Manthan

by Utkarsh Pandey

Time is a wheel that turns in circular motion. During this circumnavigation, The Earth according to mythology has undergone four Yugas, Satyuga, Tretayuga, Dwaparyuga and Kaliyuga. Hence, at the end of Kailyuga, Time and Earth return to the start of Satyuga.
Vishnu, the Preserver of the universe has the responsibility to maintain and sustain the Earth in this journey. He ensures that the world does not fall apart. To do so, his Avatars on Earth, guide humans to a new paradigm to ensure they tread on the path defined as per the laws of nature.
It is believed that we are in the fourth leg of time, the Kaliyuga. The Vedas and Gita mention that at the end of Kaliyuga, Vishnu will return to Earth as his tenth and final Avatar, Kalki and free the world from the shackles of Adharma.
This is a fictional work, describing the journey of Kalki in the era of Kaliyuga and the challenges he faces in this journey.
The characters and references in this book have been chosen from the ancient mythologies, however the story and the journey of Vasu is a work of fiction.

‘Manthan’ is the first in the series of books, ‘The Kalki Chronicles’. A journey of faith with all its highs and lows.
I hope you enjoy being part of the Manthan that Vasu undergoes in order to become the great Avatar, Kalki!

Genres: Mythology

350 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 23, 2017

About the author

Utkarsh is a Software Engineer based out of Noida... He currently resides in Delhi with his family.... Avid book reader, Utkarsh developed his interest in fiction following Dan Brown. Manthan (The Kalki Chronicles) is his first footprint in Writing Industry.

Reviews

[RITU MAHESHWARI · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some mythical fantasy books are written with so much conviction, lucidity and logical explanation that they appears to be true. This is what I felt when I was reading Meluha series by Amish Tripathi and I have similar feelings now while finishing Manthan by Utkarsh Pandey, first book in The Kalki Chronicles series.

Based on the popular myth that Vishnu's tenth avatar Kalki will appear on Earth, who will put an end to the atrocities of Kali and hereby mark the end of Kaliyuga and start of new yuga SatyaYuga, Manthan is interesting and engrossing read all throughout.

The development of Kalki's character Vasu, seems to be inspired by Harry Potter. Both were chosen to fight an opponent more powerful than them. Both were, initially, unconfident and mentally shattered but were specially trained to become what they were destined for. Above all, both committed mistakes, were vulnerable and humane as a consequence they are relatable to readers.

The story is full action and adventure, puzzles and riddles. Vasu and his friends were on a rollercoaster ride in their quest to destroy the talisman of Kali which is a bit similar to that of Voldemort's horcrux.

All in all it was a complete fun and mind boggling to read. The Kalki Chronicles series is definitely to watch out for.

[Anupama C K(b0rn_2_read) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have always been a mythology fan . In childhood , it was through Amar Chitra Katha from Kindle and DD1 , the serials. Now it is mythological retellings , my favourite authors are Amish Tripathi and Kavita Kane. The 10 incarnations of Vishnu is always a topic of conversation in my house , as still there are confusions on which are the 10. Matsya ,Kurma ,Varaha ,Narasimha ,Vamana ,Parasurama ,Rama,Krishna,Kalki . Some say Balarama is the 8th avatar and Krishna the 9th while  others  say that  Krishna is the 8th avatar and Buddha is the 9th one .

Coming to the book , this one is about Kalki. The person who is supposed to bring an end to Kaliyuga,according to the other books i have read , he is pictured as riding a white horse with a sword in his hand and  will be  born to Sumati and Vishnuyasha . Our protagonist , Vasu was born to Sumati and Vishnuyasha,he is 15 years old , a kid who keeps to himself and loves nature. The story takes us through how Vasu become Kalki. Kalki avatar's purpose is to fight against Kali and bring an end to Kaliyuga. This is the first part of the Kalki chronicles. 

It was a fast paced book. I loved it. Looking forward to read more of the Kalki chronicles. I enjoyed Vasu's quest and the puzzles. Since I'm a mythology fan, most of the the characters were familiar to me. It reminded me of the Shiva Trilogy and Harry Potter, at times. 

Recommend for readers who love  mythology. 

