Kamadeva: The God of Desire

by Anuja Chandramouli

Kamadeva, the charming wielder of the sugarcane bow and the flower-tipped arrows, born out of the wellspring of Brahma’s latent passion, has for long remained an enigma. This enthralling story of the God of Desire explores his many wondrous adventures, as well as his heady romance with Rati, his chief consort.
Best friends with Indra, the King of the Gods; tutor to the Apsaras in the art of lovemaking, Kamadeva lives a dream life in the magnificent Kingdom of Amaravathi—until danger strikes when he incurs the wrath of Shiva because of a preordained curse. Follow Kama as he hurtles towards his destiny and the Destroyer’s dreaded third eye. Find out if he will rise from the ashes to reign supreme as the King of Hearts or if he will be doomed to spend an eternity as Ananga—the bodiless one.
In Kamadeva: The God of Desire, the author masterfully marries imagination with stellar research to bring to vivid life one of the most intriguing Gods of the Hindu pantheon. Laced with wit and narrated in contemporary flavour, Kamadeva will take you on a rollicking ride into the heart of desire and its tantalizing dark side.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Adult

338 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 14, 2014

About the author

Anuja Chandramouli is a bestselling Indian author and New Age Indian Classicist. Her highly acclaimed debut novel, Arjuna: Saga of a Pandava Warrior-Prince, was named by Amazon India as one of the top 5 books in the Indian Writing category for the year 2013. Kamadeva: The God of Desire and Shakti: The Divine Feminine are her other bestsellers. Currently all three books are being translated into Hindi, Marathi, Gujarathi and Bengali, a real achievement for one so young. Her epic fantasies called Yama’s Lieutenant and its sequel has received an overwhelming response.
Her books on Kartikeya, Padmavati and Prithviraj Chauhan have been very successful. Her latest book is Ganga: The Constant Goddess.
An accomplished orator, she regularly conducts workshops on Creative Writing, Story Telling and Mythology in schools, colleges and various other platforms. Her motivational speeches have also been well received. According to Chandramouli, her work with youngsters in the rural belt helping them improve their Spoken English and Writing skills has been wonderfully satisfying and enriching.
This happily married, mother of two little girls, lives in Sivakasi, Tamil Nadu. She is a student of classical dance and Yoga.
Email: anujamouli@gmail.com
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/authoranujac...

Reviews

[Heena Rathore Rathore-Pardeshi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Note: I received a paperback edition of this book by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Actual Rating: 4.5/5

Plot/Story:
This book is a masterpiece! I really enjoyed reading about the most talked about Indian God (mostly known for Kamasutra) and to know that there is so much more to him than his famous teachings in lovemaking or what we call as sex. I had no clue that he was actually involved in so many famous stories of other Gods that I’ve watched on TV shows on Indian mythology.
Inspite of being an atheist I enjoyed this book thoroughly and laughed myself witless. It was one of those reads that’ll leave the reader bubbling with stuff to share with someone after each and every chapter.
There is so much more to Kamadeva than the world knows and I really think that each and everyone should read this book (yes, even if you’re not an Indian and have no clue about Indian Gods.)
I was really amazed to know that Kamadeva was in fact Krishna’s son.
I absolutely enjoyed this re-telling and loved the contemporary take on our otherwise orthodox religious stories.
The pace of the book was good and the flow of the story was really good. Even the chapter names were quite interesting. Each and every chapter was well constructed and always ended appropriately.
This book was entertaining as well as informative.

Characters:
Though all the characters are from a well established and well researched mythology, Anuja did wonders in making them seem so real and loveable. I really felt a connection with almost all the characters, especially that of Rati. Her jibes made me laugh senseless and I had a wonderful time retelling this story to my husband and mother.
The lead character God Kamadeva is shown in his full glory. A lot of people underestimate his personality and upto some extent his powers and it’s usefulness, but this book successfully cleared all my misconceptions about him. After reading about him I’ve actually started feeling that he was far better than more than half of the famous Gods.
It’s really weird why Indians don’t worship him like other Gods and quite disgusting that they prefer to name a condom brand after him, who is a God.

Romance:
You kidding me! We are talking about “THE” God of desire… ‘THE’ God of sex and so yea, there was a hell of a lot of romance in this book. Though I’m happy that the author didn’t go in the dirty details of his sex life or for that matter his sex teachings. Though at more than a dozen places, the word “seed really made me laugh my heart out!

