Kartikeya

by Anuja Chandramouli

Unravel the puzzle that is the mysterious and misunderstood son of Mahadeva—KARTIKEYA.
Kartikeya was born from the flames of a desperate need, an ardent desire, and an utmost devastation. In him was distilled the terrible powers of Mahadev, at its fiercest and most deadly. Although he fought many wars and slew many tyrants, yet his gifts to humanity have always been those of mercy, compassion and love. What makes this possible?
For Kartikeya, there have always been more questions than answers. Did he really walk away from his family over a piece of fruit? What about the women in his life—was he the ravisher he is at times accused of being, or the protector of women? Was he the violent warrior who revelled in bloodlust, or a gentle family man? What was his relationship with his more popular sibling, Ganesha?
Anuja Chandramouli weaves together myth, imagination and folklore while looking to answer these questions, and recreates for modern readers the story of one of the most enigmatic gods—Kartikeya.

Genres: Mythology, Fantasy, Indian Literature, Adult, India

237 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 1, 2017

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

[Supratim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank the author for providing me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I am giving the book a rating of 3.5 which I am rounding off to 4.

Before I began the review please let me introduce you to the eponymous hero of the book. In Indian mythology, Lord Kartikeya is son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Durga, and the commander-in-chief of the divine army.

I had started the book with great interest. I come from a place where the worship of Kartikeya is not popular. There is a festival in his honour but there are no temples dedicated to him. I literally had minimal knowledge about him and therefore intrigued by this book.

Anyways, let us come to the book now. It recounts the mythology around Kartikeya’s birth, some of his adventures, and also the shenanigans and peccadilloes of the Gods and demigods. The latter behave like the mortals over whom they lord, and feel love, longing, anger, jealousy, pettiness, greed and what not.

Kartikeya was born to slay mighty Asuras and restore the defeated Deva King Indra, to what Indra considered his rightful place. Kartikeya was an invincible warrior who had inherited his father, Shiva the Destroyer’s powers. But, he was a generous soul – a benevolent warrior God who not only liberated the oppressed from their tyrants but also the tyrants from themselves. Like his ascetic father, Kartikeya had no greed for power and voluntarily relinquished it. But, Kartikeya the handsome God was very popular among the female species irrespective of race- whether mortal or deva or asura. An enjoyable character in this book is Chitra, Kartikeya’s mount – a talking peacock.

The biggest villain in the book was not any Asura. On the contrary, it was Indra himself. A character so blinded by the trappings of power that he could stoop to the lowest level to further his interests.
The story of the birth of Lord Ganesh, Kartikeya’s younger brother was different from the version that I knew. But, there are different versions of the same event in Indian mythology.

Another thing I need to tell you – the book has some pretty graphic adult content. So you can’t read the book to kids!

I have always enjoyed Anuja Chandramouli’s writing and this book is finely written. The author's command over language is highly impressive. My rating has been largely influenced by her skill with her words. However, I have a couple of criticisms of the book.

First, I felt the book ended a bit abruptly. It says that Kartikeya came down to the southern parts of India. Worship of Kartikeya is very common in these parts of our country. But, the book did not say if he did any great deeds down here. From the internet, I found that there are Kartikeya temples in Sri Lanka and, to my surprise, Malaysia as well. I hope the author had elaborated on these things.

Second, the book does not delve into the symbolisms behind our mythology. It is said that Kartikeya’s victory over the Asura kings actually represent his victory over ego His depiction as a six-headed figure represents the five sense organs and the mind, which co-ordinates their activities. When these are controlled, refined and sublimated, man becomes a superman. This is the implication of the symbology. Lord Kartikeya is known by many names such as Murugan, Subramanya among others. I wish the book talked about this aspect as well.

Overall - a decent book. You will learn a few things about Kartikeya and you might even be enthused to explore the character more. If you like retellings of Indian mythology, then you might think of giving it a try.

[Vishnu Chevli · Rating 3 out of 5]

We have heard many stories about Ganesha, but stories of his brother Kartikeya were limited. I was always curious about Kartikeya so this book was enlightening for me.

The Kartikeya is the first son of the destroyer Shiva and the goddess Parvati. He was also chief commander of Deva's army. The purpose of Kartikeya's birth was to kill Asura king who has taken charge of heaven and to restore the place of Indra as king of heaven. Kartikeya was a benevolent warrior and a generous soul. The handsome God was also popular amongst the female and every female irrespective of race loved him.

To my surprise, in this book the antagonist was the God of heaven Indra, whose character was shown as greedy and hungry for power. Also, the story of the birth of Ganesh was quite unexpected as I know a bit different version of the story. The book has some adult content so you can't read this book to kids.

I liked this book throughout only the end was a bit odd for me. But overall it was quite enlightening, spiritual and good read.

Detailed Review Link - http://chevusread.blogspot.in/2017/12...

[Archit · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anuja Chandramouli is a thesaurus of traditional mythology. Her latest novel Kartikeya is an engaging handbook on a character of Indian Mythology which is somewhat least popular. Her dedication into writing about someone whose journey is unknown to the masses speaks volume.

There is a humongous stories about the son of Shiva and Parvati, Lord Ganesha. But there is hardly any story to enlighten us about Ganesha's big brother, Kartikeya. With Lord Indra as the antagonist, the book turns out to be a surprise.

Amalgamating fiction with mythology and rendering the novel a modern look, the author has done an applauding work. She has offered both sacred stories in the form of short incidences and an intriguing perspective of various characters.

An entertaining and insightful mythology. You read this book and can tell how much research would have gone behind it. This can be an ideal reference to a reader who wants to know about the protagonists's journey. One will start appreciating the protagonist more after going through this work.

Recommended to the History buffs!

[Ushasree N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmmm... I am not sure where to start with this one. On five occasions, I wanted to discard the book as "cannot read." But, as it is my habit to finish everything I start, I picked it up and continued the painful journey. Here are somethings to consider before venturing to read the book:
1.I have read a lot of mythology, puranas, their interpretations and all. This book is far from the actual story and it irked me.
2. The writing is not smooth and is a fine example of purple prose. It almost seemed like the author wanted to flaunt her language skills rather than engage the reader with a gripping story.
3. Lack of research clearly evident in the read.
4. The plot is too thin and the descriptions overshadow the tale. Also, where details were necessary, they aren't found and/or rushed.
5. The beautiful back stories are what make mythology intriguing and gripping. Here they were reduced to a couple paragraphs on every occasion.
Over all, I am thoroughly disappointed and would not recommend this book to anyone. My rating is generous. I'd have given it a one star, but settled for 2 for all the effort that went into bringing a book out.
Sorry, but, this was not for me.

[Lady Clementina ffinch-ffarowmore · Rating 4 out of 5]

My thanks to the author for a review copy of this book.

This was a book that I was interested to read because its focus is Kartikeya, the older (though in some accounts younger) son of Shiv, the god of destruction and his consort Parvati. It is their younger son, the elephant-headed Ganesha who is more popular. In fact, I knew very little about Kartikeya except seeing his idol in the Durga Puja where he stands, with his mount the peacock, alongside his mother, brother, and other deities; a little from mythological shows on TV; that he is more revered in the South of the country; and the only story I’d really read/knew of before was really to do with Ganesha’s intelligence. So, of course I was keen to see what this would tell me of Kartikeya. The book tells the rather unique tale of Kartikeya’s birth, his early life at Mount Kailash with his parents, and the prophesy that it is he who will bring an end to the rule of the three asuras―Soora, Simha, and Taraka―over the three worlds and restore the king of the devas Indra to power. We are acquainted with his prowess in war, his compassion towards his “enemies” (some of them, anyway) and also, perhaps, some of the more infamous tales associated with him, which the author interprets somewhat more positively, as in keeping with his character, his infinite capacity for loving and being there for any that needs him, rather than a flaw as one might ordinarily view it. We are also told of how he acquires his rather loquacious mount, Chitra the peacock, at once fun and annoying, and his meeting with his consorts Devasena, Indra’s daughter and Valli.

