selvadurai's storytelling is both intimate and grand, making it a thought-provoking and evocative read. It's a must for anyone interested in spirituality, mythology, and the enduring power of the human spirit. This novel immerses you in a world of love and enlightenment, leaving a lasting impact.
September 25, 2024
A Siddhartha from a parallel universe: Mansions of the Moon (MOTM) - Shyam Selvadurai
https://bookerreadsdaily.blogspot.com...
MOTM is a calming read just like Buddhism concepts.
The introduction by the author SS is very rich with information on Buddha and Buddhism-related literature.
The below images are the books I was able to find from our home library.
The books are as follows,
(01) Women under primitive Buddhism
(02) Psalms of Buddhists
(03) Theri gee - Martin Wickramasinghe
I bought the book from SLBOOKS.lk in 2023 but read it in 2024 due to a suggestion by a friend (Ms. Yasho Keerthisena) who suggested a book reading club called 'Tuesday Book Reading Club' located in Colombo under Lakmahal Community Library.
Though I watched SS's film of his debut novel 'Funny Boy' in 2021, I have never read any of his books. But I purchased most of his books due to his fame in Sri Lanka.
By depicting an honest Yasodara the book feels sad and heart-touching.
The novel references ''Theri gee'' old Buddhist texts and also there is a touch of feminism.
The novel feels a bit bland but the world-building is great
This book is mainly about rethinking Buddhism and an analysis of how to relate it to our personal lives in the contemporary context in my opinion by giving contemporary family dynamics to the story if you take it positively.
The primitive and primary nature of the story intertwined with contemporary family discussions gives the story a life that keeps moving.
With the rise of chat GPT since 2022 besides these new books, I'll stick to classics due to authenticity-related factors.
Films that came to my mind when reading this book
(01) Little Buddha (1993) - Siddhartha and Buddha: Keenue Reeves Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
(02) Siddhartha (1972) Directed by Conrad Rookes / Based on Herman Hesse's novel starring Shashi Kapoor as Siddhartha
(03) Bimba dewi hewath Yasodara (2018) Directed by Sunil Ariyarathna / Yashodara played by Pallavi Subhash Shirke and Siddhartha by Arpit Chaudhary
(04) Avatar: The Last Airbender ( TV Series )
We are dealing with fiction authored by an independent non-Buddhist and non-sinhalese author who is trying to dissect Buddhism with a new perspective by combining myths and challenging the current Buddhist traditions which are in my opinion something good for Buddhist readers because it will unlock new paradigms of a religious leader who lived 2500 years ago.
This is for me magical realism because this is not Siddhartha I knew as a Buddhist. But I read this with an open mind. This is like a Siddhartha from a parallel universe.
This book in nature is controversial and revolutionary. My mind started exploding and exploring because of the conflict between the Non-fiction and fiction meta-awareness of Buddha's life created by SS. I used Google to find out about the past.
The book would have been banned in Sri Lanka for manipulating Siddhartha's story but due to being written in English, it might have gone under the supervision of Sri Lankan readers and critics.
Highlighted mythical rituals of the story are as follows which makes the story colourful,
(01) Pamitha's funeral
(02) Yasodara and Siddhartha's wedding
(03) Birth of Rahula
Navigating life as imperfect humans in search of meaning is a counter-cultural point of view for the traditional Buddhist texts.
Caste and Social Dynamics in this novel is a fresh take for Sri Lankan and Buddhist following readers since it takes us to a bygone era.
'Mansions of the moon' or 'Lunar station' or 'Lunar house' or 'Lunar mansion' were a part of the calendrical system used by the ancients.
SS and his book is a long intimidating read but is worthwhile since I'm a very bad Buddhist but try to calm myself down by reading and the fact that I get to read about my religion's founder with a different narrative altogether is a very valuable reading experience.
With all these AI tools that produce literature and art, smartphones with games and Kindle, pornography and YouTube and tiktok and Instagram and endless internet and politicians and artists together betraying their value systems and all these Buddhist monks doing these betrayals related to literature this book going against the actual Siddhartha and Buddha story doesn't feel like a big error to me personally. It actually feels like a 1984-themed apple advert kind of vibe trying to take a shot at Buddhism by actually shaking its fundamentals in a different way.
MOTM does have superficiality in family dynamics and how it represents characters. But overall it's calming.
The use of Sinhalese, Pali, Hindu, and English altogether was a great move for the Sri Lankan English literature fans. But it does create a confusion.
When you are reading this novel you have to put yourself within certain ground rules which are that you are reading fiction and non-fiction both at the same time so it is built as a world within a world. The author has got out of the bounded rationality and created a world within Buddhists to question ancient Buddhist texts as well as literary traditions.
When you keep on reading the book with its length and its manipulation of information it feels like whether he is making fun of Buddha and Buddhism.
MOTM and TSMOMA (The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida) both published in 2022 are a counter-cultural attack on the Buddhist and the religious aspects of Sri Lanka by being manipulative and independent in both history and concepts.
One of the key highlighted aspects of this novel is it being having Exotic language and descriptions.
Some of the key takeaways during the book discussion that day of the book club.
According to the participants of the book reading event...
(01) This is a rare instance where Eastern philosophies and religions are fictionalized.
(02) Authors and thinkers who are not born Buddhists who are interested in the relevant philosophy are more unbiased and open-minded.
(03) Sometimes Buddhist concepts like "Dukkha" were not grasped fully with the actual depth Buddhism gives in ancient texts.
(04) The learnings of the philosophy of Buddhism are given as an experience, not through a solitary follow-up.
(05) Referencing 'Bridgerton' and social dynamics of the Regency era and the era of Siddhartha
(06) Compared to 'Funny Boy' this is very weak according to many.
(07) The confusion caused by mixing many languages in the novel's text was highlighted.
(08) If someone is not a Buddhist and has not studied original Buddhist history and texts this novel might be misleading making this novel very controversial in nature.