Writing:
The writing is a bit complicated and here I’m talking about basic sentence formations. As a lover of ASOIAF series, it was hard to notice that even a book of that level of complexity was written in a very simple language but this one was one hell of a complex bundle of difficult sentences and words. I was siting with my Merriam-Webster the entire time and it was really irritating and yes, it did make my reading experience a tad annoying!
Though I guess, the fault here is editor’s (that’s what the editor is for, right?!) Other than this I also found that there were always one sentences where only one was needed. I’m sure a bit of brevity and clarity in sentences would have done wonders for this book.
Inspite of these hiccups, I was still absorbed in the story, and for me, that’s really something to consider.

Beginning:
The beginning was so scandalous that it was hard not to be absorbed from the first chapter itself! You need to be a stone to not get intrigued by an “almost” Godly orgy created by none other than the Creator, Brahma! It was more than enough for me to say “WTF!” and dive right into this book.
The beginning was really fast-paced and I enjoyed it thoroughly (contrary to the ending.)

Ending:
The ending was a bit of a slog… just a teeny tiny bit, what with the Yadavas getting cursed and killed. As compared to the fast paced beginning and the over all upbeat feel it felt a bit week and to me it seemed a bit too much.

Blurb:
The blurb for this book is perfect. It gives a fair idea about what can be expected from this book is not at all deceiving inane way. I love the lyrical sound of the blurb and it really adds to the overall feel of the book.

Cover Art:
The cover art is pretty simple and bright and I really like the illustration of the God himself. The pink color really stands out and suits as the main theme of the book is the God of desire. It’s really nice.

You can also read this review at The Reading Bud.

[Manu · Rating 2 out of 5]

"You try my patience severely, sage", said Shambara to Narada, and managed to express my feelings entirely. These (feelings) were not just restricted to Narada, but to pretty much every character in the book! But let's step back a bit first.
As a subject, this one holds a lot of promise, because Kama has (arguably) a very muted presence in Hindu mythology, except probably the 'burning man' episode when he used his arrows on Shiva. So a book which could bring out details of his exciting life - since he was after all the God of Love and Desire - does have the potential to be quite good. While the story in itself stays true to mythology, what put me off the book is the narration.
For one, I felt there were just too many words! It reminded me of Ashok Banker's prose. (probably a couple of notches lower) Descriptions of people, places, things and events last for pages when it could have been done in much fewer. While that is the author's prerogative, what it does is reduce the narrative pace massively. I could read 'across' and that's not a good thing for any book. The second factor was the inconsistency of the language. There was vivid and descriptive prose on one hand, and then, as though there was suddenly a different person writing, we would get "Did you know that I never found you sexier than I do now? You're just too cute when you fight bad guys to the death", or even better, "And if you're horny, you certainly picked up the wrong time of the month for a booty call." Yes, we have chick lit meeting Indian mythology! The author does have a sense of humour, I just wish she hadn't resorted to these 'Look, I'm cool' stunts! Add to this, missing an 'l' in Kalpataru (though to be fair, I only came across a 'factual' mistake like this once) early in the book, and I had had enough!
I do not know whether the book was meant as a regular rendition of mythology, or one with a tonality that matched the current and popular version of the language. I think it tried to be both and used too many words while at it.
P.S. I rarely write negative reviews, and my apologies to the author. But Hindu mythology, to me, is a gift that contains some of the most fantastic stories ever written or imagined. I think, when an author gives the reader access to it, it should not be a task that is taken lightly. Unless, of course, your name is Amish Tripathi!

[Bookish Indulgenges with b00k r3vi3ws · Rating 3 out of 5]

In the time of Mythology retellings, most authors are going back to retell us the epics of Mahabharata and Ramayana over and over again and I have to admit, I quite enjoy them. Anuja Chandramouli has previously told us the story of Arjuna, which was a well researched and well narrated story. So, when I was approached to review this book, my first instinct was to accept - afterall, I had already read and enjoyed this aythors work. Secondly, I have never read much about Kamadeva other than the very brief guest appearances in other novels. So, I was quite curious about the subject as well.
Kamadeva - the God of Desire, was born to Lord Brahma. He plays his part in the world of Lords as a friend to Indra, husband to Rati and a tutor to the Apsaras. But because of a preordained curse, he faces the wrath of Lord Shiva, the destroyer. Rati and Kamadeva are then reborn on Earth. Kamadevas destiny unfold in the pages as the readers are taken on a ride. Everything seems to be a part of a much larger plan.
The best part of the book is that Anuja Chandramouli makes her characters very human. Yes, she is telling the story of the Gods, whom we hold with such reverance, yet she humanizes them in such a way that a reader can actually relate to the character and situations. The dialogue delivery in our everyday language adds to the allure of it. The book also discusses some topics that are very relevant in our society. It is very apparent that that the author has put in some quality research time while developing the plot and apllaud the author for that. The language and the narration compliments each other by maintaining a certain balance. The author has a very refined language and it is a pleasure to read her prose.
The only drawback of the book is its pace. While the plot and the language makes up for part of it, I think there were sections in the book that I could do without.
Overall, this book makes for a really interesting read. It will surely attract the Mythology lovers as it portrays a little known character

http://www.b00kr3vi3ws.in/2014/12/Kam...