Kartikeya is handsome, compassionate, and while a warrior, keen also to maintain peace. In fact his is the only rational voice in his family, his parents being more tempestuous and inclined to fly off the handle, much too easily for their own good. When in war, Devasena helps him see the less violent way to give the asuras their just desserts, but he doesn’t shy away from giving those that deserve it a worse end. Also he is not power-hungry like Indra, and in fact, prefers to leave it to others who he sees more capable of bearing it. It was interesting to learn how it happened that Kartikeya headed to the South but as another reviewer has also said, I would have liked to have learnt more of his adventures there. We are told that he endeared himself to the people there but not why.

What I enjoyed in the book was really the various legends and stories about Kartikeya and his family, though being mythology in its full-blown form, it does tend to get explicit, which I could have done without. While I knew of that the devas were indeed subject to the same failings as mortals, it was interesting that even the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva aren’t quite free of these. In fact, their lives aren’t all that very different from ours, affected by jealousy, anger, and unfortunately also, the women among them being at the receiving end of injustice. It in fact, even makes one wonder why the distinction between gods and mortals, when they seem essentially the same. Of the devas, Indra the king is a rather debauched, depraved and treacherous soul making one wonder why one so unworthy was ever made king (haven’t read enough mythology to know much of his story―more his misdeeds that anything positive). The three asura brothers are far better people, as while they may well have been responsible for much violence and pain, it is Indra that has provoked them into it with his own reprehensible acts. Not only that, the asuras realise that power or even the fulfilment of one’s deepest wishes brings with it unhappiness and discontent, not what one was seeking.

Chandramouli’s descriptions are vivid (even the gory ones, some of which send a chill up one’s spine) and her command over the language very good, though there were places where colloquialisms creep in (for instance Kartikeya “showing up” somewhere) which seem somewhat out of place in a mythological setting.

Three and a half stars.

[Bharath · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading mythological fiction. Being a fan of Joseph Campbell - I believe the metaphors in mythology are rich and have a lot to offer for learning and growing to us. And this is a good period to read mythological fiction - there is especially a great selection of it (especially based on Indian mythology) coming out in recent years.

Kartikeya is the story of Shiva & Parvathi's son - retold with considerable new background and a largely untold story line. Kartikeya's character is well developed - a very balanced, sensitive and strong individual who has Shiva's power, Parvathi's sensitivity and a sense of responsibility for uploading Dharma. The story of Kartikeya's birth as told in this book is very unusual and different (and also quite odd). He rises to protect and save the Devas who face great dangers from Taraka and his brothers. While Kartikeya is strong, he is also extremely compassionate - never using his strength to crush his opponents. Indra's characterization in the book is out of the usual as well. Kartikeya's relation with Devasena and later Valli are developed very well in the book and make for good reading. Some of the violence is quite graphic, and I personally felt unnecessarily so at times. This could have been toned down and the characters spiritual sides could have been lent more depth; and the relation between Shiva and Parvathi could have been treated differently though it ties up very well at the end.

Overall a much recommended read if mythological fiction interests you. As you close the book, you will better appreciate Kartikeya and this book is sure to surface in your thoughts as you enter any Kartikeya temple.

I received a free copy of the book from the author to provide an honest review.

[Anushree · Rating 4 out of 5]

I chanced upon this book when the author approached me through my blog. I am going to say I am quite fortunate to have been found by her. This discovery wouldn’t have happened otherwise. I had almost given up on mythological fiction by contemporary authors.

I am delighted to say that Anuja Chandramouli’s story-telling was a breath of fresh air in the stale bygone mythological perspectives that have long been told since centuries.

Anuja, in her book about the lesser-known sibling of the effervescent Ganesha, touches upon various ancient as well as coming-of-age themes like good vs. evil, familial feuds, the meaning and importance of letting go, values and principles. The language is lyrical and certain passages, when read aloud, sound almost mystical owing to some brilliant usage of words.

Indra has lost his throne to Soorapadma, one of the three sons of Maya. The three asuras are wreaking havoc on the earth and the one destined to end this havoc is yet to be born. Shiva is still reeling under the impact of the loss of his beloved Shakti and despite she being returned to him in the form of Parvati, it is becoming hard for him to consummate the marriage. The story takes us through the forced yet powerful birth of Kartikeya, owing to the impatience of devas, and to his further life where he performs the deeds he was destined for.

History is always written by the victors and naturally the loser’s point of view is always lesser known and many times, bitter. Anuja’s book gives it its due importance. Evil has its principles too and most often than not, the victor is more likely to play the dirtier game. So who wins eventually?

“He was Soorapadma, one of the greatest warriors in the history of the three worlds and while he was no saint, he drew the line at spying on the love-making of newly-weds and hatching nefarious plots to prevent the conception of their children. That sort of vulgar depravity was exactly the sort of thing his nemesis, Indra, was capable of stooping to, but he would be damned if he was going to cower in fear over an unborn child. Even if the said infant was born to Shiva for the express purpose of killing him.”

Indra, despite being a God, is conflicted in his ethics and morals. So was the evil one taking a high moral ground here or just being arrogant?

"It is too bad Mother forgot to tell us that getting your heart’s desire is oftentimes the worst thing that can happen to you.”

Here the ‘Mother’ is Maya. Someone who seems to have fed her sons with hate since their conception. Raised them with the sole aim of defeating the devas. So who is perfectly happy? The one who has all or the one who doesn’t?

"You are not dithering but merely teaching them an invaluable lesson on the futility of waiting for heroes to come to the rescue when they should be expending all their strength and energy on making better lives themselves.”

Should one wait for the leaders to guide them out of their problems or put all that effort in pulling themselves out?

Above few and some more philosophical questions have been reflected upon in the book subtly. Apart from the somber ideas, Anuja has put in some lighter elements in the book too, in the form of the characters of Chitra, the peacock who is the vehicle of Kartikeya in addition to being a dear friend, and Ganesha, who takes form from Nesha at a later part (something I kind of disliked at a fundamental level – I mean why would Shiva turn his daughter into a son later – but I let this go for the sake of the story! Any leads on this will be appreciated). Both these characters use entertaining and sardonic dialogues and hence are quite fun whenever they appear. The sibling relationship between Kartikeya and Nesha and later Kartikeya and Ganesha is also very beautifully portrayed.

Portrayal of women/feminine in mythological narrative has always been a problem area for me, personally. I understand the argument, ‘Oh that was a patriarchal time!’ (Not that it isn’t now), but I don’t buy it much. Divakaruni wrote a powerful Draupadi. Shivaji Sawant wrote a powerful Kunti and Vrushali. Volga wrote powerful Sita, Shurpanakha, Ahalya, Urmila, Renuka. It is possible. Their fates may remain unchanged but the way they deal with it can be narrated powerfully. Which is why I said Anuja’s book was refreshing!

In her story, Ajamukhi, the sister of the Asuras, stands her ground with unyielding determination, when confronted by Indra and his wife Sachi, despite knowing that she is going to be used as a pawn in the fight between Devas and Asuras. The six Kartikeyas who foster Kartikeya, assume a warrior form to fight any hurdle they might face in bringing him up. Ganga, Kali and Shakti might have a very little role to play in this story but we know their feminine energy is not one that can be tamed without their wish. Nesha, who is the initial form of Ganesha, the daughter of Parvati, doesn’t once allow her father to put her mother down.

“Go away, you beast! My mother, greatest of the Goddesses, deserves better than you! Leave now before I am forced to kill you.”

Devasena, Kartikeya’s wife, doesn’t falter when guiding him with her wisdom and he doesn’t hesitate asking that from her. Parvati, in this book, is surely the all-sacrificing mother like we know already, but she is ferocious, takes firm stands and doesn’t hesitate at all to show Shiva that he is nothing without her.

"Shiva gathered her in her arms, no doubt assuming that by mouthing inane platitudes and making love to her he would be able to kiss away the cares that beset her and restore her equanimity he liked best about his wife. After all this time, he still did not know her as well as she knew him. It was infuriating and made her want to hug him and hit him the same time.”

“My daughter is gone! I cannot forgive you for this and this time you will pay for your arrogance.”