------------------------------------------------------
Mansions of the moon - Shyam Selvadurai
Contents
Introduction
Dukkha 1
Froth on the river
1 Beginnings
2 Siddhartha and the Nigantha
3 Dark clouds
4 A woman's lot
5 The Acacia tree
6 Yama's Noose
7 Siddhartha and the truth of truths
8 The empire of faith
9 Gnats
10 The Python
Dukkha II
A woman eaten and eaten
1 In the realm of ghosts
2 Siddhartha and his mentors
3 The lotus
4 Netted Birds
5 Alara kalama
6 Siddhartha and the sage
7 Crocodiles in Puddles
8 Robe, Razor and Begging Bowl
Dukkha III : The three fires
1 Osprey
2 Changes
3 All is burning
4 Fathers and sons
5 The price of water
6 A handful of mustard seed
7 The women walk
8 Me-and-mine
9 Seedpods
10 Power and Possibility
https://bookerreadsdaily.blogspot.com...
MOTM is a calming read just like Buddhism concepts.
The introduction by the author SS is very rich with information on Buddha and Buddhism-related literature.
The below images are the books I was able to find from our home library.
The books are as follows,
(01) Women under primitive Buddhism
(02) Psalms of Buddhists
(03) Theri gee - Martin Wickramasinghe
I bought the book from SLBOOKS.lk in 2023 but read it in 2024 due to a suggestion by a friend (Ms. Yasho Keerthisena) who suggested a book reading club called 'Tuesday Book Reading Club' located in Colombo under Lakmahal Community Library.
Though I watched SS's film of his debut novel 'Funny Boy' in 2021, I have never read any of his books. But I purchased most of his books due to his fame in Sri Lanka.
By depicting an honest Yasodara the book feels sad and heart-touching.
The novel references ''Theri gee'' old Buddhist texts and also there is a touch of feminism.
The novel feels a bit bland but the world-building is great
This book is mainly about rethinking Buddhism and an analysis of how to relate it to our personal lives in the contemporary context in my opinion by giving contemporary family dynamics to the story if you take it positively.
The primitive and primary nature of the story intertwined with contemporary family discussions gives the story a life that keeps moving.
With the rise of chat GPT since 2022 besides these new books, I'll stick to classics due to authenticity-related factors.
Films that came to my mind when reading this book
(01) Little Buddha (1993) - Siddhartha and Buddha: Keenue Reeves Director: Bernardo Bertolucci
(02) Siddhartha (1972) Directed by Conrad Rookes / Based on Herman Hesse's novel starring Shashi Kapoor as Siddhartha
(03) Bimba dewi hewath Yasodara (2018) Directed by Sunil Ariyarathna / Yashodara played by Pallavi Subhash Shirke and Siddhartha by Arpit Chaudhary
(04) Avatar: The Last Airbender ( TV Series )
We are dealing with fiction authored by an independent non-Buddhist and non-sinhalese author who is trying to dissect Buddhism with a new perspective by combining myths and challenging the current Buddhist traditions which are in my opinion something good for Buddhist readers because it will unlock new paradigms of a religious leader who lived 2500 years ago.
This is for me magical realism because this is not Siddhartha I knew as a Buddhist. But I read this with an open mind. This is like a Siddhartha from a parallel universe.
This book in nature is controversial and revolutionary. My mind started exploding and exploring because of the conflict between the Non-fiction and fiction meta-awareness of Buddha's life created by SS. I used Google to find out about the past.
The book would have been banned in Sri Lanka for manipulating Siddhartha's story but due to being written in English, it might have gone under the supervision of Sri Lankan readers and critics.
Highlighted mythical rituals of the story are as follows which makes the story colourful,
(01) Pamitha's funeral
(02) Yasodara and Siddhartha's wedding
(03) Birth of Rahula
Navigating life as imperfect humans in search of meaning is a counter-cultural point of view for the traditional Buddhist texts.
Caste and Social Dynamics in this novel is a fresh take for Sri Lankan and Buddhist following readers since it takes us to a bygone era.
'Mansions of the moon' or 'Lunar station' or 'Lunar house' or 'Lunar mansion' were a part of the calendrical system used by the ancients.
SS and his book is a long intimidating read but is worthwhile since I'm a very bad Buddhist but try to calm myself down by reading and the fact that I get to read about my religion's founder with a different narrative altogether is a very valuable reading experience.
With all these AI tools that produce literature and art, smartphones with games and Kindle, pornography and YouTube and tiktok and Instagram and endless internet and politicians and artists together betraying their value systems and all these Buddhist monks doing these betrayals related to literature this book going against the actual Siddhartha and Buddha story doesn't feel like a big error to me personally. It actually feels like a 1984-themed apple advert kind of vibe trying to take a shot at Buddhism by actually shaking its fundamentals in a different way.
MOTM does have superficiality in family dynamics and how it represents characters. But overall it's calming.
The use of Sinhalese, Pali, Hindu, and English altogether was a great move for the Sri Lankan English literature fans. But it does create a confusion.
When you are reading this novel you have to put yourself within certain ground rules which are that you are reading fiction and non-fiction both at the same time so it is built as a world within a world. The author has got out of the bounded rationality and created a world within Buddhists to question ancient Buddhist texts as well as literary traditions.
When you keep on reading the book with its length and its manipulation of information it feels like whether he is making fun of Buddha and Buddhism.
MOTM and TSMOMA (The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida) both published in 2022 are a counter-cultural attack on the Buddhist and the religious aspects of Sri Lanka by being manipulative and independent in both history and concepts.
One of the key highlighted aspects of this novel is it being having Exotic language and descriptions.
Some of the key takeaways during the book discussion that day of the book club.
According to the participants of the book reading event...
(01) This is a rare instance where Eastern philosophies and religions are fictionalized.
(02) Authors and thinkers who are not born Buddhists who are interested in the relevant philosophy are more unbiased and open-minded.
(03) Sometimes Buddhist concepts like "Dukkha" were not grasped fully with the actual depth Buddhism gives in ancient texts.
(04) The learnings of the philosophy of Buddhism are given as an experience, not through a solitary follow-up.
(05) Referencing 'Bridgerton' and social dynamics of the Regency era and the era of Siddhartha
(06) Compared to 'Funny Boy' this is very weak according to many.
(07) The confusion caused by mixing many languages in the novel's text was highlighted.
(08) If someone is not a Buddhist and has not studied original Buddhist history and texts this novel might be misleading making this novel very controversial in nature.