[Naveen Chandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. Please stop destroying the mythologies for us. I do not recommend this book and I’m not planning to read any of her books in the future. 0/5.

[GenevieveAudrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kamadeva: The God of Desire.
A god who is not mentioned often in the timeless tales of Indian mythology that I've read.  A God I never really knew much about. The god of Love/Desire, his beloved wife was Rati, he was burnt to ashes by Shiva.... that was the sum of everything I knew about Kama. That lack of knowledge was what first attracted me to this book. A chance to learn more about him. And learn indeed I did. 

The tales were captivating and entertaining. There were times that I actually laughed out loud. I had never before heard, or read, the Pandavas described as a whiny, clingy bunch! That was hilarious!

It's quite obvious that the author has done a lot of research to write this book. There were so many stories brought together in this one book to make a seamless telling of Kama's origin and his life (or lives!). So this book was indeed a welcome read. The language was simple and easy to understand making it an effortless read.

I must admit though, reading this book gave rise to many questions for me.
Why do learned Brahmins go around cursing people for imagined slights?
Why are those who perform strenuous tapasyas rewarded with boons that allow them to wreak havoc on the world?
Why are women always held accountable and punished severely for the vagaries of men while the men themselves get off with barely a smack on the wrist?
Why are the Devas always good and the Asuras always bad? 
Like the Greek pantheon of gods, the Indian pantheon inn mythology seems to be rather impulsive and capricious with very humanlike traits - quick to anger, slow to forgive, fickle in love.

I guess that when reading this book, you must check your 21st century logic at the door and just accept these stories at face value. Trying to alter them to reflect a more politically correct view would be destroying an essential part of these tales of mythology. 

Regardless of all the doubts I had, this was an entertaining, educating read. I really loved how the God of Desire was fleshed out in such a lovely manner that was so different from his small, supporting roles I had previously read about.

[Viju · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are times when you want to have selective amnesia about characters from Indian mythology and you want to read about them as though you did not know anything about them and be wowed. A lot of the mythological reads I have done in the last year or so have had me get introduced to a few new characters in the story's premise or given me new trivia about those character. However, reading about a character that I did not know anything about did not happen very often. This was one of the main reasons I was drawn to Kamadeva: The God of Desire. I requested a review copy from the author Anuja Chandramouli, whose Arjuna I had read earlier, and she sent me the book in no time. Thank you Anuja!

Arjuna as a character, as I mentioned in my review of the book, was not the most interesting of characters from Mahabharatha, and the author's first book treaded very safely by not giving into indulgences that a first time author usually does. I quite liked Anuja's style of writing in that, and was curious to see how her writing had evolved in her sophomore venture. And I am glad I gave this book a read because Anuja has definitely kept up with the expectations that surrounded this book.

Writing a book on a relatively unknown character from mythology is not an easy task. Furthermore, writing about a character who is often associated with love, lust, desire and as a pimp for the Gods is indeed something a lot of authors shy away from. They either do that to maintain the (so-called) sanctity of mythology, or there is not enough material to research and write about them. With a clever way of writing and incorporating a few of the known stories into the premise, Anuja has a wonderful retelling of the life of the God of Desire, his wife, his other wife, his birth, his death, his reincarnation and how love gets reunited.

There is a lot of background material from the life of Brahma, which was unknown to me, which led to the birth of Kamadeva. Kamadeva, with Rati, is one of those couples that people often use on a couple that is happily in love with each other. The first 100 pages of the book deals with how that came to be, with some humor and some back stories. The turning point of the book where I was completely drawn to it happened around that mark. Reborn as Pradyumna, the son of Krishna, what happens to this couple that is madly in love is what is the premise of the book.

With well-etched characters of Kama, Rati, Pradyumna, Shambara, Mayawati, and a few others, Kamadeva is both an entertaining and an educative read. But for this book, I would not have known the happenings in the life of Kama that happened in parallel to the Mahabharatha. The writing in the book is mostly well done and Anuja works her way through her enviable vocabulary to ensure that a few of the instances has very effective writing. However, this also proves to be a bane in some segments (more on this, later). A lot of the chapters in the book also serve as wonderful standalone chapters and I am sure that's indeed commendable.