[Sheetal Maurya - Godse (Halo of Books) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In last year, I have read several mythologies based adventurous book. Being a mythology fan, I truly enjoyed them. The name of the book and blurb are enough to attract any mythology lover like me. So let’s check what a distinct flavor, this book gives to the readers.

Plot summary:

Vasu is a young boy, who lives with her mother Sumati and father Vishnuyash in Kashmir. Since childhood, Vasu suffered from strange dreams, leading him to a sleepless night. His parent feels very bad for him, but can’t do anything.

Then one day, an unexpected thing happens and some goon kills Vishnuyash, leaving young Vasu and Sumati terrified. At that time, a warrior comes and rescues them. He took them to a hidden place and told him that he has been assigned to an important task.

Unaware, Vasu took time to digest the sudden events in his life.

In heaven, Lord Indra is tensed as Prithvi is in chaos and he is partially responsible for this. Adi Parishakti has warned Indra and the other Devas.

On the other hand, Kali is making sure that Prithvi will be destructed soon.

To save the Prithvi, the tenth avatar of Vishnu, Kalki has to fight to Kali and have to end this Kaliyuga.

Kali has come into existence due to the selfishness of Devas thus he is seeking a revenge.

Vasu is supposed to be the avatar of Vishnu but he has to prepare well to win the fight over Kali. But can a mere boy be Kalki? How is he going to fight Kali?

The story moves presently with the link of our mythology stories of Mahabharata and Ramayana.

Writing style:

The author has divided the book into small chapters, which gives ease to the readers. The narration is interesting and the story moves at speed. The language is quite simple, making it suitable for readers of all ages. There are many characters in the story, but all are very well presented.

My perception:

This book is truly enjoyable. The author has picked up a very good topic and the way his imagination worked is remarkable. I loved the way he has weaved the scenario based on mythology. There is not a single dull moment in the book. This book is going to be in series so the author has ended this book on an interesting note. This book is another great mythological fiction which shouldn’t be missed by any fantasy or mythology lovers.

[Shilpi Chaklanobis · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as I remember, “Palace of Illusions” by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni was the first of its style that laid the foundation stone for fiction based on mythological epics. After that with the release of Karna’s Wife and Amish Tripathi’s Shiva Trilogy, the market got flooded with mythological fiction. Some were good and some, average or below average.
Manthan is the latest in the series and is the tale of Vasu who was destined to be Kalki, the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu. The book narrates the journey of Vasu from a normal boy to a warrior who discovers his true potential and purpose to free the world from the wraths of Kali.
Mahabharata has always been my favourite epic and when it is about Mahabharata, I love each and everything about it. So I was immediately drawn towards the book though I was well aware that it is a work of fiction. However, the book did not disappoint me. The book has been written with so much conviction and logical explanation that it is a delight to read it.
The plot is interesting. The story revolves around Vasu, his transformation into a warrior and his journey towards the end of Kali. The story has all the ingredients to hook the reader till the end. With ample dose of action, adventure and riddles, the book takes the reader to an enthralling journey.
The description and narration style is simple and lucid. Usage of words is simple and one does not need a dictionary to read the book.
The characters have been developed well and seem real with their own fears and insecurities.
I liked the title and cover of the book very much. The way the title has been written is very interesting and immediately catches the attention.
Overall, Manthan by Utkarsha Pandey is a captivating read. Looking forward to read the next in the series. Recommend to all who love reading mythology based fiction.

[Hema · Rating 3 out of 5]

Manthan by Utkarsh Pandey is fictional mythological book and the 1st in series... i would give it a 3.5🌟its a story about a boy Vasu who stays with his parents and is like every other boy... after his father's death his life changes completely.. the journey of him becoming a warrior starts from there onwards...he comes to know he is the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu, Kalki and has been born to fight against the evil Kali and than kaliyuga will come to an end.. the books has adventures, emotions everything for it to be a great read...but it took me some time to get use to the characters because there were soo many... the best part is chapters are small soo u can quickly go and complete.. for people who really enjoy fictional mythological books this one is for u ...thanks to the Book Planet PR team for giving me this chance in exchange of honest review