------------------------------------------------------
Mansions of the moon - Shyam Selvadurai
Contents
Introduction
Dukkha 1
Froth on the river
1 Beginnings
2 Siddhartha and the Nigantha
3 Dark clouds
4 A woman's lot
5 The Acacia tree
6 Yama's Noose
7 Siddhartha and the truth of truths
8 The empire of faith
9 Gnats
10 The Python
Dukkha II
A woman eaten and eaten
1 In the realm of ghosts
2 Siddhartha and his mentors
3 The lotus
4 Netted Birds
5 Alara kalama
6 Siddhartha and the sage
7 Crocodiles in Puddles
8 Robe, Razor and Begging Bowl
Dukkha III : The three fires
1 Osprey
2 Changes
3 All is burning
4 Fathers and sons
5 The price of water
6 A handful of mustard seed
7 The women walk
8 Me-and-mine
9 Seedpods
10 Power and Possibility
November 6, 2022
I enjoyed the ancient setting and familiar story of Buddha told from the women’s perspective. It is still sad to feel the struggle these women endured and how some elements still exist today.
![Profile Image for Rei ⭐ [TrulyBooked].](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fi.gr-assets.com%2Fimages%2FS%2Fcompressed.photo.goodreads.com%2Fusers%2F1244675895i%2F2390727._UX200_CR0%2C33%2C200%2C200_.jpg&w=128&q=75)
May 8, 2022
I'm not sure how, but I ended up getting the book about a week before it released. It's incredible. Sometimes historical fiction novels end up being too reverent of their characters, particularly when it's a religious figure. I like that both Siddhartha and Yasodhara feel like fully realized people with their own ambitions and shortcomings.
It's beautifully written (par for the course with Selvadurai's novels) and I found myself getting lost in the rhythm of it. Once I could wrap my head around the different social structures and using the glossary in the back for some of the terms, I got wrapped up in the novel. I felt for Yasodhara and the feeling of being trapped within our own social circumstances that multiple characters within the novel feel at different points.
It's rare to have a novel that can keep up the tension when we know how it's going to end, but finding out how they get to that end is the interesting part. While there's some strangeness to the pacing (there's a war that basically feels like it's over in a few pages), I love the descriptions so much that it's easy to overlook.
One of the biggest problems that I had with other historical fiction about the wives of religious figures is I'd never buy the romance. They didn't feel like real people. While you're not going to find the equivalent of bodice ripping in this book, the romance between Siddartha and Yasodhara is sweet and almost coy at the beginning. You can feel how pleased they are to find a match for their stations and a partner that they can rely on. When tempers fray, you can feel it too.
4.5/5 stars. I highly recommend it! Especially if you have loved previous books by Shyam Selvadurai.
For more historical fiction reviews and fun lists, you can find me at TrulyBooked.com
It's beautifully written (par for the course with Selvadurai's novels) and I found myself getting lost in the rhythm of it. Once I could wrap my head around the different social structures and using the glossary in the back for some of the terms, I got wrapped up in the novel. I felt for Yasodhara and the feeling of being trapped within our own social circumstances that multiple characters within the novel feel at different points.
It's rare to have a novel that can keep up the tension when we know how it's going to end, but finding out how they get to that end is the interesting part. While there's some strangeness to the pacing (there's a war that basically feels like it's over in a few pages), I love the descriptions so much that it's easy to overlook.
One of the biggest problems that I had with other historical fiction about the wives of religious figures is I'd never buy the romance. They didn't feel like real people. While you're not going to find the equivalent of bodice ripping in this book, the romance between Siddartha and Yasodhara is sweet and almost coy at the beginning. You can feel how pleased they are to find a match for their stations and a partner that they can rely on. When tempers fray, you can feel it too.
4.5/5 stars. I highly recommend it! Especially if you have loved previous books by Shyam Selvadurai.
For more historical fiction reviews and fun lists, you can find me at TrulyBooked.com
August 12, 2025
if you like this review, i now have website: www.michaelkamakana.com
230202: perhaps not four if you do not know some buddhism, but I find it entrancing, covering the youth, young marriage, enlightenment, of the buddha (awakened one) from the perspective women in his life, particularly his wife. this is the subcontinent 2 500 years ago, when women had more freedom than subsequent eras, but it is patriarchal culture, as shown by three refusals of women to join the order. and when they are finally admitted the rules favour the men to great extent...
this is only one question this narrative must address. there is gradual increase from practical, usual, work of his wife, to increasingly distant, meditative, spiritual concerns of Siddhartha. there is the world of home, family, versus the political whirlpool that threatens to divert him from his path. but there is very good presentation of his charismatic oratorial skills. it seems entirely possible that he could end conflict by simply standing 0n boat between armies and asking: why?
and then the great skill of this book is in making an invisible character so real: his cousin and wife yasodhara. her struggles, her reasonable anger at being abandoned (on the night their son is born), her stubborn refusal of 'the middle way' (buddhism's idea that we come to enlightenment not by great austerities, nor great indulgence, but somewhere between extremes). and over the last third of the book, there are recounted sermons remembered by the women, which certainly reinforces how his wisdom was orally transmitted until written down. and then there is the enlightenment of yasodhara, when she finally understands the wisdom of the Awakened One...
230202: perhaps not four if you do not know some buddhism, but I find it entrancing, covering the youth, young marriage, enlightenment, of the buddha (awakened one) from the perspective women in his life, particularly his wife. this is the subcontinent 2 500 years ago, when women had more freedom than subsequent eras, but it is patriarchal culture, as shown by three refusals of women to join the order. and when they are finally admitted the rules favour the men to great extent...
this is only one question this narrative must address. there is gradual increase from practical, usual, work of his wife, to increasingly distant, meditative, spiritual concerns of Siddhartha. there is the world of home, family, versus the political whirlpool that threatens to divert him from his path. but there is very good presentation of his charismatic oratorial skills. it seems entirely possible that he could end conflict by simply standing 0n boat between armies and asking: why?
and then the great skill of this book is in making an invisible character so real: his cousin and wife yasodhara. her struggles, her reasonable anger at being abandoned (on the night their son is born), her stubborn refusal of 'the middle way' (buddhism's idea that we come to enlightenment not by great austerities, nor great indulgence, but somewhere between extremes). and over the last third of the book, there are recounted sermons remembered by the women, which certainly reinforces how his wisdom was orally transmitted until written down. and then there is the enlightenment of yasodhara, when she finally understands the wisdom of the Awakened One...