What did not work for me in the book was the use of some terms which we often use in our conversations, which did not seem to sit well in the premise, especially considering it is something to with mythology. Call me old fashioned perhaps, but Anuja with her excellent command over the language could have been more creative with respect to that. The second thing that did not gel well with the book was those back stories that Narada recites to the Kama and Rati about a few of the couples in mythology. It often felt forced into the premise and perhaps the narrative could have been crisper without the same.

Overall, Kamadeva: The God of Desire is a laudable second book by Anuja Chandramouli and I am indeed waiting for her third book. Whether that is going to be based on another mythological character or if Anuja plans to write in a new genre remains to be seen!

[Ankit · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me start by thanking Anuja for providing me with the opportunity to review "Kamadeva: The God of Desire". As I undid the impenetrable Flipkart packing, I was thoroughly impressed by the intricately designed cover and make a silent wish that the book lives up to it.

"Let go of the questions that are plaguing you day and night and robbing you of your tranquility. Why did I fall in love with a married woman? Why did her husband refuse to listen to reason? Why was I spare and she doomed even though she was by far the more blameless? The answers-if they do exist-are highly irrelevant and it is fruitless for you to chase after them. If you persist, you will have reduced yourself to the level of a cur chasing its own tail, unable to stop even to eat, drink or relieve itself."

One would think that an author who can write like this can surely spin together a best-seller and that's where you feel a little let-down. Anuja meanders into paragraphs laden with heavy words and all of a sudden a witty one liner grabs your attention and you read on. The story line is a little convoluted and sometimes you feel that the character names are thrown at you at a very fast and incomprehensible pace. I pined for a better character development.

A lack of consistency in writing style hurts the book. The conversations are usually narrated in a very slang-ish manner which are almost always followed with a paragraph of very heavy vocabulary. This dents the ease of reading.

"Kamadeva: The God of Desire" is good in parts. I feel that Anuja is an extremely hard-working writer who can go a long way if she fine tunes her narrative style and cuts down on the surplus adjectives. As readers of Indian literature, I feel that it is our prerogative to encourage talented writers like her. I am confident that in the coming times, she will do complete justice to her writing prowess.

[Ashok · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have received this book from the author through Goodreads in exchange for a free unbiased review.
I was happy to receive Anuja Chandramouli's 'Kamadeva: The God of Desire', seeing that other recent authors have not written about the god of love. The author has undoubtedly put in much research while writing this book. The interactions between the celestial beings, their prurient desires, backstabbing, politics, petty squabbles - everything has been developed well.
It is a good read, but could have been a truly great read, on par with a masterpiece by Ashok K. Banker. (Incidentally, by reading his earlier thrillers we realize that he has also developed as a writer.) So what went wrong with Kamadeva? The author has made it too long, with a plethora of errors, present-day slang, wrong usage of highbrow words, etc. She has been well assisted in retaining these bloopers by the publishers Rupa, who have even killed Rabindranath Tagore's English translations.
So what would I suggest? You have a great and well-researched story which not many have covered till now in recent times. Improve it and republish ASAP before others are inspired by it and create a better version using yours. Do this before thinking of writing/ publishing your next work; this experience of refining will help in your future writing also.

[Giri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read on one of the most loved characters in Indian Mythology - Kamadeva

Kamadeva, The hindu god of desire is brought into our lives with this excellent novel. I don't think i have ever enjoyed reading a novel in this genre as much as Kamadeva. It was truly a fun read with hilarious dialogues and stunning revelations about some popular characters in Hindu mythology. The style of narration also deserves a special mention as it never lets the reader Stagnate on any particular page.
I applaud the author on her research into kamadeva since the facts she reveals in this novel have been unknown to me thus far (I have been reading up on these guys since i was a kid). The nauseatingly pure nature of the devas and the stereotypical portrayal of the asuras have been shattered with this most realistic portrayal of the three worlds. The author whips up a good amount of laughs with her unique contemporary style of writing (I LoL'ed atleast 5 times). My favourite parts of the book are the excellent banter between Kama/Indra and the portrayal of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva.
To conclude, This is an excellent second book which betters Arjuna in my opinion, Congrats to the author Anuja Chandramouli. All novel lovers irrespective of genre Grab this one, you wont regret it

[Sakshi Nanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chuck the blurb. ‘Kamadeva’ is not just about the juicy Kama’s journey from the magnificent Kingdom of Amravathi, through the preordained Third Eye curse and to the destiny where form or no form he is nuzzling Rati’s neck ever-so-gently. This book draws within its satirical folds the complete pantheon of Hindu gods and demi-gods (okay, the pop ones anyway!) and makes a running commentary on their polygamous lives full of lust but times wrought with mindless wars and ill-tempered curses. The goddesses, in the meantime, take the sassy cake for speaking our minds, albeit in clothing, context and with husbands we wouldn’t exchange in this lifetime.
This book is, thus, an antithesis to mythology as we know it, or as Anuja lovingly calls it ‘pages upon pages of philosophical, pleonastic gobbledegook that will easily take entire lifetimes to comprehend’ which our grandmothers tried their best to make us swallow, whole. Remember? This slap-n-stick satire I’d like to call “mythology told from below”. Yes, yes, what subaltern means too.