[Chetana Thakur Chakraborty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stories related to mythology have always fascinated me since childhood. In the recent years, there has been a lot of fictional works produced based on Indian mythology (for example: 'The Shiva Trilogy' and 'The Ramchandra Series' by Amish; 'Jaya' and 'Sita' by Devdutt Pattanaik; 'Asura' by Anand Neelkantan; 'The Palace Of Illusions' by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, to name a few) and I found most of them are really good and interesting. 'Manthan' by Utkarsh Pandey is one such book. It is the first book in the series 'The Kalki Chronicles'.
'Manthan' narrates the tale of Vasu, the son of Sumati and Vishnuyash, who was destined to be Kalki, the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu on Earth. Vasu's life takes an unexpected turn when his father gets killed by Kalchakra, Kali's most trusted follower, disguised as a policeman. What follows is Vasu's journey from a mere boy to a fierce warrior with great powers and responsibilities vested upon him.
Will Vasu be able to destroy Kali's all five talismans? Will he be able to defeat Kali and bring an end to Kaliyuga?
The book is packed with action, adventure, puzzles and emotions as well. The themes of love and bonding also form a part of the story. The plot is interesting and the language is lucid. The chapters are really small which makes it a page-turner and easier to complete.
The best part of the story is how it narrates various mythological events in the course of the plot. Also, 'Manthan' portrays Karma working at its best. No one, not even the Gods are spared by Karma. Sooner or later everyone has to pay for their deeds.
I am eagerly waiting for the next book of this series.

The book is recommended to all the mythological-fiction lovers!

[Gitanjali Kalia · Rating 5 out of 5]

We all have been fascinated by the mythological stories since our childhood and this fictional work help us relive those stories.
‘Manthan’ is the first book in ‘The Kalki Chroncles’. It is based on story of a much talked about Kalki avatar that has its mention in our mythological books that is expected to come at the end of Kaliyug.
The story revolves around the boy named Vasu and his journey of being Kalki , the tenth avatar of Lord Vishnu who is destined fight against the evil named ‘Kali’. This fictional works takes you on rollercoaster ride that is blend of action, drama, emotion, magic, illusion and hidden moral lessons too.
Like any other dramatic story this book plots a battle between good and evil. The characters of the novel are all godly named and has been described as personified humans which makes the work very interesting. The author has written the novel in such a style and language that keeps the reader gripped and engrossed.
The cover of the book attracts attentions and the title is also written in much styled manner. This first book in series of ‘The Kalki Chronicles’ certainly creates interest for the further sequence of the series as well.

[Samata · Rating 5 out of 5]

Manthan proved to be an extremely interesting read for me especially since it presents a fictionalized view of an ancient mythological belief relevant for the modern times. The simple language and the strong character building of Vasu from being a normal child to becoming a warrior God add to the entertainment value of the book. Despite being a war saga, the story is full of great emotion and ensures that the readers are able to feel a unique connection with Vasu. The book is a great addition to my collection and am already looking forward to reading the sequels in future, while wishing Utkarsh great success with Manthan.

[Brian Dsouza]

Great start and waiting for part 2

The book is nicely paced and explains the characters well. Considering it's the author's first book the writing will just get better

Liked the back story on the most of the characters. Not being a hindu didn't make me go to the reference books to find out the connections.

I have a few more of such books to read but just didn't pick them up. After this one will pick those up as well.

Asking the author for next episode ....

[Ashish Mohan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting, thrilling, awesomeness redefined..

Utkarsh is on the way of becoming next Amish.. Kalki series is unputdownable.. Manthan doesn't seem to be Utkarsh's first attempt. Characters are very well created and language is crisp and easy. Flow is lucid and takes the reader to the mythical world we didn't even imagine. Manthan is a brave attempt giving u a mixed adventure between Naga trilogy and Harry Potter series.. eagerly awaiting for the sequels..