September 16, 2022
A slow, lovely read that encompasses the life of Yasodhara, the wife of Siddhartha (the earthly Buddha), and her life as it unfolds before, during and after his enlightenment. Her anger sends her on a new path, towards her own enlightenment. Interesting read, it very slow.
January 5, 2023
This was an immersive expansive, and historical read; which was well written. I particularly liked that author Selvadurai chose to tell the story of the Buddha, enlightened one from the perspective of his wife; abandonment of their marriage and of leaving his one day old son to pursue an ascetic life, and consequently teaching the Middle Way.
I felt I was there with his wife as she transitioned through the life cycles of daughter/girl, wife, gardener/field worker in the north, mother, abandoned wife, leader - to group of women who looked up to her as protector. Her qualities of strength and determination shone through as she grew and demanded room for women who wanted to follow the teachings. Loved the humanization of the characters in this story.
I felt I was there with his wife as she transitioned through the life cycles of daughter/girl, wife, gardener/field worker in the north, mother, abandoned wife, leader - to group of women who looked up to her as protector. Her qualities of strength and determination shone through as she grew and demanded room for women who wanted to follow the teachings. Loved the humanization of the characters in this story.
June 1, 2023
I didn’t know what this book was about when I checked it out. I thought it was well-written and I eventually got used to the language and historical setting and culture. It is a fascinating read. I know about the Buddha and some basic tenets of Buddhism, but I didn’t know much about its history. And I appreciated the story being told from the perspective of his wife. Still, I struggle with the patriarchy and freedoms of men vs women even amongst a peaceful and “enlightened” group.
July 5, 2024
I loved this book. This is a fictionalized story of the journey Siddhartha takes to discovering the tenets of Buddhism and becoming the Buddha. As a twist, this journey is told from the perspective of his wife, Yasodhara. The tenets of Buddhism are woven into the prose, the story telling and most vividly through the struggles of the characters. I found a greater understanding of Buddhism as the characters suffered and tried to cope with their grief, anger and love. Traveling with Siddhartha as he struggles to understand who he is, his dissatisfaction with his life and his search for meaning is fascinating.
Yasodhara is rejecting her husbands path and tries to persuade him to abandon it. His path has caused her nothing but loss, pain and grief. Her reconciliation and embrace of the beliefs is compelling.
I felt that the real story is the courage, power and resilience of the women. Particularly in an era where women have fewer options, power or choices. "If only to be born a man and have some chance to influence your Destiny".
There are so many amazing women who strive to carve out pieces of power, tranquility and happiness in a male dominated patriarchy. The women experience pain, grief and loss but continue to over and over again pick themselves up with strength and courage and go on.
The other theme I loved was the strength the women gathered from each other. How they supported and cared for each other. There were so many examples of communities of women holding each other up. It was very powerful. "Subservient but still independent. and that is something we must remember. Independent. "
Yasodhara is rejecting her husbands path and tries to persuade him to abandon it. His path has caused her nothing but loss, pain and grief. Her reconciliation and embrace of the beliefs is compelling.
I felt that the real story is the courage, power and resilience of the women. Particularly in an era where women have fewer options, power or choices. "If only to be born a man and have some chance to influence your Destiny".
There are so many amazing women who strive to carve out pieces of power, tranquility and happiness in a male dominated patriarchy. The women experience pain, grief and loss but continue to over and over again pick themselves up with strength and courage and go on.
The other theme I loved was the strength the women gathered from each other. How they supported and cared for each other. There were so many examples of communities of women holding each other up. It was very powerful. "Subservient but still independent. and that is something we must remember. Independent. "
September 30, 2023
Yasodhara marries Sidhartha and hopes for a union like her parents, loving and caring, along with the comforts after she moves to her father-in-law’s palace. But Sidhartha’s father, the Raja, has always despised his son because he blames him for the loss of his beloved wife when she gave birth to Sidhartha. Full of hatred, he posts his son as governor to a remote northern village where they are given a small hut, where there is no servant, and Yasodhara must tend to a rice paddy field and vegetable garden, so they have food for the winter. But while Yasodhara soon finds joy in these tasks among the camaraderie of the village women, Sidhartha becomes moody and withdrawn and his interest in the philosophy of the ascetics deepens.
This is a story of The Buddha’s wife and how she tried to hang on to her marriage until her husband finally deserted her and their only son to follow what he termed, the middle path. I have read all of Selvadaurai’s books and this is by far the best of all his novels.
For more of my 5 out of 5 reviews visit https://readandwrite.blog/malleestanley/
This is a story of The Buddha’s wife and how she tried to hang on to her marriage until her husband finally deserted her and their only son to follow what he termed, the middle path. I have read all of Selvadaurai’s books and this is by far the best of all his novels.
For more of my 5 out of 5 reviews visit https://readandwrite.blog/malleestanley/
June 30, 2022
3.5 stars I would describe the book as a 'slow burn' read. I did not know much about the story of the Buddha and this imagining of his life prompted a lot of thought, both about the religion and the morality of actions and decisions. The story takes us to different places over many years allowing us to get to know the lead characters well. At times it was difficult to keep track of the characters given their long names interspersed with the use of nicknames. If you like a book that challenges your thinking and you like to learn more about other cultures and religions in a historical context, than this beautifully written historical fiction novel is for you.
Personal note: at its conclusion I was saddened by the fact that pretty much all religions make women subservient and Buddhism seems to be the same in practice.
Personal note: at its conclusion I was saddened by the fact that pretty much all religions make women subservient and Buddhism seems to be the same in practice.
October 1, 2022
This novel gives great insight into a time and place long past. It has good, strong female characters. However, it is long, a bit repetitive (intentionally I suppose) and a bit slow. Happily, it has a very strong ending. It held my attention enough to continue after a break part way through as I could not finish it in the initial 3-week borrowing period. This is a book to be read in hard copy for the valuable map and glossary at the back. Another recommendation is to read some of this author's other novels over/before this one.
November 26, 2025
(This review was originally published in Devour Art & Lit Magazine Summer 2025 edition)
The life of the Buddha, told mainly from the point of view of his wife Yasodhara, reveals him as human, fallible, and not such a nice guy.