How was this grand irreverent swim across the Milky Way successfully achieved? Please read more here - http://www.sakshinanda.com/2015/02/bo...

[Anuradha Goyal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Detailed Review: http://www.anureviews.com/kamadeva-th...

[Mugdha · Rating 1 out of 5]

Couldnt connect with the book

[Shonel Teke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anuja Chandramouli's recreation of the KamaDeva story is not only interesting but downright amusing. The entire book is dedicated to showcasing the birth, life and reincarnation of the God of Desire, and while it does lapse in some places (as many mythical stories do), kudos to Chandramouli for bouncing back up.

Kamadeva is the son of Brahma, the Creator in the divine Hindu pantheon, and is christened God of Desire. Armed with his bow and arrows (similar to Cupid), he sets about spreading potent love instead of the anger, hatred and violence. He is accompanied on these adventures by the beautiful Rati, his consort (lover/wife). However, in one of his earliest experiments, he invokes the wrath of the Deadly Destroyer - Shiva, and is cursed that he would die at the Lord's hands. However, Shiva promises Kama's grieving wife that both of them will be reborn and reunited in the mortal realm. The rest of the book is dedicated to outlining his new life as Pradyumna, son of Krishna and avatar of Kama. Oh, might I add that being the God of Desire, he also is polyamorous and takes on a few more wives that just the lovely Rati. Thus many of his adventures are to meet, rescue and marry some girl or the other who has the hots for him.

The tempo is amazing, despite the conundrum of endless gods and goddesses, sages and teachers, asuras (and their uncles) making various entries and equally quick exits from the story. Unfortunately, it may still be as confusing as ever to anyone who is unfamiliar with Hindu Mythology. I don't think I would have wanted to give the storyline more than 2*s, but the language flows almost effortlessly and peppered with flippant remarks mouthed by Rati and other women that may be an indication of the author's feminism that seeps in.

Various arguments between the celestial beings is a valid reflection of the rational 21st century reader and their doubts about what's real and what's not, what's fair and what isn't, and why women should be punished whereas men walk away scot-free every single time. Some of the results of these arguments will bring a smile to your face, while some end in the argument being shrugged off.

Interestingly, I had ordered two books by the same author – Kamadeva and Shakti, but the latter was a dry run and I couldn’t get past the first few pages, whereas the earlier one was much more entertaining.

I would recommend it only if you are familiar with the Hindu deities and are in for some tongue-in-cheek remarks about the Powers that be!!!

[Divya · Rating 1 out of 5]

I once heard Anuja Chandramouli speak, and I quite liked her thoughts on mythology. I'd been meaning to read one of her books so I picked this one up. And then I realized that a 30 minute talk with her sufficed. The book swings wildly between trying to be cool and trying to also sound like mythology-style Oldish English. Add some random Americanisms, and British English whimsy to make a truly inconsistent writing style. I also feel like she picked up a wafer thin plot, layered on multiple stories from the myths and somehow moved it along. Overall, this book was a huge waste of time. I really wish that the articulation and approach I heard was replicated somewhere in her writing.
I'm going back to my old favorites Kavita Kane, Ashok Banker and Devdutt Pattnaik for my mythology fix!

[Sreena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kamadeva, also known as Kama, is a prominent deity in Hindu mythology associated with love, desire, and passion. He is often depicted as a handsome, youthful god wielding a bow and arrows made of flowers. Kamadeva is revered as the divine matchmaker and the lord of attraction, capable of igniting the flames of love and desire in the hearts of both gods and humans.

In Hindu mythology, Kamadeva's role is crucial in various stories and legends. One of the most well-known tales involving Kamadeva is his encounter with Lord Shiva. According to the legend, Shiva was immersed in deep meditation after the death of his beloved wife, Sati. Sensing that the world needed Shiva's attention, the gods sought Kamadeva's help to awaken Shiva from his meditative state.

[Urvashi · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh this is too tedious to read. The character don't have any shades at all. The gods are all amazing and flawless and the devoted to each other and the asuras are all terrible. The stories within the narrative are like episodes from a tv soap opera where nothing really happens but episodes keep getting churned out. Gave up before reaching my usual threshold of 40%

2 stars for the writers vocabulary but that's it.