[Mugdha Mahajan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was always fascinated by the mythological stories since my childhood and this fictional work helped me relive those stories. The author is able to create a masterpiece in his debut novel itself. I was actually not able to put down this book.
This book is based on the much awaited Vishnu avatar Kalki who is expected to come at the end of Kaliyug. The story starts with a boy named Vasu who is being protected by gods since he is known to be Vishnu avtaar, Kalki. His sole mission is to protect the Prithvi from the cruelties of Kali, the evil. Then follows the journey of Vasu from being an ordinary boy to becoming a warrior in order to fight the evil. The story is full of emotions, action, drama, magic, fantasy elements and moral lessons too.
The author has used very simple language and the story is well paced. the characters are explained well. It is an interesting read and I actually loved the book. The first part of the series has created so much interest that I am eagerly waiting for its sequel.
My Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟
Buy this book here * I received a copy from The Book Planet PR in exchange for an honest and unbiased review*

[Amit Pamnani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Manthan, is a mythological novel which focuses on various avatars of Lord Krishna and other Gods. The story is mainly focussed on the Kalki avatar.
The story is about a boy Vasu in present day, who lives with his mother Sumati and father Vishnuyash. He has this recurring dream of battle fields, in which he is the king and his army looks upto him to give the next orders. But, in real life, Vasu doesn’t like wars and he always ended up screaming that he doesn’t want to fight.
His parents kept worrying about his recurring dream since they knew a secret which Vasu didn’t. Apparently, before Vasu was born, there was a mysterious accident and his wife was on her death bed and her unborn child was dead in her womb. It is then that a Saint had come to Vishnuyash and told him that he could save both, the mother and the child only if they promised to give the son to him once he was fifteen years of age!
This boy, the Saint knew was none other than the Kalki avatar who had been born to save Prithvi.
The story revolves around three sections. One, is the section of Gods, the heaven where Devas reside. The other is the Prithvi, and the third section belongs to Kali, whose Yug is going to end once Vasu takes over.
The Devas are worried because Prithvi lok is in utter chaos and their head Adi Parishakti, has warned if the affairs of Prithvi are not brought in order immediately, she would have no option but to end the Prithvi lok. The Gods are worried about it and hope the latest avatar Kalki, would sort this out for them and save Prithvilok.
Kali, is ruling the world in his Kaliyug, he doesn’t want to end his rule, even if Prithvi would cease to exist. His demonic ways has brought the situation of Prithvi this far.
Vasu, the kalki avatar who has been sent to Prithvi to save the world, needs to destroy the four talisman of Kali, so that his rule would be over and Prithvi would be back in order as Adi Parishakti desired.
The story spreads over a timeline of hundreds of centuries, and various lifetimes of various Gods, ranging from the time of Ramayana, Mahabharata to present day. It connects all the important mythological events in a logical way and suggests that any karma done in any of the lifetime is accounted for in either the same lifetime or some other. Even Gods like Lord Krishna are not spared of this.
The characters of the story have various reincarnations explained and how they all get involved in saving Prithvi lok from Kali.
Manthan, is primarily a mythological novel which has its own share of fantasy, romance and plenty of action. Utkarsh Pandey, the author needs to be commended on the research he has done before penning down this novel, since any event in mythology cannot be imagined, it has to be well read before so that any of the event does not clash with its original form.
Since this story involves more than a dozen mythological events, each event needed to be carefully read about and then connected to one another.
The writing is clear and well written to visualise all the events unfolding in front of you as you go on reading it.
The end though I felt was a bit open ended, maybe it was a deliberate attempt to give an opportunity for a sequel to Manthan.
All in all, a good read, an eye opener to various mythological events, in fact, one novel which would make you educated about various events in one go.

[Aaliya Thahseen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plot:

When the Gods (Devas) banter and bicker amongst themselves, fearing the wrath of Adi Parashakthi (Supreme Goddess) would befall them, they bank on a young boy named Vasu to vanquish the ultimate threat to Prithvi – Kali! Believed to be an Avatar of Vishnu himself, Kalki would rise to take charge, prevent the destruction of mankind and obliterate the dark ages or Kaliyuga.

My Take:

The first book of the Kalki Chronicles, Manthan doesn’t fail to keep on your toes as it draws you into the trio’s (Vasu, Padma and Bhairav) invigorating journey to save mankind from the clutches of Kali (Basically a good God gone bad). There are intricate stories within the actual tale itself which is a fanatical load of information. You might want to persistently pay attention to those details as it aids with a better grasp of what the author is attempting to convey as a whole.