Siddhartha is an unhappy royal (Prince Harry comes to mind), son of the rajah Suddhodana of Kapilavastu, constantly pondering the secrets of the human soul and disinterested in the trappings of royalty. He drifts from following the suicidal precepts of the Nigantha ascetics (fast until you die) to the Maharajah-turned-ascetic Maha Kosala’s Truth of Truths philosophy of moving from Atman (soul) to Brahman (God) via intermediate stops at the Mansions of the Moon (Limbo) and Land of the Father (Heaven). He finally lands on the concept of the Middle Way where nothing is permanent and everything is changing.
He marries his cousin, Yasodhara, falls out of favour with his father, and is posted on hardship assignments to remote corners of the republic, but always delivers stellar results, despite his boredom. They are childless for the first ten years of their marriage before a son, Rahula, is born. Grandpa Suddhodana is overjoyed because his nephew Mahanama is set to inherit the kingdom as Siddhartha is considered weak and interested in loftier ideals than meting out punishments to maintain rule by fear. Sidhartha, as the legends corroborate, finally escapes Kapilavastu to take up the life of a wandering samana (ascetic) and earns Yasodhara’s enduring disappointment for being betrayed.
The novel begins ten years later, when Yasodhara learns that Siddhartha, now a renowned holy man in the land and to whom many miracles have been attributed, will be passing by Kapilavastu. It is at a time when Suddhodana is close to death, and his household of women, per the custom, will be turned out of the palace to return to their ancestral lands. The book constantly returns to the plight of women and their subjugation to men. Widowed or single women have only two options: become courtesans or bonded slaves.
Yasodhara and her mother-in-law strike out for a third option: become samanis (female ascetics) and join Siddhartha’s band of samanas, many of whom are the husbands or sons of the abandoned women. But herein lies the kicker: Siddhartha does not want them. His verdict is that “a samana path that includes women will soon wither and die.” He fears that the detached love the samanas practice will soon deteriorate into a possessive love if women re-enter their lives.
Despite many battles and palace intrigues that dot the story, the central conflict is how Yasodhara carves out a role for women to play in the ascetic life that dominates society in the republics of the Middle Country, now known as India. But it is a pyrrhic victory, for what they achieve is another lopsided role, with more rules for the women than for the men. You could say the women arrive at the Mansions of the Moon but need to work harder to reach Brahman.
Selvadurai has used extensive research and inserted Pali words (there is a glossary at the back) to paint a vivid picture of life in the times of the Buddha. This reconstruction of life, laws, customs, values, beliefs, and the evolving philosophy of Siddhartha are the most endearing features of the novel.
The life of the Buddha, told mainly from the point of view of his wife Yasodhara, reveals him as human, fallible, and not such a nice guy.
Siddhartha is an unhappy royal (Prince Harry comes to mind), son of the rajah Suddhodana of Kapilavastu, constantly pondering the secrets of the human soul and disinterested in the trappings of royalty. He drifts from following the suicidal precepts of the Nigantha ascetics (fast until you die) to the Maharajah-turned-ascetic Maha Kosala’s Truth of Truths philosophy of moving from Atman (soul) to Brahman (God) via intermediate stops at the Mansions of the Moon (Limbo) and Land of the Father (Heaven). He finally lands on the concept of the Middle Way where nothing is permanent and everything is changing.
He marries his cousin, Yasodhara, falls out of favour with his father, and is posted on hardship assignments to remote corners of the republic, but always delivers stellar results, despite his boredom. They are childless for the first ten years of their marriage before a son, Rahula, is born. Grandpa Suddhodana is overjoyed because his nephew Mahanama is set to inherit the kingdom as Siddhartha is considered weak and interested in loftier ideals than meting out punishments to maintain rule by fear. Sidhartha, as the legends corroborate, finally escapes Kapilavastu to take up the life of a wandering samana (ascetic) and earns Yasodhara’s enduring disappointment for being betrayed.
The novel begins ten years later, when Yasodhara learns that Siddhartha, now a renowned holy man in the land and to whom many miracles have been attributed, will be passing by Kapilavastu. It is at a time when Suddhodana is close to death, and his household of women, per the custom, will be turned out of the palace to return to their ancestral lands. The book constantly returns to the plight of women and their subjugation to men. Widowed or single women have only two options: become courtesans or bonded slaves.
Yasodhara and her mother-in-law strike out for a third option: become samanis (female ascetics) and join Siddhartha’s band of samanas, many of whom are the husbands or sons of the abandoned women. But herein lies the kicker: Siddhartha does not want them. His verdict is that “a samana path that includes women will soon wither and die.” He fears that the detached love the samanas practice will soon deteriorate into a possessive love if women re-enter their lives.
Despite many battles and palace intrigues that dot the story, the central conflict is how Yasodhara carves out a role for women to play in the ascetic life that dominates society in the republics of the Middle Country, now known as India. But it is a pyrrhic victory, for what they achieve is another lopsided role, with more rules for the women than for the men. You could say the women arrive at the Mansions of the Moon but need to work harder to reach Brahman.
Selvadurai has used extensive research and inserted Pali words (there is a glossary at the back) to paint a vivid picture of life in the times of the Buddha. This reconstruction of life, laws, customs, values, beliefs, and the evolving philosophy of Siddhartha are the most endearing features of the novel.
May 16, 2025
I have been a fan of Shyam Selvadurai, he’s one of the first ceylonese writers I discovered. I’ve read most of his books and they are set in Sri Lanka and reflect the values and nuances of family life there, the various characters within a family with all its drama- but also weave in the political changes of the island in the 70s and 80s. Shyam also wrote coming of age stories, in which young men find themselves ‘different ‘ from other young men and have to cope with traditional values of the society.
This novel is completely different. Shyam sets out to narrate the life of Siddharta Gautama, and his journey to find the truth. He tells the story of this young man born into a family of high lineage, who does not take pleasure in chasing material wealth and status.
Interestingly, the story is told from the perspective of Siddharta’s wife,Yasodhanna . In history, women often have a limited role- they have to obey fathers, brothers, husbands. They are like seed pods, floating in the river, unable to determine their own path. But here, Shyam captures the essence of how a woman married to an ascetic faces challenges. From a romantic relationship with her young husband, Yasodhanna follows her husband to a northern district where she learns to toil the land and work with rural people, a far cry from her luxurious life. She observes her husband’s dissatisfactions with people of the ruling class. She copes with loss of unborn children, and later learns to cope with bringing up her son without a father. She goes through a roller coaster of emotions, from anger with Siddharta for being cast aside, to reluctance about his path of enlightenment to leading other women to being capable and demanding acceptance within the sangha.