[Prabhat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love story of kama and Rati

It's an amazing story of reunion of two lovers in another life. How truly Rati loved Kama , that she performed severe penance to get her love back is heart warming part of the story. Kamadeva is described as a unique hero , very different from all the alpha males and machos of his age. How important part Kama has played in all ages comes to mind after reading this magnificent book .
Looking for some more reads of Chandramoli's books.

[Anil Swarup · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kamdev is an intriguing yet fascinating character in Indian mythology. The book brings out the character of Kamdev and his incarnations, including the one as Pradyuman, quite vivdly. There are also some unknown facets of events associated with Mahabharat outlined in the book.

[Ritika · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the content as I like reading about Hindu mythology. I did not like the language though, it looked like present day teenagers talking and it did spoil the tonality of the characters so often.

[Harshith Bangera · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very slow read. Nothing that made me wonder. I read books on Hinduism only to see how different would writers write about the same topic without fictionalising it. This book was a disappointment.

[Namitha Varma · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a much better effort by Anuja Chandramouli than her first book 'Arjuna'. The very fact that the subject matter is less familiar to readers than that of her earlier attempt, makes the writing more confident. We follow Kamadeva's life from his birth out of Brahma's heightened sexual desire, to his glory and his burning by Shiva, his rebirth as Pradyumna, and reunion with Rati.
One of the things that jarred in the narrative for me is the abrupt switch between contemporary and archaic language in conversation between the characters. One moment they are talking in bumchum lingo, and in another, they're being medieval in their articulation.
The writer also seems to have been unable to rid herself of ingrained racism when referring to the Asuras, comparing them to stray dogs and “uncouth” people (though to be fair she has tried to neutralise the effect by giving a voice to the Asuras' opinion of the Devas through the characters of Shambara, Mayavati, etc.), or the Apsaras, implying them to be divine prostitutes with “libertine lifestyles” and many similar ideas. Of course you could argue that it was the characters that were referring to each other with the prejudices inherent in the myths and their perception, but I still feel that something could have been done to avoid it. There is also an inherent “baser creature” label on the woman throughout the book – Similes such as horny women being “bitch in the heat”, “damaged goods”, - which really really put me off. I do not know if this was purposeful, or that the author simply did not spot this strain while writing and correct it. However you could argue that trying to undo the strain, which is innate in mythologies in any part of the world, you'd have to either change the narrative or launch into a harangue on equality of the genders – neither of which would do any book any good.
Quite like the rehashed mythologies I've read of late (Karna's Wife, for example), this one too succumbs to the perverse pleasure of talking and arguing endlessly, trying to parade an idea or philosophy that catches a character's fancy. This makes the tale dragging and boring, to put it bluntly.
The chapter 'The Burning' is brilliantly written, especially the part detailing Kama's entry into Shiva's inner emotions. In contrast, Rati's Lament was poorly written, and I could not grieve in identification with Rati at all. Even the killing of Shambara by Pradyumna was very bland, over before it began. The book also has too much of rosy-love and good faith for my liking. Maybe because it's the story of the God of Love, eh? :D
The book also has its share of typos, and just the fact that paragraphs separating long speeches by the same character did not begin with quote marks, annoyed the sub-editor in me endlessly. As an aside, unrelated to the narrative or author, the self-righteousness of all those sages who sent curses flying on people left-right-centre is just SO IRRITATING. Bloody holier-than-thou bastards. And this may sound unreasonable, but the repeated imagery of dogs being used in the negative sense – such as “ungrateful cur”, “whoring bitch”, “his grubby paws on her”, “rutting away like dogs in heat and stinking of sin”, “no one but a bitch could have birthed you” – ticked me off to no extent. What have you got against dogs to debase them in such lowly terms?! *weep* *weep* *sniff* *sniff*

[Srikanth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have had the pleasure of reading Mrs. Anuja Chandramouli's book on Arjuna earlier. Which was awesome. She shows how our gods and goddess's are full of fun and frolic around. It is we who have messed it up by bringing the fear into it all.

A submission: I don't review books per se. I write more about how i feel about the book and its relevance to our current scenario. (Sounds a bit pompous but please stay with me)

The book is about one of the most interesting gods in our pantheon. Lord Kamadeva, the god of desire. But before we start talking about the book how about some interesting tit bits which you would be surprised to know (atleast i was)


His birth was from Brahma (technically he is his mother)
Kamadeva has a brother Vasantha or the god of spring (he is of the darker complexion)
Kamadeva's story is also deeply interlinked with that of Krishna's
He had 2 deaths before his reincarnation (poor guy, all because of curses you see)
the last and the most surprising would be, his caretaker or so called mother also becomes his lover (don't judge, read the damn book. it is interesting)
How was the book? It was bloody awesome. The flow was fast & the book was witty. Imagine this is a book about gods & witty at the same time. It is like saying Indian secularism is logical!!!

Why is this book to be read? Well, how many books are out there that are written in an accessible language about Kamadeva? I dont think there are many. So go buy it. It is the cost of a pitcher of beer or a pack of cigarettes or a decent quality chocolate.

I want to take three examples from this book and then later talk about intolerance debate on Hindu's & Hinduism

Page 47: Goddess Gauri talks to Kama & his bro Vasanth 2 fine youths such as yourselves would have lost control of your nether sphincter muscle & even the delicious aroma of spring would not have been able to mask the stench

Page 164: An Asura talking to Narada muni: I hope your laudable efforts in pimping for the fates is successful and you procure suitable bitches to be used in the games of gods.

Page 232: Munna talking to Maya: The enforced celibacy in Sukra's ashram has not done me any favours and i am bored to death with mistress palm and her 5 daughters!! (I sincerely hope you know what these lines mean)

The above three lines are from the book on Kamadeva a god. The above three lines are from the Hindu religion with lot of gods and goddesses in the narration.

What has been the outcome of this book getting released? Good reviews and the author writing another book. That is all. There has been no riots, no fatwa's, no protest march. no legal cases being filled nor RSS folks threatening the family etc. Oh how about including VHP in all of this.

In fact the main stream media didn't even bother about this. What does this say? Why is a narrative being built that we Hindu's are intolerant? Do we keep quiet and just carry on? Or do we start asking questions and take a strong stand?

This book and the outcome this book has produced (which is nothing controversial) is very important in the current pseudo intelligent debate about intolerance.


BTW. the only reason why i delayed reading this book was, being an Indian was waiting for a free copy. Which i couldn't get my hands on. :(

[Purnendu Chatterjee · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘Kamadeva – the god of desire’ is the second book by Anuja Chandramouli. This book is a tale of a god of Hindu mythology who have always played a mute role and have been explored by quite a few authors. The author have chosen indeed a nice character for her second book though this was unexpected after her first book which was ‘Arjuna - Saga of a Pandava Warrior Prince’.

The name indicates that this book is going to be one of those mythological books which enlightens a character and the story will revolve around that particular character. The cover is wonderfully designed and goes perfectly with the title.. But one thing which looks different is the genre of the book is fiction not mythology. The blurb reads well and will surely entice the readers to buy a copy. One thing I must say, is about the quality of the book. The cover and paper quality is so good that I have to ignore my to-read list to sneak a peek inside its content.

The story starts with a song on Kama which very rightly said, ‘I cannot be destroyed by any creature by any means’. Then the author goes on to narrate, how Kama was born and the consequences he has to face right after that. Then comes Rati, the girl of a prajapati, Daksha, who was on the job of populating the world. I loved the way the author portrays each characters form Brahma, Vishnu, Indra to the destructive Shiva. After the marriage of Kama and Rati, the god of desire befriends Indra and the story goes on, until Kama was turned to ash after coming face to face to the god with the third eye, Shiva. What happened next, how Shiva granted the wish of Rati after killing her husband, what happened to Kama and Rati on the earth, is what the book has in store. The author has done full justice to the characters and the plot and has framed it in an attracting way.

The readers can easily see the amount of research the author has done to pen down such an intriguing character of the Hindu mythology and haven’t changed the original scenes. I appreciate the author for her efficient effort in compiling all those chapters of our mythology where Kama, makes an entry.
The narrating style is something unusual and gives this book a much needed flavor. The language used in the conversations is something different and yet it makes the reader gripped. Though at times I felt the connection with the readers is broken because of the language. The humor injected by the author is wonderful.

At times I felt few scenes are described in an exaggerated way and can be trimmed. As I said earlier the language was disturbing the flow sometimes. Apart from that the book is well edited and error free. The endless contradiction between the Gods, is what I liked the most.


Final Words: This book tells the story of Kama and about all those incidents and characters which we have never heard of. The readers will fall in love with the witty and compelling narrating style. A perfect blend of history and imagination.

For more reviews click on: www.timidfingers.blogspot.in

[Hemant Jain · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am kinda confused about this book.

It was an excellent opportunity to read and learn about a less-talked-about character from mythology. And he is no less than our Hindu Mythological Cupid ... of Godly status.

So it started out fine but then things started to derail

Other stories ... which had nothing to do with Kamadeva started appearing in the narration. (These stories were being narated to Kamadeva by Narada Muni and Indra and others ...)

BUT i did not pick up this book to read about Sagar Manthan and the story behing Amrut extraction or the story of Ahilya .... I wanted to read about Kamadeva ..

And that is where Anuja .. the author ... lost me. I read the book to a great extent but was disappointed and kind of abandoned it mid-way. Just could not go on. Felt like a waste of time.

Another aspect was the writing style. Anuja tried making it contemporary but the impression on me was not a good one. We are talking about GODS here and their language, the words they use, the idioms they use ... need some respect and stature. I surely dont expect them to utter american slang or even indian slang. Thats another place where the author lost me.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quite very well done... The author combines research and imagination to give one of the key but hitherto obscured figure of the Indian pantheon and his key associates their rightful place in the sun with this rather rollicking account of mythology that also strikes a contemporary, modern key with its frank, uninhibited debates on gender politics and roles, as well as the revulsion and hate for the other, exemplified in the asura-deva rivalry and conflict. The narrative then dovetails quite seamlessly into the greater Mahabharata cycle, and covers issues both related and tangential to the great battle and its equally tense aftermath, before the main characters are re-united so as to speak.... One niggling issue is the use of contemporary slang in the dialogue which at some places appears quite incongruous and somewhat out of place. Also we never learn the fate of the other supporting characters. But on the whole, a very delightful read and one which will occupy pride of place in the pantheon about the pantheon....

[Abhinav Shrivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Anuja Chandramouli’s writing has blossomed a lot more since her last book Arjuna. The writing is so good and so different that you will wonder that is this really the second book by the author. In her first book also I liked the writing a lot but this time around it is even better and so much more different which brings a freshness to the entire story telling.The author tells the story in the contemporary English rather than trying to burden it with unnecessary heavy and arcane words that take the juice out of the story.

The friendship between Indra and Kamadeva, his love for Rati, the lust of Bramha, Shambara’s love for Maya, the son and father tension between Bramha and Kamdeva, and so many more relationships and situations are so beautifully written. And while the story progresses it also deals with many issues such as females being used as a commodity by the male kind and more. However she also manages to keep the story witty.

Complete review on my blog: https://thebookthisweek.wordpress.com...

[Jule · Rating 4 out of 5]

How much do you know about the Hindu pantheon? Right. Probably just about as little as I did. Which is why I was so happy to find this novel in a bookshop when visiting Nepal. It is written by Indian author Anuka Chandramouli and describes the life and myths of Kamadeva, the Hindu god of desire. While I was absolutely in love with the concept and liked the way this strange and highly populous world was explained to me, I did have a few issues, as well. For one, I think an editor would have helped, as grammar and punctuation lack a little in same spots. The bigger issue was the narrative style. I would have expected real "characters" acting and thinking and speaking. Instead, it was episodic tales of myths, with little direct speech and inside into the gods and goddesses' thoughts. However, that is clearly a style issue which other reader might not feel bothered by. Anyway: I liked this novel very much, as it introduced me to a foreign religion (or at least a small fraction of it) and the cultural rules that accompany it. Very nice!

[Balaji Sundarrajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

just like narada, kamadeva is also a son of brahma but is never given the same importance anywhere in our scriptures. in fact he is only referred to in the passing as if he were an embarassment to all of us. it takes guts to write a book with him as the protagonist and it was this, coupled with curiosity that drove me to buy this book. i think the author has done a magnificent job in making this a gripping tale. anuja's command over the language helps her in maintaining the pace of the book and she manages to make even routine things sound extraordinarily interesting. the opening chapter involving the creation of kamadeva and the consequent events, is a masterpiece in my opinion. i also admired and enjoyed the chapter where the discussion about the battle of sexes & sharing of power, takes place between indra & rati. on the whole a bold & brilliant initiative.

[Sandeep Vasudevan · Rating 1 out of 5]

When one buys a book, one automatically gives the writer the respect that she would know her craft. Not the greatness of the idea or the fulness of the story expressed in the book - the art - but the ability to use language and nuance and turn of phrase and elegance of language that forms the vessel - the craft. But this book is so awfully written, so pedantic at times and puerile and Twilight-y at others, that I refused to endure anymore. After having toleratd the utterly, ridiculously bad craft on display in other examples of Indians writing Hindu mythology - Amish Tripathi, Ashok Banker, Anand Neelakanthan, Jhumpa Lahiri - I put my foot down and decided not to take it any more.

The last straw on the camel's back was the line (page 35), "He firmly believed in helping people discover pleasure in the arms of their better halves..." BETTER HALVES?