Mahagauri

by Nitya Neelakantan

The brilliant Gauri Vishwanath is a senior scientist at a top defence lab in Bengaluru. A recurring violent dream sees her transformed into a fierce warrior, wielding weapons and spilling blood on the battlefield. One night, the dream turns into a horrific reality when a freak lab accident transports her to the ancient kingdom of Saptapuri. Saptapuri is under siege—Moishan, the buffalo-demon, and his formidable army of demons are marching towards the kingdom to seize the precious Ajna Chakra. According to legend, the purple jewel, forged from the fire of Shiva’s Third Eye, grants immortality and power to whoever possesses it. Saptapuri’s only hope lies in an age-old prophecy that speaks of one of Goddess Durga’s avatars descending from another world to save them from Moishan. To Gauri’s astonishment, the prophecy points to her. Torn between disbelief and destiny, Gauri must embrace her overnight transformation into Mahagauri, the fierce warrior avatar of Durga. As Saptapuri burns, she must choose between clinging to the modern world she knows or unleashing her power as the divine force destined to change the fate of a seven-hundred-year-old kingdom. Gauri’s journey from an ordinary woman of science to becoming the indomitable Mahagauri makes her confront her own courage and the unyielding power within. Epic in scale, rich in mythology, and driven by a heroine who is at once vulnerable and unstoppable, Mahagauri is a spellbinding saga of the eternal battle between light and darkness.

224 pages, Paperback

Published November 5, 2025

About the author

Nitya Neelakantan is a writer and yoga teacher from Bangalore. She has three paperback novels that are awaiting publication with Rupa Publications and Readomania.
Nitya graduated with a degree in Hotel Management before moving into the learning space as a technical trainer and then a soft skills trainer. Her writing and yoga journey began simultaneously as she hung up her corporate boots in exchange for more time with her family.
When not teaching or reading, Nitya enjoys travelling with her husband, son, and three fluffy dog-babies. She is an amateur blogger who is also passionate about composting, slow fashion, and conscious living.