The writing style here is v different from Shyam’s other novels but it matches the narrative well. I was impressed that the story flowed smoothly despite a vast number of characters- various cousins, concubines, servants and courtesans- all contributing to such a rich and layered story. It will be interesting to see this writer produces more novels of this style in the near future.
This novel is completely different. Shyam sets out to narrate the life of Siddharta Gautama, and his journey to find the truth. He tells the story of this young man born into a family of high lineage, who does not take pleasure in chasing material wealth and status.
Interestingly, the story is told from the perspective of Siddharta’s wife,Yasodhanna . In history, women often have a limited role- they have to obey fathers, brothers, husbands. They are like seed pods, floating in the river, unable to determine their own path. But here, Shyam captures the essence of how a woman married to an ascetic faces challenges. From a romantic relationship with her young husband, Yasodhanna follows her husband to a northern district where she learns to toil the land and work with rural people, a far cry from her luxurious life. She observes her husband’s dissatisfactions with people of the ruling class. She copes with loss of unborn children, and later learns to cope with bringing up her son without a father. She goes through a roller coaster of emotions, from anger with Siddharta for being cast aside, to reluctance about his path of enlightenment to leading other women to being capable and demanding acceptance within the sangha.
The writing style here is v different from Shyam’s other novels but it matches the narrative well. I was impressed that the story flowed smoothly despite a vast number of characters- various cousins, concubines, servants and courtesans- all contributing to such a rich and layered story. It will be interesting to see this writer produces more novels of this style in the near future.
November 6, 2023
Mansions of the Moon by Shyam Selvadurai captivated me in a way only a handful of books can. I previously had the pleasure of reading Selvadurai's Funny Boy in 2016 and it was my first book read by the author which left a profound impact. So naturally I started this latest novel with a lot of anticipation and expectations.
In this book, Selvadurai brings to life a character who rarely claims the spotlight in historical narratives – Yasodhara, the wife of Siddhartha, who later became the Buddha. It's through this unique perspective that we're granted a poignant view of Yasodhara's emotional turmoil.
Her life is a poignant reflection on the choices made by not her but by Siddhartha. The narrative is an emotional rollercoaster, leaving me with a deep sense of sympathy for Yasodhara and that is what truly makes this book stand out - the portrayal of Yasodhara's perspective. It's the heart of the novel, revealing her anguish, fury, and she carried on even when everything around her fell apart. Yasodhara became a mother who had to embrace the roles of both parents.
What makes "Mansions of the Moon" even more heart-wrenching is how it portrays Siddhartha, who would become the Buddha failed as a husband and father. Reading about his abandonment of his family felt like peering into the heart of a woman who was left behind, her love discarded. Reading history through the lens of fiction, I felt a mix of emotions – pain, sympathy, and deep respect for Yasodhara.
This is a profoundly touching and unique novel. Shyam Selvadurai crafts a poignant story that's impossible to forget. The pain, love, and strength of Yasodhara's character are bound to resonate with readers. I can't recommend "Mansions of the Moon" enough for its immersive storytelling, depth, and the fresh perspective it brings to the tale of Siddhartha and Yasodhara.
In this book, Selvadurai brings to life a character who rarely claims the spotlight in historical narratives – Yasodhara, the wife of Siddhartha, who later became the Buddha. It's through this unique perspective that we're granted a poignant view of Yasodhara's emotional turmoil.
Her life is a poignant reflection on the choices made by not her but by Siddhartha. The narrative is an emotional rollercoaster, leaving me with a deep sense of sympathy for Yasodhara and that is what truly makes this book stand out - the portrayal of Yasodhara's perspective. It's the heart of the novel, revealing her anguish, fury, and she carried on even when everything around her fell apart. Yasodhara became a mother who had to embrace the roles of both parents.
What makes "Mansions of the Moon" even more heart-wrenching is how it portrays Siddhartha, who would become the Buddha failed as a husband and father. Reading about his abandonment of his family felt like peering into the heart of a woman who was left behind, her love discarded. Reading history through the lens of fiction, I felt a mix of emotions – pain, sympathy, and deep respect for Yasodhara.
This is a profoundly touching and unique novel. Shyam Selvadurai crafts a poignant story that's impossible to forget. The pain, love, and strength of Yasodhara's character are bound to resonate with readers. I can't recommend "Mansions of the Moon" enough for its immersive storytelling, depth, and the fresh perspective it brings to the tale of Siddhartha and Yasodhara.
November 13, 2023
𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 by Shyam Selvadurai invites readers into a captivating narrative of history, fiction, and mythology to delve into the life of Siddhartha Gautama before his enlightenment. Selvadurai's storytelling is a masterful blend of intimacy and grandeur, offering a vivid portrayal of Siddhartha and Yasodhara's early love set against the backdrop of the tumultuous unfolding of Siddhartha's spiritual awakening.
𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 transcends the conventional boundaries of a novel, transforming into a spiritual odyssey that delves deep into the enduring facets of the human spirit – love, sacrifice, and transformation. The narrative follows Siddhartha, a young man of remarkable intelligence and political acumen, as he navigates his upper-caste life after marrying Yasodhara, a woman possessing exceptional intellect and spirit. However, the novel encounters a narrative challenge as it transitions from the couple's intimacy to the inevitable deterioration of their marriage under the weight of Siddhartha's newfound path.
One notable strength lies in the character development, particularly that of Yasodhara. Selvadurai breathes life into her character, making her journey both believable and deeply relatable. Yasodhara's strength and resilience in the face of monumental transformation emerge as truly inspiring elements of the narrative. Her remarkable journey becomes a focal point, making 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 an evocative, thought-provoking novel. It is undoubtedly a must-read for those intrigued by spirituality, mythology, and the enduring power of the human spirit, despite the narrative hiccups that may leave some readers desiring a more cohesive exploration of love and sacrifice.
𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 transcends the conventional boundaries of a novel, transforming into a spiritual odyssey that delves deep into the enduring facets of the human spirit – love, sacrifice, and transformation. The narrative follows Siddhartha, a young man of remarkable intelligence and political acumen, as he navigates his upper-caste life after marrying Yasodhara, a woman possessing exceptional intellect and spirit. However, the novel encounters a narrative challenge as it transitions from the couple's intimacy to the inevitable deterioration of their marriage under the weight of Siddhartha's newfound path.