Glaring patriarchy is questioned by every woman. Resignation doesn’t happen and if it does it is after putting up a good fight. That resignation also marks a victory because they cripple others in the wake of it. And none of it has happened by twisting the narrative. It has happened with the story firmly in its place.

“Chaos must be allowed to reign supreme if calm is ever to be restored”

I had only one grouse. I would have loved to read some more event-narration. The ups and downs were happening quickly. It all started and ended too quickly too. This could have been even more epic if some more events would have been discussed in depth. Nevertheless, nothing stops me from asking Anuja Chandramouli to take a bow, simply because some of the events and dialogs without a doubt gave me gooseflesh.

If you want to read a mythological fiction about a God less narrated in contemporary mytho-fiction, pick this one up. I, for one, am definitely going to hunt down other books by the author.

[Rajan · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster . . . when you gaze long into the abyss the abyss also gazes into you”
― Friedrich Nietzsche

The eternal fight of good and evil is not all black and white. This is my second book of Anuja. First one was “Shakti, The Divine feminine”. I see some common themes in her two books though I am writing about “Kartikeya” here. The story of Kartikeya is not very well known in north India from where I belong. Ganesh is more popular elder son of Shiva in these quarters. Though in south India Kartikeya (aka Murugan in Tamil Nadu) is worshipped with fervour. This books says that Karti is elder.

Indra is petrified to death due to rising power of Soora and his brothers Simha and Taraka. The rotten manipulator as he is, he approaches Vishnu for help. This is what he always does. It is foretold that Shiva’s son will kill Soora. So Vishnu ask him to wait patiently. Ananga (Kamdeva) and his wife Rati are distressed because Shiva incinerated him. Eventually Karti comes to world. Indra and Sachi are happy. Ajamukhi is daughter of Maya and beloved sister of Soora and company. Ajamukhi has nothing to do with their barbaric ways and happy to live away from them. She is killed by Sachi and they are livid. This sets up a deadly war. Indra’s daughter Devsena is Karti’s consort.


1. The best thing I found is language. It is powerful, intelligent, lyrical & poetic. It says so much in one sentence. I marvel at the beauty of it. I savored each sentence many times. The other writer who creates magic like this is Arundhati Roy. If all things are equal these two will score above all with their language. Language is first rate but I need to keep looking up the dictionary :).

2. The book is full of metaphors, symbols and allusions. It is poetry in prose and each reader can draw his own conclusions. I can give many examples but these two should suffice:

a) The instance where Devsena tells how her father took Surya’s chariot and took them for a ride. Surya was apoplectic as he himself denied that privilege to his own children. Don’t we see this everyday happening in modern India? People in position of power bend, flout and usurp rules at their whims and fancy. This is a satire on so called VVIP culture where might is right and different rules for poor and rich.
b) Description of Karti birth. The come of Shiva flew in universe and held by Agni, Vayu and Ganga. This is a clear indication of him being Ganga son though Parvati accepts him as her own. The gods are treated as humans here and though they have super powers they also have human traits.

3. Devas and Asuras are two sides of same coin. Indra is not above reproach. He has all the failings of Asura. He is manipulative, insecure and use every trick in the book to retain power. So after all Nietzsche is right. This is evident from his fall from grace in later religious texts and finally Krishna asks not to worship him (Goverdhan episode). This is happening in today’s politics well. All political parties use every dirty trick to stay in power. There is so little to distinguish them and we just vote according to our own prejudice, insecurities, paradigms and justify every bad action of the party we support. But the better course of action will be to oppose wrongdoings of every political party.

4. I don’t know anything about Kartikeya and hence there is no reference point unlike other mythical retellings. I liked Narendra Kohli’s retelling of Ramayan and Mahabharat in Hindi. He gave a socialist spin. Amish writes fantasy with epic/ mythic/ religious characters. Devdutt has some absurd conclusions/ interpretations in Jaya and other works. In Anuja’s books there are religious characters but treatment is very progressive and feminist. I see this as a very liberal interpretation of religion which is call of the hour. In the day and age of Beef ban, grih vapsi, religion sanctioned terrorism (called Jehad) these kind of books may help us to put things in perspective. My understanding is that our Vedic society was progressive, liberal and matriarchal but later on it became patriarchal and regressive during medieval period.

5. These books are for readers for want something to ponder about and not just some pot boilers (A la Chetan Bhagat). Anuja is a bestselling author and it makes clear that there a market for intelligent literature.


I give the book 5/ 5 stars.

P.S. I asked some questions to extremely talented Ms Anuja Chandramouli. She graciously and kindly granted me her valuable time from extremely busy schedule. This may throw some light on her thinking process for those who are keen to know more. Here is the link https://rajanmogha.blogspot.in/2017/1...

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

“getting your heart’s desire is oftentimes the worst thing that can happen to you! And sometimes all the effort and hard work expended in the pursuit of glory is almost not worth it.”

This is my first book by Mrs. Chandramouli and my first approach to Indian mythology.

A very nice read and great writing! Mrs. Chandramouli gives us beautiful, lyrical prose, impressive at times because of its subtlety of detail and meaning. She makes the reader draw his own conclusions through well placed allusions and describes mythology in such a lovely manner that one cannot help but become interested.

And then there are the characters - strong characters, well-built and complete, with a full range of feelings and emotions. It takes a great writer to draw out characters this complex.

Those who love mythology will definitely love this book.

[Yesha- Books Teacup and Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

*** Note: I received this book from the author, in exchange for an honest review. I’m glad I got chance to read this book. ***

Blurb says it all about this book. It revolves around Karitkeya and his family. Story was third person narrative from perspective of almost all characters about the Kartikeya’ birth, how the world was before his birth and why there was desperate need for his birth, relationship of Parvati and Shiva before and after kartikeya’s birth, how his fate affected his relationship with his mother, birth of Lord Ganesha and his relationship with his brother.

It was quite a domestic mythical story with drama, war, conspiracy, fights, love, romance, jealousy, wisdom, and philosophies here and there. That’s too much right? But it all was awesome, I tell you.

Characters-
Kartikeya– Wielder of his father’s power and as sensitive and emotional as his mother. He was wow in the book. Soft, good-hearted, forgiver yet can kill you with eyes and smile (And I mean it literally). I liked him for almost whole novel only not during his fling after battle. Shouldn’t he being God have done it little differently! Well apart from that I liked the way he dealt with situations whether it was battles dealing with most horrible of villain or his parent’s skirmishes or his mother’s desperate attempts to keep him away from his fate.

Shiva– is known for most powerful of all, subtle, contained in his own tranquility, loving and caring but can kill you if angered. I saw all these characteristics in the book as well as how he was in his domestic life as a husband and as father. It pained me to see his indifference toward Parvati’s concerns and suffering regarding their relationship but as a father he was totally different person who was reserved for his son only. I liked his witty remarks in some tight situations that made me smile and laugh sometimes. Without doubt he was perfect in his imperfections.

Parvati– She was being typical wife and mother in the book but had remarkable determination and was fiercely loving mother. I loved reading her thoughts. They were heart felt.

Chitrabahn– this peacock was my favorite. I laughed out loud at his witty remarks and chatters. (He is right there on cover the normal looking peacock but imagine him talking and by that I mean lot of talking).

Indra– was meanest, power hungry God I ever read till now. His tricks and deeds in the book made me call villains better than him. He was the real antagonist. I never liked him, why he was made king is beyond my understanding.

There were many other characters and if I mentioned them all I might write the whole book again here and that would be boring.

What I liked-
Anuja’s writing was as usual flawless and creative. The way she narrates landscape, characters and their appearance, battles scenes and vivid gory details around it, mental battle of character, it was all impeccable and beyond criticism. Even I liked those romantic and passionate scenes too that I usually don’t like to read. Those who are into literature would love to go through her work. Every time I read her novel I come across another bunch of new words and her unique style of writing just amaze me.

I loved the way story progressed right from the start, telling the story from the view point of characters who had important role behind Kartikeya’s birth or reason for it. The conspiracy started in the beginning only that peaked my interest. There were lots on surprising stories and myths in the book that I never heard or were different from what I heard.