Being embodiments of the Gods from Hindu Mythology, the characters are embedded with their essence and thus blessed with incredible powers (Some unbeknownst to them). Bhairav was one such character who possessed the potential of a five-hooded snake, gifted with shape-shifting and compulsion powers and so much more. The ingenious amalgamation of fictional and mythological elements make this book all the more special. Although I found the base of the story to converge with that of the Harry Potter and the Percy Jackson series (Face it, they are going to be pillars of comparison for a lifetime), the author manages to steer the reader’s attention to the core of the story.

There were a few faltering episodes but you have got to hand it to this brave attempt to tell an amazing story of the Gods (Hindu Mythology). I’ve always been fascinated by this genre as and my very first book was Dark Things…by Sudha Kuruganti. It made me realize the potential of this genre in particular and the possible fictional reiterations it can produce. And thus, I began my quest to seek out these fruitful gems to feed my reader’s soul.

Writing Style:

The author has a no-nonsense tone and a pen full of gusto. The pleasing eloquence of the narrative and the subtlety in his language makes it a compelling piece you don’t want to miss. I think he has narrowed down the perfect modulation to relay this piece as it’s a combination of comfort and awe.

Final Note:

If you are fascinated by the texture of Lord Shiva’s hair then this is the book for you. Just kidding! It’s a tale of intensified mythological facts and stories, peppered with a generous serving of magic and lore! Oh and did I mention that there are DRAGONS! YES – DRAGONS! Pick this one if you are an ardent fan of Indian Mythology.

** Thank you for the review copy, The Book Planet PR! **

[Gaurav Bajpai · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story is about a boy ‘Vasu’ and his struggles to become a God. He is living in a world which is getting corrupt and dark as the days passing on of the Kaliyug, as the name depicts the era of darkness. The boy has visions in his dreams of a great war that is coming and the devastations coming with it. His parents are worried but after some turn of events he met the avatar of Lord Shiva ‘Parashuram’ and he got to know that he is the next incarnation of Lord Vishnu, ‘The Kalki Avatar’. And from there his journey began to fulfil his destiny. But can he do it? Because there are a lot of obstacles on the way from the antagonist ‘Kali’. Kali is the one who has the control over every human being.

There are so many events that would surely amaze you. I am a fan of Mythology and a devotee of Lord Krishna and I adore Lord Vishnu’s incarnations. His tales amaze me in every aspect. The writer has a beautiful sense of storytelling; he knows how to get attention of the reader. I was bound to the story from the first chapter. I was really keen to read the next chapter and just keep on going. There are five lead characters around them the story revolves. I liked every character whether it is Padma who is also a warrior & the love interest of Vasu, Bhairav who is a devotee and a dear friend, Ashwathama the guru of Vasu or Parashuram. Every character has their different charisma and an aura that light up the story some more. I seriously have no negative point about the book like seriously; this is one of surely the best novel that I read and the one mythology genre book that I read after a year.

As this book is only the first book in the kalki series, I am excited to read the next book soon and hoping for another adventurous journey.

[Antariksh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished reading Manthan which is a fiction on Kalki - the tenth avatar of Hindu pantheon and how he fights against his enemy Kali. Kalki in the story, is born in modern world and gradually becomes aware of the mission of life , that is to restore Dharma.

It is a beautifully written fiction and author using his deep knowledge of events about past avatars, has created a story which is fascinating. Relationship of Kalki with Padma (Goddess Lakshmi) is also portrayed wonderfully and how they both cooperate to defeat Kalki is thrilling.
Once started it is difficult to keep the book down and i am now waiting for the next part of the Kalki chronicles.

I believe books like these help us to stay connected to our past and also provide amazing moral lessons to us in a non-pedagogic manner. Interesting to read as a new year resolution 😛

Hats off to author for his deep knowledge of Indian scriptures.

Another 21 guns salute as he managed to write this amazing book even while being a full time software engineer.

[Rylee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved all the characters and the way the author tells the story! The writing was amazing and flowed really well. I definitely recommend this book to others!

[Ankita Arora · Rating 4 out of 5]

*long review below*

But to their great surprise and wonder, they stumbled upon a divine sight.
Before them was the sunken city, Dwarka
Though in ruins, the scene told the story of the spectacular city that had once
existed.

Vasu remained silent for a moment. He had experienced a mystical
experience for a few minutes when he had touched Lord Vishnu’s feet.
‘As soon as I touched his feet, I felt as if my soul left my body. It floated in a
trance. I could see nothing, but I could feel peace, eternal peace.
‘Where am I?’ I asked.
‘A voice said, ‘Vaikuntha.’
‘Who are you?’ I questioned.
‘I am the reason for your existence. I am the purpose of your existence. I am
the source of your existence. The world knows me as Vishnu, Vasu.’

This is the story of Vasu, born in a simple family to Sumati and Vishnuyash. He is haunted by dreams of Devas surrounding him and begging him to fight alongside them since he was 5 years old. One such night, when he was 15, he was crying in his sleep and was brought to senses by his parents who were now scared that what had happened 15 years ago, at the time of Vasu's birth maybe coming back to take him away from them.

When Sumati was 7 months pregnant, she was caught in a fire and couldn't be saved by the doctors. Vishnuyash, agonized by his pain, consorted to praying to the Gods for a miracle. To his surprise, an old man sat next to him and knew his plight. He offered him a choice, either to let his wife and son die or let the old man bring them back to life on one condition, that 15 years later he will come again to take his son with him, as he is destined for something bigger. Vishnuyash accepted the offer and to his shock, the old man called himself Parashuram.

After that night of the dream, one early morning, few policemen came knocking their door to arrest them on suspicion of them being involved in terrorist activities. They halted near a graveyard and killed Vishnuyash and were going to kill Sumati next. A guy in a black coat with only his eyes visible, came to the rescue and saved Vasu and Sumati from the policemen, killed all but one, who was actually Kalachakra, the most trusted disciple of Kali! And the guy in the black coat was later revealed to be Ashwatthama, son of Dronacharya.

What enfolds further, is the tale of Vasu, how he faces the reality that he is the next Avatar of Vishnu after Lord Krishna, called Kalki, born to bring Prithvi back to peace, and defeat Kali who cannot be killed until he so wishes himself, a boon given to him by Lord Shiva himself!

You will find many verses of mythology, intertwined with amazing work of fiction in this novel. Not even at a single moment will you feel disconnected with the story. You will meet all those characters of Mahabharata and Ramayana that made those the epics they are today. With many twists and turns to the plot, there is friendship, love, worship, greed, malice, and the battle for power, all placed effectively.

With Parashurama by his side guiding him at every step, Ashwatthama as his guru, Padma his companion and Avatar of Goddess Lakshmi herself, and Bhairav (son of Shesha) as his protector and friend, will Vasu truly come to terms with him being Kalki, the protector of all that is known? Will he find the weapons to destroy the 5 talismans of Kali? WIll he succeed ultimately in defeating Kali?

You will find everyone having done sins and had to pay for them, even the Tridev themselves! For a person who always believes these epic mythologies to be just a great work of fiction, I thought this was amazing! Putting Krishna at fault, Indra, Shiva, Brahma at fault! And giving the message that everyone pays for their deeds in this life only. Karma never fails to bring the scales back to justice.

I can't wait for the next part of this trilogy!
My rating: 3.75/5
I recommend!!

Buy from Amazon

[Karthik Kailash · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Devas,led by Lord Indra, are a worried lot. Prithvi is being destroyed by Kali, the present age,and Maa Para Shakti, who has entrusted the same to the Devas isn't happy. With no other choice, and unwilling to let her children in Prithvi meet their end, she consents to let an ancient Mantra come true yet once again.

yada yada hi dharmasya glanir bhavati bharata abhyutthanam adharmasya tadatmanam srjamy aham

Whenever and wherever there is a decline in religious practice, O descendant of Bharata, and a predominant rise of irreligion--at that time I descend Myself.

And thus heralded the arrival of the 10th Avatar of Mahavishnu,the Kalki Avatar. Read on to see the saga of the Avatar in book 1 of the triology.

Lovely construct and a real treat for mythological buffs like me. Simple yet flowing, a book that holds you till the last page. And makes you await the release of the next one.