One notable strength lies in the character development, particularly that of Yasodhara. Selvadurai breathes life into her character, making her journey both believable and deeply relatable. Yasodhara's strength and resilience in the face of monumental transformation emerge as truly inspiring elements of the narrative. Her remarkable journey becomes a focal point, making 𝙈𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙈𝙤𝙤𝙣 an evocative, thought-provoking novel. It is undoubtedly a must-read for those intrigued by spirituality, mythology, and the enduring power of the human spirit, despite the narrative hiccups that may leave some readers desiring a more cohesive exploration of love and sacrifice.
September 29, 2023
As soon as I finished reading this book, I knew that I am going to read it again so now you know that it's that good!
I have always been a Selvadurai fan! Loved Funny Boy with my whole heart and now it's time for another masterpiece.
Mansions of the Moon is more than a novel; it's a spiritual odyssey that explores the human spirit's enduring capacity for love, sacrifice, and transformation.
It's a story of Siddhartha, a young man of exceptional intelligence and political acumen, as he settles into his upper-caste life after marrying Yasodhara, a woman of remarkable intellect and spirit.
Selvadurai’s sweeping tale offers readers an intimate glimpse into the couple’s early love and life together. However, as Siddhartha’s spiritual calling takes precedence, their marriage partnership begins to crumble under the weight of his newfound path.
What struck me most about this book is the meticulous research and storytelling skill of Shyam Selvadurai.
The author skillfully portrays the anguished turmoil that descends upon both Siddhartha and Yasodhara as they navigate this challenging phase of their lives.
Drawing on ancient records, historical sources, and a touch of fiction and mythology, Selvadurai weaves a vivid portrait of Yasodhara. Her journey is nothing short of remarkable, and readers will find themselves captivated by her strength and resilience.
Yasodhara's character is brought to life in a way that makes her journey believable and deeply relatable. Her strength and resilience in the face of such a monumental transformation are truly inspiring.
I have always been a Selvadurai fan! Loved Funny Boy with my whole heart and now it's time for another masterpiece.
Mansions of the Moon is more than a novel; it's a spiritual odyssey that explores the human spirit's enduring capacity for love, sacrifice, and transformation.
It's a story of Siddhartha, a young man of exceptional intelligence and political acumen, as he settles into his upper-caste life after marrying Yasodhara, a woman of remarkable intellect and spirit.
Selvadurai’s sweeping tale offers readers an intimate glimpse into the couple’s early love and life together. However, as Siddhartha’s spiritual calling takes precedence, their marriage partnership begins to crumble under the weight of his newfound path.
What struck me most about this book is the meticulous research and storytelling skill of Shyam Selvadurai.
The author skillfully portrays the anguished turmoil that descends upon both Siddhartha and Yasodhara as they navigate this challenging phase of their lives.
Drawing on ancient records, historical sources, and a touch of fiction and mythology, Selvadurai weaves a vivid portrait of Yasodhara. Her journey is nothing short of remarkable, and readers will find themselves captivated by her strength and resilience.
Yasodhara's character is brought to life in a way that makes her journey believable and deeply relatable. Her strength and resilience in the face of such a monumental transformation are truly inspiring.
December 4, 2025
Mansions of the Moon takes you down a path of focusing on the person who brought Buddhism to the world.
It ebbs and flows with history anecdotes and stories of the past(of course fiction but inspired from real life texts and documentary).
One thing I enjoyed was how Shyam delved into female perspectives and focused on what they go through which is sometimes hard to admit but still happens to this day I.e men think they are superior to us women and equal rights aren’t always given(sometimes)
It talks about trials and tribulations and a women’s life and how she deals with her most important responsibilities as well as figuring out and learning more about herself and other women along the way and what women’s rights truly are.
Sometimes the character development I felt was too exaggerated and could have been dialled down, but it was nice to see the spouse development and brother sister development.
It shows parent child relationship as well as husband and wife and brother and sister which did both have its ups and downs for me…
All in all it was a good read but not my favourite, as it was too descriptive at times as well as exaggerated I feel and it didn’t need to happen that way.
Not too thrilled with this but I do have to hand it to the author, a good start to a historical novel and a positive, it had wonderful descriptions of Nepal, a place I loved when I visited at the beginning of this year.
It’s 4 star read for me.
It ebbs and flows with history anecdotes and stories of the past(of course fiction but inspired from real life texts and documentary).
One thing I enjoyed was how Shyam delved into female perspectives and focused on what they go through which is sometimes hard to admit but still happens to this day I.e men think they are superior to us women and equal rights aren’t always given(sometimes)
It talks about trials and tribulations and a women’s life and how she deals with her most important responsibilities as well as figuring out and learning more about herself and other women along the way and what women’s rights truly are.
Sometimes the character development I felt was too exaggerated and could have been dialled down, but it was nice to see the spouse development and brother sister development.
It shows parent child relationship as well as husband and wife and brother and sister which did both have its ups and downs for me…
All in all it was a good read but not my favourite, as it was too descriptive at times as well as exaggerated I feel and it didn’t need to happen that way.
Not too thrilled with this but I do have to hand it to the author, a good start to a historical novel and a positive, it had wonderful descriptions of Nepal, a place I loved when I visited at the beginning of this year.
It’s 4 star read for me.
January 12, 2023
For some reason, the Buddha has escaped a feminist critique by intellectuals considering that he left his wife and child to pursue his own calling for the sangha. Into that vacuum, wafts in a nuanced historical portrayal by Shyam Selvadurai of the family of the Buddha especially his wife Yashodhara. From her perspective, the Buddha comes across as a self centered person who even after years of separation and enlightenment does not hesitate to take his son Rahula from his wife for ordination. The status of women, even a royal as Yashodhara, is compassionately described. The misoginy inherent in Buddhist sangha is depicted when Yashodhara and her fellow women including mother-in-law Prajapati decide to join the sangha and the compromise solution reached to accommodate them. The fault though is conveniently laid on the door of brahmin men monks in the sangha. However, since Maitreyi is example of female pre-buddhist brahmmin Vedic ascetic, it beggars belief that during Buddha's time, brahmin men in the sangha would have adversely affected the cause of welcoming women into the sangha. It is more likely that Buddhist sangha institutionalized women monks being protected by male monks regardless of age or status, in return for ordination and even the Buddha could only do so much for women monks. Overall, the novel is a slow burn, not a page turner.