I loved reading about Kartika’s role, how the battle started and it’s most unimaginable end, story behind Parvati’s resentment towards Indra and why Shiva was separated from his first wife, what was the story behind consistent never ending differences between men and women, how Ganesha was created (which was most surprising for me as I have read different and well known version on this). All these were the wow moments of the book that I will never forget.

I also liked the voice of Maya’s sons and daughters. They were the villains, not the daughter, against whom Kartikeya fought, but were paragon of unconditional sibling love. Their story was most fascinating of all. The love between Kartikeya and Devasena was sweet. The way they passed all the test life threw on their way was remarkable and it was also interesting to read how he met his second wife. Philosophy in the book, lessons to learn and some thoughts might be bitter for closed minded but definitely were life changing for those who can grasp it.

Climax was creative with exciting fight and all the great details. The end was beautiful. There could be more to this story but I’m not going to cut the star for it, as tales can be endless when it comes to Indian mythology and anyway author can always write a sequel of this, though there wasn’t any hint.

Overall, well thought and well researched life-story of Kartikeya with vivid descriptions and mind-blowing mythical stories. I recommend this to all Indian Mythology lovers.

[Vignesh Kumar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Anuja Chandramouli for sending me the e-copy of the book for an honest review

The best thing about this short book is the writing. It was lyrical and blunt and honest and beautiful, but also at times redundant and over sweet. I know a great lot about Kartikeya, the God of War. Also known as the Tamil God popularly. As a Tamil Hindu myself, I worship Lord Kartikeya fiercely.

As for the story, Anuja with her ripe imagination, diverted from the mythology a lot keeping the base facts in tow. I didn't like some of the diversions. It felt not necessary. At least for me. This is the tale of Lord Kartikeya, also known as Lord Murugan. How he became a Tamil Lord. How he came from the divine power of Lord Shiva alone without Goddess Parvati.

I deducted a star because some of the descriptions felt over flowery and lyrical and the comparisons she made are a little heady for me to understand first.

On the whole, I really loved this!

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

Before this book, I have never read anything about Lord Kartikeya. We read so many things about Lord Ganesh but we hardly get to read anything about the firstborn of Shiva and Parvati. Thus, I started this book with a great interest.

you can read many such review on my blog http://www.haloofbooks.com

Plot summary:

Indra is overthrown and demon Soorpadma has taken his throne. Though he is a great devotee of Lord Shiva he is destined to be killed by Shiva’s son. Indra badly wants to regain his throne.

Kartikeya’s birth was quite adventurous and he turned out to be a handsome boy. He was not born from the womb of Parvati but she loved him with all of her heart. He has a very close relationship with his father.

On the other hand, Soorpadma’s loving sister Ajamukhi is killed by Indra in a foul play. This leads big outrage and now the three worlds are in danger. Kartikeya is the sole key to stop this destruction.

Kartikeya is an invincible warrior but at the same time benevolent one. He easily managed to overpower Soorpadma and his brothers.

In this journey, he meets Devsena, daughter of Indra and starts loving her. However, Parvati and Indra have a tiff in past which makes Parvarti reject this relationship. Kartikeya convinces her mother in a very calm manner.

Further, the birth of Ganesh is presented and Kartikeya was totally overjoyed by hearing this.

The book ends with the Kartikeya moving to South.

Writing style:

Anuja Chandramouli’s writing style is totally different compared to other writers so if you love to read excellent sentence and language then only you can enjoy this book. The narration is good however at some places I noticed that the story made a jump.

My perception:

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. With Kartikeya, this book also throws light on the relationship of Shiva and Parvati. I have noticed that the author has captured the feeling in various events and totally avoided writing about fighting. Be it Soorpadma, Ajamukhi, Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Devsena or the Goddess Ganga. The sacrifice of Goddess Ganga and her love towards Lord Shiva is another interesting part of this book. The author has beautifully written this book I totally found myself carefully reading each word. The conversations are insightful. I really wanted to know more about lord Kartikeya as I felt that this book end abruptly. At last, a beautiful imagination of the author is a life of this book. If you want to read a good mixture of mythology, emotions, and story of celestial beings then do not miss this book.

[Chitra Iyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book by the author, Anuja Chandramouli, that I have read. She usually writes about historical characters and mythology and I, for one, love this genre. Kartikeya: The Destroyer’s Son , is all about the warrior son of Shiva and Parvati and the tale of how and why he came into existence.

The Devas up in heavens are anxious, specifically Indra. The Asura brothers – Soora, Simha and Tarak have taken over his throne. Karthikeya is, thus, born out of the pressing demands of the Devas as it was deemed that only the son of Shiva and Parvati can restore order and Indra’s throne by destroying the three asuras. The story takes us forward along with Karthikeya’s life and his challenges and also how his brother, Ganesha, joins his family.

The book is a straight forward one, as is the case with all the author’s books, in my opinion. The writing is impressive, especially the author’s language. The narrative keeps the readers engaged successfully throughout and I particularly liked the fact that there is no beating around the bush.

The author gives a different take on the popular story where Karhikeya and Ganesha fight over a fruit and as a result, Karthikeya flies off to Pazhani (a major shrine in Tamil Nadu). The book also has adapted Karthikeya as the elder brother which is contradicting to the prevalent south Indian belief, where Ganesha is the elder brother.

Nevertheless, the book adequately describes the relationship between Karthikeya and his parents and also his deeds as a warrior. I really loved the cover, which is a painting of the well known south Indian painter, Raja Ravi Verma. Gorgeous!

Overall, I would end my review by saying that if you don’t know enough of Karthikeya, then this is the book for you. And even if you do, you just might end up learning something new.


*** This book was sent to me by the author in exchange for an honest review. ***

[Mala Mukherjee · Rating 5 out of 5]

KARTIKEYA: THE DESTROYER'S SON - This book is provided by ThinkerViews (https://thinkerviews.com) as part of book review collaboration" in the review.

Anuja Chandramouli’s bestselling mythology based novel Kartikeya, the Destroyer’s Son is based on War God Kartikey’s legend. Now it is a recent trend in Indian fantasy fiction that authors like to pick up mythological characters from Indian epics and retelling their stories in different way. No doubt, it is a good initiative, it not only refreshing our memories regarding Indian epics and mythology, but also giving a chance to feel proud of our ancient culture. Kumar Kartikeya, the War God has a fascinating legend, which not only inspired modern writers but also inspired Great Poet Kalidas to compose Kumar Sambhav. This story reminds me Kalidas’s unforgettable work Kumar Sambhav, especially in the first part, where Goddess Parvati feels about her Man, Lord Shiva and Kamadeva’s intervention in their love life. Similarly, Devi Ganga too loved Lord Shiva, and she was feeling special when his offspring fell into the water. However, the plot was not entirely taken from Purana or ancient literature, but the author has done her own work to give it unexpected twists.
The story starts with Kumar Kartikeya’s birth. His birth was not only a result of Shiva-Parvati’s eternal love, but also the prayers of many Devas, who were suffering badly in the hand of three demon brothers Soora, Soiorapadma and Taraka. The last one Taraka was a merciless warrior and he had a boon that only Lord Shiva’s son can kill him. Therefore, it was necessary for Indra, the King of the Devas or Immortals to trap Lord Shiva in marital life. He sent Kamadeva Madan to lure the God and eventually Lord Shiva’s third eye destroys him. Even after Lord Shiva‘s marriage to Devi Parvati, Indra could not stay idle. He sent Agni (Lord of Fire) and Vayu ( Lord of wind) to carry his Power before it is implanted in Parvati’s womb, because, Indra was afraid of Shiva-Parvati’s son, who could reclaim his throne for himself. He wanted to control the child since his birth, but his mission failed miserably when Agni and Vayu could not withhold the fire for lo9ng time and eventually dropped into the River Ganges. Goddess Ganga too had an affection for Lord Shiva. She tried to raise the boy as her own, but her water boiled and creatures died in attempting to embrace the fireball in her arms. Gradually, six women found the fireball and as they came closer they discovered six babies. These six women, the wives of six great saints adopted those babies and raised them as their won. However, they forgot that the society does not allow women to take any great decision. So, very soon, they faced questions regarding paternity of their children and their husbands too condemned them to death. Only Shiva’s miracle saved those innocent women and they were placed higher in the land of eternal flames as Kirtikas. The God and Universal Mother claimed their child. Those six children resembling six virtues were put together and reincarnated as a mighty warrior named Kartikeya.
Kartikeya’s life had a mission. Since his arrival in Mount Kailash his mother realized that. Her son became a pawn of Indra’s politics. He offered his daughter Devsena’s hand to Kartikeya. Kartikeya’s story is portrayed not as a mighty warrior but also as a dutiful husband and a good brother. His disagreement with his mother imparts a realistic shade of life.
Apart from the protagonists other characters are portrayed well, especially the villains and their families. History is always written by the victors and naturally the loser’s point of view is always lesser known and many times, bitter. Anuja’s book gives it its due importance. Evil has its principles too and most often than not, the victor is more likely to play the dirtier game.
He was Soorapadma, one of the greatest warriors in the history of the three worlds and while he was no saint, he drew the line at spying on the love-making of newly-weds and hatching nefarious plots to prevent the conception of their children. That sort of vulgar depravity was exactly the sort of thing his nemesis, Indra, was capable of stooping to, but he would be damned if he was going to cower in fear over an unborn child. Even if the said infant was born to Shiva for the express purpose of killing him
Indra, despite being a God, is conflicted in his ethics and morals. So was the evil one taking a high moral ground here or just being arrogant?

“It is too bad Mother forgot to tell us that getting your heart’s desire is oftentimes the worst thing that can happen to you.”

Here the ‘Mother’ is Maya. Someone who seems to have fed her sons with hate since their conception. Raised them with the sole aim of defeating the devas. So who is perfectly happy? The one who has all or the one who doesn’t?

“You are not dithering but merely teaching them an invaluable lesson on the futility of waiting for heroes to come to the rescue when they should be expending all their strength and energy on making better lives themselves.”

Should one wait for the leaders to guide them out of their problems or put all that effort in pulling themselves out?
Climax was creative with exciting fight and all the great details. The end was beautiful. There could be more to this story but I’m not going to cut the star for it, as tales can be endless when it comes to Indian mythology and anyway author can always write a sequel of this, though there wasn’t any hint.

There are two things I liked most about this book. The language is powerful, intelligent, lyrical & poetic. It is full of metaphors, symbols and allusions. I found two aspects with the language. At one side each line are coiled and lengthy carrying heavy details and meaning. On the other hand it is a beauty in words. Some of the lines were actually swoon worthy with its poetic quality.
The other important aspect was the treatment of the plot. It definitely wasn’t a child’s play and I absolutely adore the boldness and the creative risk, the author had taken especially considering how sensitive and vulnerable religious aesthetics run in India. I am pretty sure that there would be at least a small group of readers who would have their eyes bulging at the way the narration movies. That is why I felt the book was amazing because the narration and the way the author decided to narrate the popular mythology are super impressive nevertheless a really bold step.

[Aishwary Mehta (The_Fugitive_Biker) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quote from the Book I Liked - “'For too often, Unhappiness sprang forth from the sight of another's happiness.' (Page 3)
And
'The smart ones among us know enough to appreciate the good things we have before it is taken away from our grasp.' (Page 190)”

Rating - 4/5

Synopsis - Unravel the puzzle that is the mysterious and misunderstood son of Mahadeva.
Kartikeya was born from the flames of a desperate need, an ardent desire and an utmost devastation. In him was distilled the terrible powers of Mahadeva, at its fiercest and most deadly. Although he fought many wars and slew many tyrants, his gifts to humanity have always been those of mercy, compassion and love. What makes this possible?
For Kartikeya, there have always been more questions than answers. Did he really walk away from his family over a piece of fruit? What about the women in his life—was he the ravisher he is at times accused of being, or the protector of women? Was he the violent warrior who revelled in bloodlust, or a gentle family man? What was his relationship with his more popular sibling, Ganesha?
Anuja Chandramouli weaves together myth, imagination and folklore while looking to answer these questions and recreates for modern readers the story of one of the most enigmatic gods—Kartikeya.

About The Book - Firstly, I thank the author for sending me the review copy of the book for an Honest Review.

The book is about the life of the first child of Shiva and Parvati, Kartikeya. It starts with the birth of Kartikeya who was destined to rid the Devas from the Claws of Asura King Soora and his 2 Brother, Taraka and Simha. Soora with his brothers wrecked down the Heavens and made all the Devas leave their beloved home of Amravati. Taraka had a boon that he can only be destroyed by the son of Shiva hence Indra being the King of Devas planned a way to speed up the process of birth of Kartikeya, Son of Shiva, which he along with other Devas paid a heavy price for. After the birth of Kartikeya, being shown Supernatural abilities from the birth, later on, saved the Devas and the Asura King and his brothers. 

From my perspective, some of the scenes in the story felt to me a bit obscene and made a disturbing image in my mind as of Kartikeya making love to all the females of the Universe nurturing and fulfiling there needs. The scenes depicted were too descriptional and left a disturbing image in my mind but alas that's from my perspective. In my opinion, the book is not for the underage audience.

The whole book showed a different perspective of Lord Shiva being a Household man rather being shown as an Ascetic which is a more common approach shown towards Shiva's character. The whole day to day typical lifestyle of Shiva depicted as a family man is quite related and feels familiar to the reader. The relation in the family of Shiva between husband-wife, father-son, daughter-mother, brother sister was portrayed beautifully throughout the book.

Verdict - Written very less about the Destroyer's Son, Kartikeya, This book will take you on a Journey of Lesser popular Son of Shiva Parvati, exploring the very life of him and a portrayal of Shiva as a Household man showing Relationship as Husband, Father and The Supreme Deity is a must read.

Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker

[Merril Anil · Rating 5 out of 5]

A huge thanks to the author for sharing me her beautiful work and giving me the opportunity to experience her work and express my honest opinion of her work. Mythology is a very delicate subject to handle, since, these stories are carved into the hearts of million so strong that it is impossible to play with it creatively without disturbing the sensitivity of these stories and its perception for the readers

One of the aspects that would come to attention while reading this book is its language. its a double sided sword that can cut sharp into the readers. I found two aspects with the language. At one side each lines are coiled and lengthy carrying heavy details and meaning. On the other hand it is a beauty in words. some of the lines were actually swoon worthy with its poetic quality. The language is an art for this book. It is a bit difficult but beautiful at the same time. For me personally, i absolutely loved the language. It made all the difference for me in the book

The other important aspect was the treatment of the plot. It definitely wasn’t a child’s play and i absolutely adore the boldness and the creative risk, the author had taken especially considering how sensitive and vulnerable religious aesthetics run in India. i am pretty sure that there would be at least a small group of readers who would have their eyes bulging at the way the narration movies. That is why i felt the book was amazing because the narration and the way the author decided to narrate the popular mythology is super impressive nevertheless a really bold step

It was really surprising and interesting to see the mythological story of Kartikeya treated with a twist and along the plains like never before and with poetic strokes to make it satin smooth and stand out among its likes. The book definitely is a must try version

One of the reasons, why you should pick this book is for its language quality and the poetic strokes. It definitely makes the book stand apart and worth picking up even if you feel that the core plot is something you have already read and well aware and may not have anything new to offer. Its for the language and the unique narrative treatment that you should consider picking this book

[Maya Pillai · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yet another wonderful piece from the Mythology Queen Anuja Chandramouli.
A well researched mythology that is written in a lucid language. Many of us have heard a lot of stories about Ganesha but not much about Karthikeya.
The author has talked about the reasons why Karthikeya is born, how he is born and the hardships the devas had to bear to ensure that he is nurtured by the right people.

Anuja has also mentioned about the jealousiness of a woman and how protective she is of her child(ren) and her possessiveness of her husband. This true for both the mortals and immortals.

I had goosebumps when I read about the harassment that were inflicted on the Devas by the asuras, SImha, Soora and Taraka, when they learn about the death of their sister. She talks about the age out capital punishments such as skinning alive, roasting over a slow spit fire, cutting of the limps and so on. And its very vivid.

She also rubs in a few home truths subtly through this books. One such instance is when the two assuras go in a disguise to meet Shiva's son and they talk about the times when things were simpler and they were happier. "... getting your heart’s desire is oftentimes the worst thing that can happen to you! And sometimes all the effort and hard work expended in the pursuit of glory is almost not worth it."
Isn't it true that at time chase certain things and later find out it was not worth the time and money.
There are many takeaways from this book.

This is book for those who love reading Hindu mythology.

[Maittri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such refreshing read. I have always been a fan of mythology so I am especially biased to this one. But Anuja Chandramouli manages to weave a world with ancient power and ideals of our stories without coming across inconceivable. The world of Ancient myths of our childhood is dealt with finesse and a certain modern freshness that I couldn't have imagined with regard to the stories about Indian deities.
I think the author has a unique talent when it comes to her characters. They are so undeniably human. Shades of grey are something I look for in every character. And i found that aplenty in this book. Be it Parvati who is depicted with all the vices of an insecure woman but an All-Mother alongside. Or be it Shiva who comes off jealous and boorish but is the Mahadeva in his infinite wisdom. The Asuras and Devas are fallible alike. They are human. I loved that.
Her language is definitely beautiful, maybe a bit excessive sometimes. I feel like the book could have been edited better. But each page was a joy to read.
I recommend this to anyone looking for something in the vein of Asura and Ajaya by Anand Neelakantan. I am definitely looking forward to more work by the author.

An e-copy was provided by the author in exchange for a honest review.

[Vinay Leo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review at A Bookworm's Musing

Perhaps Anuja's best book yet... loved it. The author's earlier takes on mythological characters are well written books, and Kartikeya is no different. I liked reading the story. It was engaging and a little bit different from the tale I had known before. Only grouse is that it ended too soon, and would have loved to read more about some parts of the mythology. But in the end, it's a book that's very much worth a second read, no doubt about that.

[Subhajit Das · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Name (with Subtitle): Kartikeya (The Destroyer’s Son)
Author Name: Anuja Chandramouli
Format: Paperback
No of Pages: 238
Publisher: Rupa Publications India (1/11/2017)
Blurb: The blurb portion of the book has been written exactly highlighting the core factors of the book without any exaggeration and in such a way which will make the reader curious to know the entire saga described in the book.
Cover: The front cover of the book is good and as it is complementing the title & base content of the book, so it is apt no doubt, but it could have been better to draw the attention, I can say.
Title: The title (along with the subtitle) of the book is perfect & exactly what the book consists of; hence, I consider this appropriate.
Language & narration: Well….in this section I have to (rather I must) say something. The book has been enriched with top level of authentic words and the formation of the sentences can be termed as ‘most classic & powerful language’ ever; which is good (sometimes really difficult) for me as I love to gather my knowledge about new words or contain myself with new vocabulary, but, honestly speaking, let alone the first timer, even a potentially good English reader also will face some initial difficulties to cope up with this kind of heavy language. I, myself, completed reading this with the help of dictionary. Narrating style of the author is noticeable and maintained a gripping flow throughout the end of the book. Because of this high class informative narration, this book can be considered as the most reliable & authoritative book on the Destroyer’s (Shiva’s) Son- KARTIKEYA. On the same aspect, battle scenes or war episodes have been narrated with supreme details, which can give the reader goosebumps even by imagining them.
Plot: This plot is well chosen and better researched when it comes to develop the entire saga of Kartikeya limiting in this book. It is a fact that, many of us (including me) are not familiar with the exact journey of life of the Kartikeya (who is the elder son of Lord Shiva & Devi Parvati). This book has not only presented the tale of Kartikeya, with most of the unknown facts to share, but also this very plot has been woven remarkably stating the horrendous facts about Devraj Indra and with revealing the utmost shocking reality about the creation & devastation of the ‘God’ himself. With these two different shades of the base plot, we can see some connecting subplots while going through the journey, and trust me, that will make sense completely while justifying the substance of the book.
Setting: Well, I can say that, the setting of those events are in- Heaven, Mount Kailasha (Kailash), summit of Himalayas, Mahendrapuri, Amaravati, Lake Manassarovar, Mother Earth, Vaikuntam, Pazhani- Southern Region.
Characterization: Keeping the genre of this book in mind, I will say just one thing that, the authoress Anuja Chandramouli, has done complete justice while portraying the characters of Devas & Asura, mortals & immortals, or any creature existing at that time. Beside the protagonist of this book, she portrayed all the other characters with enough clearance that the reader will realize the justified significance of the characters related to the main journey of the protagonist in different phases. Let’s see the name of all the Devas & Asuras & all the name of the characters mentioned in the book- Parvati, Shiva, Shakti, Kama aka Ananga, Rati, Indra, Vishnu, Soorapadma aka Soora, Lakshmi, Kubera, Yama, Surya, Jayanta, Daksha, Simhamukha aka Simha, Tarakasura aka Taraka, Maya, Akhirsen, Ajamukhi aka Aja, Sukracharya, Himavan, Sage Kashyap, Bhagiratha, Sagara, Ganga, Agni, Vayu, The Kartikas, Kartikeya aka Karti, Nandi, Brahma, Sachidevi, Varuna, Prabhakara, Bhoomi Devi, Durvasa, The Ashwini twins, Soma, Garuda, Chitrabahn aka Chitra, Unnati, Devasena, Banugopan, Goddess Durga, Usas, Kali, Nesha / Ganesha, Madhu Swapna, Nidra, Grahas, Matrikas, Kumaris, Keshin, Sage Kanva, dumb saint Siva Muni, Nambi, Valli.
Theme: Mythology, History of God, Myths, Legends & Sagas
Story in a nutshell: This book contains the saga of the legendary warrior, the Mahasena himself, the elder Son of the Mahadev Shiva- the Kartikeya. When the mightiest devastating Asura King, Soorapadma, the Soora had become the undisputed ruler of the three Worlds, and continue spreading his terror, with his two sibling brother to accompany him, there was no way out for the Devas refrain them from their violence. With capturing Jayanta (the Son of Devraj Indra) in his custody, and snatching away the throne from Indra, Soora ruled over the three Worlds and left nobody into peace. The Devas were told that, only the Son of the Destroyer, Lord Shiva, will become their savior and will finish the terror of Soora, along with his two brothers Simhamukha and Tarakasura by diminishing them forever, and that Indra that, only by Shiva’s Son, he will get the chance to retain his powers over the Kingdom which was formerly belonged to him only. This greed for power made him blind and he lost his sense of judgment to differ between the right & wrong. To fulfill his ‘need’, he left no stones unturned. Due to the sacrificial demise of Shakti (Soulmate, love, everything of Shiva), Lord Shiva was emerged in utmost grief and Kamadeva was failed to fulfill the will of Indra by making Shiva & Parvati together. For this ‘trick’ of Indra, Kamadeva was forced to meet his fate by facing the anger of the Destroyer Shiva, which led him to become a ‘body less creature’ / “Ananga”. Whatever, Shiva compromised with the battle of feelings with his inner self and finally, was giving attention to his Wife Parvati, everything was going smoothly as the love was blossoming between Shiva and Parvati, but again because of Indra’s ‘impatience’, something happened by the Devas, which made Devi Parvati to curse the entire Devas.. However, finally, Kartikeya had taken birth and with time, his features and powers were proving that he truly was the prophesied savior. With time, he got prepared and was ready to set his journey off to the mission he was destined to conquer.
On the other side, Soorapadma was very aware of the birth of Kartikeya, but in his vision, he got to know something or see something that had shaken his inner pride and planted the seed of fear or insecurity in his heart. Meanwhile, while he was dealing with many inner battles and other things in his thoughts related to his brothers and family, something went the opposite way and that led him face a terrible fact that his sister Ajamukhi, got brutally murdered because of the conspiracy of Indra and his surroundings. This was the beginning of the unending devastation! To avenge the death of their beloved sister, the trio decided to finish everything; Ajamukhi was the heart of his brother Tarakasura. While being bling inrage and anger, to seek vengeance, Taraka started to rip everything and everyone off from the root of their life and the blood shading revenge started to rain blood…more…and more…
What happened after that? When will this blood shading come to an end? Will the heart of the mother Parvati allow his Son to go away from her to fulfill his responsibility? Will the battle of Kartikeya be easy, while facing Soora, Simha or Taraka? Will he need to fight his battle by his own or there will be anyone else to accompany him in his journey? How will Kartikeya serve the Bhoomi Devi and in what purpose? What was the incident that led the divine mother Parvati to curse each and every Deva? What was the curse? What was awaiting the fate of Indra? How will the Asura Trio, Soora, Simha & Taraka will get ‘moksh’? What will happen to the family and to their relations when it will be coming for Kartikeya to give heart to Devasena (daughter of Indra)? When will the sibling of Kartikeya come to take place in their ‘happy’ family and how?
To get these answers, just pick this book up and go through the saga of the legendry warrior, the Mahasena himself, Kartikeya…the Destroyer’s Son…
My Verdict: Authoress Anuja Chandramouli has successively penned down the saga of the bravest & mightiest Warrior & the prophesied savior of the three Worlds, Kartikeya. First of all, I’m really stunned after realizing the depth of the research work that the author has done behind developing the plot turned into the shape of this book. Each and every information have been given with utmost authenticity and to deliver the best to the readers, thus everyone can get a clear conception about the origin and the journey of the Mahasena, Kartikeya. I personally felt very contained after finishing this book. Every emotion of the mortals & immortals, the incidents back that time on heaven and earth, their cause and effect, every single thing has been mentioned here with potentially rich description. Things that have been portrayed here are- desperate needs of Indra, the actual ‘negative’ side of Indra and the showing the darkest sides of his character, the greed for power and lust for women, how desire can make ‘anyone’ blind, the angry shades of the Destroyer, Lord Shiva, the pain of his heart due to getting separated from his beloved Shakti, the love for Shakti in his heart, the various sides in the characteristics of Devi Parvati (she was a daughter, a lover, a devotee, Wife, a mother, and ultimately a Protector too)- all the roles she played, was actually the main charm of the story if it can be realized that way, because without Parvati, there wouldn’t have been a single thing that can be mentioned, of course with Lord Shiva by her side. The concept behind the birth of Kartikeya, the initial separation of a mother from her child, then the separation of Kartikeya from Kartikas, their pain, the love between Mahadeva & Parvati, a mother’s concern about her child, a father’s pride about his child, the brotherly relation between Vishnu & Shiva, the sense of maturity in Kartikeya about his responsibilities (the bravery, the caring and lovely nature, the skillful warrior, the merciful savior, the dutiful Son, the lovable sibling, the lover)- in every role, he justified himself completely. The terror of the Asura trios, their emotions regarding their family, their love for their Sister Aja, Aja’s pure love for her brother Taraka, her destined but unfortunate death, then the avenging mentality of the Aura brother, their devastating terror across three worlds, Kartikeyas battle with them one after another, their conversation with Kartikeya & getting ‘moksh’ with realization to serve a better purpose, the love between Devasena and Kartikeya, his convincing his mother Parvati, the clash, the severely changing equation in the relation between Parvati & Shiva, Nesha’s birth, Parvati’s insecurity over Nesha, the mental dilemma of Kartikeya about his parents, the love in his heart for his sibling, the ultimate blow of Mahadeva, and then the damage repair, Ganesha’s appearance and the family reunion for the good for all- all the things I mentioned above have been portrayed in the book. I noticed some things in the book, that, the Deva’s & even Asura’s here, are being portrayed as simple as human and their conversations, feelings and emotions are no different than we come across any family in real world or anywhere. Every parent’s concern and love for their children and even relation between husband wife; brother sisters are exactly the same that we are familiar with. I never noticed them separately that they are God with the ultimate power of creation or immortals or something. Their humor in conversation between Shiva & Parvati, the father son relation between Shiva & Karti, the sibling love between Karti & Nesha/Ganesha, everything are as normal as human beings are. One noticeable thing I’d like to point out that, the authoress made the point clear that from where the dominance over gentler sex had been started and the origin of it, which we are still bearing in our world; yes, I am talking about the Men Women gender wars plantation.
Recommendation: I’d like to recommend the book to every mythology lover, or to any such reader willing to know about the life journey of the mightiest Warrior amongst Devas, the Mahasena- Kartileya. This book is something they will cherish them for a long time I can say. Thank you.
My Favorite lines from this book: “The stain of blood can never be washed out by more blood; only service and sacrifice can do the trick”.
“Loving someone doesn’t mean chaining them and never letting go. On the contrary, it means setting your love free”.
Rating (Overall): 4/5 Stars.

[Sriram Radhakrishnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing read that will take you on a mystical, mythological journey where you will enjoy every moment of it!
Read my full review here: https://instinctspeaks.wordpress.com/...

[Purva Khandelwal · Rating 1 out of 5]

Was a bit disappointed with the story. After reading Devdutt Pattanaik ‘s books on mythology , this one was a let down.

[Taanya Ahuja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: Kartikeya
Author:Anuja Chandramouli
Published by: Rupa publications
Published on: 30.11.17
Binding: Paperback
Pages: 240
ISBN: 978-8129149114






BLURB

Unravel the puzzle that is the mysterious and misunderstood son of Mahadeva—KARTIKEYA. Kartikeya was born from the flames of a desperate need, an ardent desire and an utmost devastation. In him was distilled the terrible powers of Mahadev, at its fiercest and most deadly. Although he fought many wars and slew many tyrants, yet his gifts to humanity have always been those of mercy, compassion and love. What makes this possible?
For Kartikeya, there have always been more questions than answers. Did he really walk away from his family over a piece of fruit? What about the women in his life—was he the ravisher he is at times accused of being, or the protector of women? Was he the violent warrior who revelled in bloodlust, or a gentle family man? What was his relationship with his more popular sibling, Ganesha?
Anuja Chandramouli weaves together myth, imagination and folklore while looking to answer these questions and recreates for modern readers the story of one of the most enigmatic gods—Kartikeya.




COVER PAGE

The cover page of the book is very beautiful and attractive. It has a very beautiful image of Lord Kartikeya. The background colour is blue and the cover page is very colourful. It is very eye catchy and I really liked it a lot.




REVIEW

Kartikeya by Anuja Chandramouli is a very beatiful and an interesting tale which revolves around the life of the God Kartikeya, about his birth and various other things. I read about him only in Amar Chitra Katha that too not in so much depth but this book by Anuja Chandramouli is a masterpiece which reveals a lot of information about him.

The book is written in a beautiful manner in a simple and easy language which is very powerful and lyrical. This is the third book which I read of the author and I love her writing style a lot. The book is so well researched making it a very powerfulread.The plot of the book is very tightly bound and I feltas if Iwasn't reading a book rather watching it.

The characters of the story are very well developed and discussed in detail. Ireally liked the character of Paravati a lot. All the conversations between the characters are very well focused. The events i the book are very well described and in written in a detailed manner which made me visualise a lot.The battle scenes are especially described in a vivid manner. The emotions are also expressed in a marvelous manner and a reader can easily empathise. It was a really interesting for me to read about the Gods and the Asuras.

Overall, a very powerful, an insightful and an interesting read. I enjoyed reading it a lot. I would highly recommend this to all the mythology lovers.

[Guttu · Rating 2 out of 5]

Actual rating 2.5/5

Kartikeya or mostly known as Murugan swami in Southern part of India is the first born of Shiva and Parvati. Even though he is first born, He is not as popular as Ganesha, the second son of Shiva and Parvati, when it comes to mythology. I was very much excited to read and know more about the commander-in-chief of God's army.

When I started reading this book, I thought it will showcase the stories, the myths that surround Kartikeya. His angry, arrogant and egoistic image of Kartikeya was carved on my mind. So a different narrative was always welcomed. I cannot confirm this 100% but as far as I know, this falls into retelling. It's not the original mythology about Kartikeya.

Much of the first half is dedicated to the birth of Kartikeya. The premise of his birth has been painfully described in details which wasn't necessary. Instead, the author should have focused on the life after the birth which is much more interesting. In spite of this, I thought it falls short and doesn't do justice to the Kartikeya mythology after his birth. This book rather deals with emotions of characters which defined the life of Kartikeya. This is not just his story.

What hit me the most was the strong erotic content spread all over the book. It is quite graphic and many a times, oddly placed. Shiva is not just The Destroyer but he is also the one who conquered the lord of desire, Kamadeva. This story has been incorporated in this book and yet Shiva is depicted as someone who is full of desire, lust and love. This just doesn't feel right. And so does the portrayal of women in the book who are shown as full of lust and desire. Every female character is described graphically which was not the demand of the story as such.

One hundred and seventy. That's the number of new words I learned while reading this book. Agreed that this is acceptable in philosophical or descriptive texts. However, it doesn't seem that author intended this book to fall in that category failing the purpose of such a difficult language. Language plays major role in pacing the narrative which is slower than a tortoise throughout this book.

The best part of this book is the last quarter. With the introduction of Chitra and Ganesha, the story blossoms to a certain extent. This is sufficient to save this book.

I cannot recommend this book for someone below 18. It is also a disappointment for mythological enthusiasts. Yet they can go for this without much expectations.

[Aravind · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high expectations from Kartikeya: The Destroyer's Son, having read and liked a couple of the author's earlier works, and I was in for some disappointment. This is the story of Lord Shiva's somewhat lesser known son, worshipped mostly in southern India and South Asian countries with sizeable South Indian population. The positive thing about this book is the author's flowing language, though the vocabulary necessitates frequent assistance of a dictionary, which doesn't let the reader stop.
Apart from the skillful writing, there is nothing much to praise about the content of this book. The novel, simply put, is high on descriptions and imagery, and low on actual story. Kartikeya was born for a specific purpose and that purpose hasn't been given the space it deserves. Instead, domestic squabbles in the Shiva household and erotic exploits of the lead characters occupy bulk of the pages. The portrayal of the Devas and their king as absolute lowlife without any redeeming features makes one question the judgement of the almighty gods who go to the Deva's aid every time someone threatens them; can't the gods support the right people for once?
I feel sad that this story of the enigmatic god who is worshipped variously as an ascetic child, a playful youth, a boy of endless wisdom who taught even his father, a mighty warrior and an immensely handsome hero could have become a memorable epic, but has fallen quite short in spite of being written by the very talented Anuja Chandramouli.

[Chetana Thakur Chakraborty · Rating 3 out of 5]

To read the full review, click on the link below:
https://exploringthebookishworld.blogspot.com/2018/08/book-review-32-kartikeya-by-anuja.html

'Kartikeya' by Anuja Chandramouli is a work of mythological fiction. The book tells us the tale about 'the mysterious and misunderstood son of Mahadeva - Kartikeya'.

Indian Mythology is a topic that really interests me. In fact, I personally feel that the whole concept of Mythology is very intriguing. There are so many different characters and numerous tales about them. Since our childhood, we have heard so much about the Gods and Goddesses. Mythology plays an important part in our life. Nevertheless, some people believe in the mythological stories, some do not.

Now, coming to the book. 'Kartikeya' tells us the tale of one of the most enigmatic gods, about whom there are not many popular stories among the masses. Most of us do not know much about him. Kartikeya.

The book traces the story of his birth, his adventures, and his deeds. Another interesting fact about this book is that the villain is not any Asura. Here the villain is Lord Indra.

However, there are some things about this book which I did not quite like. First of all, the writing style is not very smooth. The author has used bombastic words and lofty language which has made the book a difficult read for the readers. Also, the plot could have been much more interesting. If the book had been a little less descriptive, it could have been interesting. The ending was abrupt. I
expected a better ending.

I had high expectations from this book, but it failed to impress me. The book could have been a lot more interesting.

[Meghasi Bhatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was happy to read and review this book as I enjoy reading mythology, especially Hindu mythology. Also, it made a refreshing change from the recent novels that I have read.
The story is about Kartikeya, the son of Lord Shiva and Parvati. I had never given much thought about Kartikeya, till date, as Hindu mythology has such a vast plethora of stories.
The story describes the circumstances of his conception and birth and how it was prophesised that he would bring about the end of Soorapadma, thereby bringing victory to the Devas.
The story depicts Kartikeya’s childhood and how he goes to win the war against Soorapadma. This war, has been provoked by none other than Lord Indra! Kartikeya goes off to war on his mount, the peacock Chitrabahn. He meets and falls in love with Indra’s daughter Devasena only to lose her.
We also read about Ganesha’s conception and birth and his equation with his parents and bonding with his brother Kartikeya.
What is noteworthy about the story is that the author has depicted these gods and goddesses as beings with normal human traits. Lord Shiva and Parvati have been wonderfully portrayed as a much in love but a bickering couple and Indra as a wily player of games. I particularly loved the explanation of how the river Ganga remains twined in Lord Shiva’s hair!
Do read the book if you enjoy reading mythology. I recommend it to readers as enjoyable, interesting and informative.

[Shrikanth Venne · Rating 3 out of 5]

First of all thanks to the author sending me the copy for a honest review.
Coming to the book This book is about Kartikeya the son of Shiva and Parvati. Being a south Indan I had zero knowledge of this God and author provided me with the opportunity to know about Kartikeya. This book made me keep a dictionary handy as the vocabulary of this book is little difficult. Through this book I got to know how Kartikeya was born and what was his life style. Author has divided this book in between Kartikeya with his mother then with his first wife and then her 2nd wife. I would suggest there should have been little more details about valli his 2nd wife as Devasena has got little more detail. As soon as Kartikeya first time gets his ride in peacock the book becomes little fast wherein he kills soora and his brothers. I was little bit surprised with the story of Ganesha making her a girl before she is given elephant head. overall I would say a good Goodread... 😊

[Simant Verma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full Review on: FLIPPING THROUGH THE PAGES

I would say I liked the book but not too the extent that I expected. We Indians have heard many stories about Lord Shiva’s and Parvati’s son, Lord Ganesha, from our childhood, but there are rare stories about their another son, Lord Kartikeya. So when I read the title, I definitely wanted to know more about him. But I am sad to say that there were many occasions when I just wanted to mark it as DNF.

The purpose of Kartikeya’s birth was to kill the Asura king, Soorapadma, one of the three sons of Maya. I thought the story is going to be more about how he killed Soorapadma but it was more of what happened after that? To my surprise, the main antagonist was not Soorapadma but was the God of the heaven Indra. I can say that this story is far from what I have read about Kartikeya in stories from Puranas. It is definitely more of a retelling. This story was more about the emotions of others involved in the story. Most of the first part revolves around the birth of Kartikeya, but I wanted to know more about his doings after his birth. There are too many details about the events before his birth and were not at all necessary. I would definitely say that the writing of the author was the most difficult part for me. There were so many new words which made it really hard for me to go smoothly throughout the story. It was kind of too “advanced”. I am not sure if it is her general writing style or it is just for this book. However, the main issue that I had with this book was the explicit erotic content. It was a LOT which I don’t expect in an Indian mythology. It was there in the almost whole book right from the beginning to the end and it was too graphic. There were a few sections where women were shown as full of desire and lust. Even the portrayal of Shiva is in the same way which I didn’t like at all.

In spite of all these shortcomings, I gave this book 3 stars instead of just 2 because of the last 20-30 pages where we get the introduction of Chitra and Ganesha. That part was quite good and fast pacing. But here also, the story that the author told about Ganesha’s birth was quite different from what I knew since childhood.

I would recommend this book for only those who have read this author’s work previously and like her writing. Also, certain mythological fiction lovers can like this but yes it is not at all suitable for someone below 18.

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