July 9, 2022
Such a riveting story of Yasodhara, bride of Siddhartha Gautama tracing their early marriage and life together. Tracing her life from a happy girlhood, expecting that marriage to Siddhartha will take her on the path of a noble life. With disappointment and anger lurking and growing as she goes along, Yasodhara is the quintessential wife as she adjusts to the changes of living a peasant life while Siddhartha is a regional governor. However, the pull of the ascetic life is too much for Siddhartha and here comes the nub of this great novel - how this founder of Buddism, the Middle Way abandonned his life as a prince, son, husband and father to seek enlightenment. I delighted in the details of the life of strict sacrifices and rituals that were enforced daily and understood why Siddhartha with his super intellect would want to break free from these fetters. One feels for Yasodhara, and her anger and spite at Siddhartha and his abandonnment. When she finds her own path of truth in a long journey, one is cheering as she manages to reunite with her son and find peace. Epic, transformative work.
December 13, 2024
This book was a refreshing addition to my reading list, as I usually stay away of historical novels. While I was somewhat familiar with the story of the Buddha, I knew next to nothing about his wife, Yasodhara, or their son. This book provided a unique perspective, drawing beautifully from Buddhist teachings and using them into a interesting narrative.
For instance, Yasodhara’s struggle to let go of the past and embrace change stood out to me. It’s not just a historical lesson, it’s a theme that resonates universally, even today. The story brought her journey to life in a way that felt both intimate and enlightening.
I picked it up during my time in Sri Lanka, drawn by the fact that it was written by a Sri Lankan author. It’s a slow read, which suited my holiday vibe perfectly, but I’m not sure it’s a book I’d actively recommend. Unless, of course, someone is particularly interested in diving deeper into the context of the Buddha’s life and the people around him.
Overall, a thoughtful and meditative read, but more for those looking to expand their understanding of Buddhist history(/Buddhism) than for someone looking for a gripping page turner.
For instance, Yasodhara’s struggle to let go of the past and embrace change stood out to me. It’s not just a historical lesson, it’s a theme that resonates universally, even today. The story brought her journey to life in a way that felt both intimate and enlightening.
I picked it up during my time in Sri Lanka, drawn by the fact that it was written by a Sri Lankan author. It’s a slow read, which suited my holiday vibe perfectly, but I’m not sure it’s a book I’d actively recommend. Unless, of course, someone is particularly interested in diving deeper into the context of the Buddha’s life and the people around him.
Overall, a thoughtful and meditative read, but more for those looking to expand their understanding of Buddhist history(/Buddhism) than for someone looking for a gripping page turner.
August 27, 2022
A slow and lovely read about the wife of the Buddha in ancient India. Hardly anything is known about her, yet Selvadurai brings her to life, along with her early hopes and shattered dreams as Siddhartha through both cowardice and privilege abandons her and their day-old son for the spiritual life. And yet she survives, fueled for so long by her anger but eventually moving beyond that to her own spiritual insight. I kept wondering why I enjoyed it so much and realized it was because, now as then, we are often hampered by what they called the three fires: anger, greed, and the desire for permanence, trying to control 'the rushing onwardness of life' instead of accepting change as the only constant. Very thought provoking.
January 26, 2024
A fascinating fictionalized account of Buddha's life primarily dealing with his pre-enlightenment, from the perspective of Yashodhra, his wife. The author has provided an insight into historical timelines, community lifestyles - especially the freedom and status that womenfolk enjoyed. Yet, Buddha seems hesitant and incomplete when questioned about giving up "dukkha" for his own "moksha" or freedom from bondage but creating "dukkha" for his wife, child and parents. Yashodhra has to contend with this and starts to understand this herself, eventually.
The book deserves a higher rating, but as a reader I tired of over-repeated expressions and descriptions that started to feel belabouring and left one skipping through the text with a "get one with it, already" feeling!
The book deserves a higher rating, but as a reader I tired of over-repeated expressions and descriptions that started to feel belabouring and left one skipping through the text with a "get one with it, already" feeling!
December 10, 2025
Soul crushing, beautifully written - so much so that you feel all of Yasodhara’s disappointment yourself. Especially the part where she sees Siddhartha for the first time since his enlightenment. She awaits him for days, fourteen if I remember right, prepares herself as best as she can, does her best to remain strong — only to break down in tears and kiss his feet when she sees him. The yearning she has to touch him, embrace him, view him as the home she’s always known since she was 16, and how it’s all rejected by him in the most neutral/calm way whilst she is in such pain, is so so crushing.
The book revolves around Siddhartha and Yasodhara’s love - but more importantly, how Yasodhara copes with her complex grief around losing Siddhartha and how she finds her own path
The book revolves around Siddhartha and Yasodhara’s love - but more importantly, how Yasodhara copes with her complex grief around losing Siddhartha and how she finds her own path
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
Similar to some other books circulating that tell “the other side” of classic stories, this book was able to explore the experiences of the Buddha’s wife both leading up to and after he renounced his life to follow his spiritual path. I felt Selvadurai did such a good job of giving context, showing the push and pull between “material life” and a spiritual path, and how painful that can be. I really liked the ending and the different levels of spiritual commitment shown through different characters, and how familial relationships sometimes trumped this spiritual path depending on the context. I like that Yasodara takes her fate into her own hands, while also learning some of the teachings of Siddartha along her way. Overall a beautiful, passionate story about a powerful, influential woman in a time that was so long ago it’s hard to truly imagine how life might have been. But Selvadurai does a really good job of trying to show us.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2023
I purchased this book as I was intrigued at the premise of a story of the Buddha’s wife. Although it interested me I was reluctant to read thinking it might be too dry or overly spiritual; a tougher read. I was pleasantly surprised at how quickly I was hooked on the story of Siddhartha and Yasodhara’s early life’s and marriage and his eventual pull towards a spiritual life. An engaging depiction of life in that era. I would suggest that anyone without a little knowledge of Buddhist or Hindu teachings may struggle with some of the terminology though I would assume most who are drawn to the book will have some interest in the teachings already.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews