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Sati Series #1
Ahalya
‘Lyrical and poetic ... enthralling’ BIBEK DEBROY
‘A magical and thought-provoking adventure, Ahalya will intrigue and mesmerize readers’ CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI
‘An enigmatic tale about purity, chastity, seduction and redemption’ NAMITA GOKHALE
‘Brilliant and intriguing’ ANAND NEELAKANTAN
It is known that Ahalya was cursed by her husband, Gautam, for indulging in a physical relationship with Indra. But is there another story to Ahalya's truth? Who was Indra anyway? A king? A lover? A philanderer? The first book of the Sati series, Ahalya hinges on these core questions, narrating the course of her life, from innocence to infidelity.
In the Sati series, Koral Dasgupta explores the lives of the Pancha Kanyas from Indian mythology, all of whom had partners other than their husbands and yet are revered as the most enlightened women, whose purity of mind precedes over the purity of body. The five books of the Sati series reinvent these women and their men, in the modern context with a feminist consciousness.
‘A magical and thought-provoking adventure, Ahalya will intrigue and mesmerize readers’ CHITRA BANERJEE DIVAKARUNI
‘An enigmatic tale about purity, chastity, seduction and redemption’ NAMITA GOKHALE
‘Brilliant and intriguing’ ANAND NEELAKANTAN
It is known that Ahalya was cursed by her husband, Gautam, for indulging in a physical relationship with Indra. But is there another story to Ahalya's truth? Who was Indra anyway? A king? A lover? A philanderer? The first book of the Sati series, Ahalya hinges on these core questions, narrating the course of her life, from innocence to infidelity.
In the Sati series, Koral Dasgupta explores the lives of the Pancha Kanyas from Indian mythology, all of whom had partners other than their husbands and yet are revered as the most enlightened women, whose purity of mind precedes over the purity of body. The five books of the Sati series reinvent these women and their men, in the modern context with a feminist consciousness.
216 pages, Paperback
Published August 21, 2020
100 people are currently reading
1888 people want to read
About the author
Koral Dasgupta
13 books159 followers"Her stories give an insight into the unknown world of creativity and imaginations."
WION
"Her novel works beyond the obvious, characters not just individuals but a philosophy."
INDIA TODAY
Koral is an Indian author, now working on The Sati Series for Pan Macmillan. The Sati series is a five book project on the Pancha Kanyas of Indian mythology.
She is a compulsive storyteller. She writes academic non fictions and relationship dramas, exploring the inherent nature of complex minds that leads to a relatable conflict and unpredictable climax. As on May 2020, Koral has published five books with Westland, Niyogi, Rupa and Pan Macmillan Publishers.
She is the founder of www.TellMeYourStory.biz, a story laboratory led by crowd-sourced narratives.
She consults with educational and corporate bodies on content and communication projects and workshops.
Koral is known for a great sense of humour. But when she is tired or sad or angry, she paints.
Koral is recognised in the list of Innovator25 Asia Pacific 2019 prepared by The Holmes Report, a New York based PR news agency.
WION
"Her novel works beyond the obvious, characters not just individuals but a philosophy."
INDIA TODAY
Koral is an Indian author, now working on The Sati Series for Pan Macmillan. The Sati series is a five book project on the Pancha Kanyas of Indian mythology.
She is a compulsive storyteller. She writes academic non fictions and relationship dramas, exploring the inherent nature of complex minds that leads to a relatable conflict and unpredictable climax. As on May 2020, Koral has published five books with Westland, Niyogi, Rupa and Pan Macmillan Publishers.
She is the founder of www.TellMeYourStory.biz, a story laboratory led by crowd-sourced narratives.
She consults with educational and corporate bodies on content and communication projects and workshops.
Koral is known for a great sense of humour. But when she is tired or sad or angry, she paints.
Koral is recognised in the list of Innovator25 Asia Pacific 2019 prepared by The Holmes Report, a New York based PR news agency.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 211 reviews
May 24, 2021
2.5 stars
The story of Ahalya in Hindu mythology is that(and this is no spoiler) that she was cursed by her husband, Saint Gautam, and turned to stone for having had an extramarital dalliance with Indra. Indra had tricked her into believing he was Gautam. When Lord Rama brushed his foot against her, she was absolved of any guilt and culpability was regarded as one of the panch-kanyas.
The book is a decent retelling of the myth and is easy to read, if a little melodramatic. The language is simple and the plot is also straightforward. My issue with this book comes with this claim on the backcover, "The book...reinvents[this woman] in the modern context with a feminist consciousness".
I didn't feel it did that at all. It was a straightforward retelling from a woman's POV. It even had stereotypical gendered statements to the effect of - men are emotionally distant and are to be drawn out, women are gentle and sensitive, marriage involves a complete union of goals and hopes etc. Imagine my disappointment when you have a character whose backstory involves - gendered roles, (accusation of) adultery, a husband cursing his wife, the man(Indra) not being reprimanded while the woman was, and the absolution of guilt for Ahalya coming from another man, AND a claim to view all this from a feminist consciousness. And then not delivering on it.
This book has a 4.15 rating here as of my review so I'm in the minority. I look forward to the next books in the Sati series, particularly Kunti and Draupadi - both complex, layered, and fascinating women in Mahabharata. Unfortunately, Ahalya was a miss for me.
The story of Ahalya in Hindu mythology is that(and this is no spoiler) that she was cursed by her husband, Saint Gautam, and turned to stone for having had an extramarital dalliance with Indra. Indra had tricked her into believing he was Gautam. When Lord Rama brushed his foot against her, she was absolved of any guilt and culpability was regarded as one of the panch-kanyas.
The book is a decent retelling of the myth and is easy to read, if a little melodramatic. The language is simple and the plot is also straightforward. My issue with this book comes with this claim on the backcover, "The book...reinvents[this woman] in the modern context with a feminist consciousness".
I didn't feel it did that at all. It was a straightforward retelling from a woman's POV. It even had stereotypical gendered statements to the effect of - men are emotionally distant and are to be drawn out, women are gentle and sensitive, marriage involves a complete union of goals and hopes etc. Imagine my disappointment when you have a character whose backstory involves - gendered roles, (accusation of) adultery, a husband cursing his wife, the man(Indra) not being reprimanded while the woman was, and the absolution of guilt for Ahalya coming from another man, AND a claim to view all this from a feminist consciousness. And then not delivering on it.
This book has a 4.15 rating here as of my review so I'm in the minority. I look forward to the next books in the Sati series, particularly Kunti and Draupadi - both complex, layered, and fascinating women in Mahabharata. Unfortunately, Ahalya was a miss for me.
August 5, 2021
I learned about Ahalya in The Forest of Enchantments by Chitra Banerjee Divyakaruni. She was known to have cheated on her husband Gautam with Indra. She was cursed and turned into a stone for her extramarital affair. Many years later, Lord Rama came her rescue and resuscitated her.
I picked this book up because I was fascinated by her character. She was known for her infidelity but I was sure there was more than just that, and this book provided just that – Ahalya story from her POV.
‘Ahalya’ is the first book in the Sati series. This story starts from the time when Brahma himself designed and made Ahalya, his finest creation. She is then given to Gautam who is a sage sworn to celibacy.
The best thing I liked about this book was the writing. It was beautifully written in my opinion where every paragraph felt poetic. The author described everything so eloquently.
As for the plot, this is a short book with a straightforward beginning and ending. This book made me angry, not gonna lie. I honestly thought somehow this would be a loving love story between the vibrant Ahalya and grumpy Gautam. He did not care at all for her when she first came to him. But after they got married, he was even warming up to her gradually. But no. Blame everything on the woman! You catch feelings? Blame it on the woman and curse her! The ending of this book made me so angry. I really disliked Gautam for everything he did to her.
Overall, I really liked this book. I appreciate the author giving a voice Ahalya who has been misunderstood. A must read if you are a mythological fiction fan!
I picked this book up because I was fascinated by her character. She was known for her infidelity but I was sure there was more than just that, and this book provided just that – Ahalya story from her POV.
‘Ahalya’ is the first book in the Sati series. This story starts from the time when Brahma himself designed and made Ahalya, his finest creation. She is then given to Gautam who is a sage sworn to celibacy.
The best thing I liked about this book was the writing. It was beautifully written in my opinion where every paragraph felt poetic. The author described everything so eloquently.
As for the plot, this is a short book with a straightforward beginning and ending. This book made me angry, not gonna lie. I honestly thought somehow this would be a loving love story between the vibrant Ahalya and grumpy Gautam. He did not care at all for her when she first came to him. But after they got married, he was even warming up to her gradually. But no. Blame everything on the woman! You catch feelings? Blame it on the woman and curse her! The ending of this book made me so angry. I really disliked Gautam for everything he did to her.
Overall, I really liked this book. I appreciate the author giving a voice Ahalya who has been misunderstood. A must read if you are a mythological fiction fan!
October 14, 2020
In the very first chapter, Koral Dasgupta explains the disparateness between a mother's love and that of a father. Ahalya, created by Brahma himself, is the idea of perfection- 'The unploughed, the unaffected, the untouched'. And yet, her journey leaves her tender and inexperienced heart bruised. Unaware of the ways of the world, Ahalya is taken in by Rishi Gautam, a sage sworn to celibacy. He eventually ends up marrying him, a striking contradicting to his austere demeanor and strict principles.
.
Ahalya is rendered a distinct personality- a quick learner, a dreamer and eventually a fierce woman who stands by her choices, facing the curse laid down upon her with grace. Ahalya's life has been governed by patriarchy. Her father, Brahma's quest to create 'the face of [his] ambitions', to free his progeny from genetic alignment to a mother leads to a child who is unaware of a vast amount of knowledge and experience. 'Obsessed with the influence of his own capabilities', Brahma creates a castaway- 'a work of art' that attracts vengeance from a world that needs concrete answers.
.
Gautam and Indra's influence in shaping Ahalya's future is equally pathetic. The former, a husband willing to blame his wife for his insecurities and the latter, tricking people into bending to his whims. The writing flows swiftly as the River Mandakini that was Ahalya's constant companion. Koral weaves a web of words, playful and dangerous, questioning the weight of desire- leaning more towards a man and justifying his actions.
.
Be it the Mist who shields and protects Ahalya as a mother, Indra- the controller of the Indriya (the senses) or the nature around Ahalya's humble residence, Koral Dasgupta evolves a feeling of familiarity and warmth before throwing us into a whirlwind of rage.
.
Ahalya is rendered a distinct personality- a quick learner, a dreamer and eventually a fierce woman who stands by her choices, facing the curse laid down upon her with grace. Ahalya's life has been governed by patriarchy. Her father, Brahma's quest to create 'the face of [his] ambitions', to free his progeny from genetic alignment to a mother leads to a child who is unaware of a vast amount of knowledge and experience. 'Obsessed with the influence of his own capabilities', Brahma creates a castaway- 'a work of art' that attracts vengeance from a world that needs concrete answers.
.
Gautam and Indra's influence in shaping Ahalya's future is equally pathetic. The former, a husband willing to blame his wife for his insecurities and the latter, tricking people into bending to his whims. The writing flows swiftly as the River Mandakini that was Ahalya's constant companion. Koral weaves a web of words, playful and dangerous, questioning the weight of desire- leaning more towards a man and justifying his actions.
.
Be it the Mist who shields and protects Ahalya as a mother, Indra- the controller of the Indriya (the senses) or the nature around Ahalya's humble residence, Koral Dasgupta evolves a feeling of familiarity and warmth before throwing us into a whirlwind of rage.
June 14, 2023
This beautiful book is a must read for all generations and all species alike ;) man and woman !!
All our lives we have been conditioned as a woman to take a backseat and let the man of our lives take decisions for us and in a patriarchal society it did seem okay as that has been the way of life !! At least in my family!! Even though there was always a rebel heart questioning the mind !!
And then comes this book asking questions woman have been meaning to ask in a man’s world - it made me question them too and give me (some of them ) answers!! This is a beautiful fresh retelling of the woman Ahalya whom we all have known as being cursed by her husband-because of her infidelity !! And then we get to read not just her story but all the questions and conflicts arising in her mind ever since she took form as a woman - when she says “ it was Indra , all along “ - you have your answer !! Was she really the partner who cheated or did she in her mind and body always belonged to the man she loved!! But that’s not even the main point - she is not afraid to ask questions, explore her body and demand for her rightful place in society and she did it all in a way she wanted to !!
The writing is so poetic yet so relevant in today’s times that it will grip u in !! But this book also consumes u so it is not an easy read despite being a small book - I myself had a quite a journey within the days i read this book!!
Go read it and go easy on yourself!!
Looking forward to reading all five books from the “sati series” by the author 🤞🏻
All our lives we have been conditioned as a woman to take a backseat and let the man of our lives take decisions for us and in a patriarchal society it did seem okay as that has been the way of life !! At least in my family!! Even though there was always a rebel heart questioning the mind !!
And then comes this book asking questions woman have been meaning to ask in a man’s world - it made me question them too and give me (some of them ) answers!! This is a beautiful fresh retelling of the woman Ahalya whom we all have known as being cursed by her husband-because of her infidelity !! And then we get to read not just her story but all the questions and conflicts arising in her mind ever since she took form as a woman - when she says “ it was Indra , all along “ - you have your answer !! Was she really the partner who cheated or did she in her mind and body always belonged to the man she loved!! But that’s not even the main point - she is not afraid to ask questions, explore her body and demand for her rightful place in society and she did it all in a way she wanted to !!
The writing is so poetic yet so relevant in today’s times that it will grip u in !! But this book also consumes u so it is not an easy read despite being a small book - I myself had a quite a journey within the days i read this book!!
Go read it and go easy on yourself!!
Looking forward to reading all five books from the “sati series” by the author 🤞🏻
January 9, 2025
The book houses a heavily fictionalised, first-person narrative of Ahalya's escapades as a human being on Earth. It heavily emphasises the stereotyped differences between a father and mother, man and woman, and runs the show based on this assumption. The search for the definition of a 'mother' decorates the story as well.
The prose is a delicious hodgepodge of various Indian literatures, from the Brahmanas to the Puranas, and philosophy. The descriptives were vivid, beautiful, and poetic. The reader can really feel Brahma creating the body that Ahalya would soon inhabit, as the body is soaked in honey and various heavenly scents. The descriptions did occasionally tip-toe the line, impeding the flow of the story in favour of a disproportionate number of adjectives.
The psychology and events in the story of Ahalya has seen various editorial touches across the various texts in Hindu history. It was very interesting to follow the author's decision as to what would be canon in this re-telling that fits the atmosphere of the Sati series. The climax was unique, at least as far as my knowledge of the lore goes, and in my opinion, a lot more intriguing than the existing explanations.
The divine story of Ahalya clearly has parallels to that of an unhappy marriage among humans. Alone, separated from childhood kin, lack of recognition and a mundane life devoid of any excitement or desire. This topic, widely considered as taboo to this day, was portrayed bravely with nothing held back. The confusion, messiness, and clash of egos in the dynamics between two people in a relationship is brought out well through the internal reflections of the protagonist.
The character development of Ahalya sees a shift in the positive as the pages turn. Learning to assert herself as a woman, she grows from being timid, codependent, and weak to realising her influence over the environment and finding strength from within. Perhaps writing her as timid and over attached was a conscious choice due to the patriarchal world that dictated her moves, critiquing generations of feminity lost due to contrived rules made by men. It protests the status quo in a world that sought/seeks to put women in a box, sealed with the ropes of chauvinism. The second half of the book is a lot more immersive than the gradual trudge of the initial set-up, and where the descriptive writing is most enjoyable.
In short, a satisfying read in between heavier books. A medley of romantic tension, challenging gender norms, intimate deviances, heartbreaks and all those complicated, colourful butterflies. Koral Dasgupta has done a commendable job in using ancient Hindu lore to bring to modernity that which people struggle to speak of.
Looking forward to #2: Kunti: The Sati Series II
The narrator, Vasundhara Bose, could not have been a more perfect choice for the audiobook. Her gentle voice reflected Ahalya's confusion and discovery, and slowly accumulated strength and decisiveness as Ahalya grew in character and spirit.
The prose is a delicious hodgepodge of various Indian literatures, from the Brahmanas to the Puranas, and philosophy. The descriptives were vivid, beautiful, and poetic. The reader can really feel Brahma creating the body that Ahalya would soon inhabit, as the body is soaked in honey and various heavenly scents. The descriptions did occasionally tip-toe the line, impeding the flow of the story in favour of a disproportionate number of adjectives.
The psychology and events in the story of Ahalya has seen various editorial touches across the various texts in Hindu history. It was very interesting to follow the author's decision as to what would be canon in this re-telling that fits the atmosphere of the Sati series. The climax was unique, at least as far as my knowledge of the lore goes, and in my opinion, a lot more intriguing than the existing explanations.
The divine story of Ahalya clearly has parallels to that of an unhappy marriage among humans. Alone, separated from childhood kin, lack of recognition and a mundane life devoid of any excitement or desire. This topic, widely considered as taboo to this day, was portrayed bravely with nothing held back. The confusion, messiness, and clash of egos in the dynamics between two people in a relationship is brought out well through the internal reflections of the protagonist.
The character development of Ahalya sees a shift in the positive as the pages turn. Learning to assert herself as a woman, she grows from being timid, codependent, and weak to realising her influence over the environment and finding strength from within. Perhaps writing her as timid and over attached was a conscious choice due to the patriarchal world that dictated her moves, critiquing generations of feminity lost due to contrived rules made by men. It protests the status quo in a world that sought/seeks to put women in a box, sealed with the ropes of chauvinism. The second half of the book is a lot more immersive than the gradual trudge of the initial set-up, and where the descriptive writing is most enjoyable.
In short, a satisfying read in between heavier books. A medley of romantic tension, challenging gender norms, intimate deviances, heartbreaks and all those complicated, colourful butterflies. Koral Dasgupta has done a commendable job in using ancient Hindu lore to bring to modernity that which people struggle to speak of.
Looking forward to #2: Kunti: The Sati Series II
The narrator, Vasundhara Bose, could not have been a more perfect choice for the audiobook. Her gentle voice reflected Ahalya's confusion and discovery, and slowly accumulated strength and decisiveness as Ahalya grew in character and spirit.
September 21, 2020
30th book of 2020 (154 Books read overall)
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Everyone is born perfect, they pick up the imperfection along the course of life.' (Page no. 30)
Rating - 4.5 Stars
*Important take from the book* - All the perspective of a story is important to understand it completely or the story remains incomplete and the reader remains in ignorance and often misjudge it in whole, choosing bad and good without even knowing enough.
Plot Summary - It is known that Ahalya was cursed by her husband, Gautam, for indulging in a physical relationship with Indra. But is there another story to Ahalya's truth? Who was Indra anyway? A king? A lover? A philanderer? The first book of the Sati series, Ahalya hinges on these core questions, narrating the course of her life, from innocence to infidelity.
My Review - Mythology is one of my most favourite Genre. Not just because of some religion thing but because of the wide range of stories and lessons that these stories teach us. And one common theme that goes around is the Male perspective of every story which somehow does not complete the story in itself. Often the female perspective is either left by the author or completely ignored. But this story is now changing at a greater pace. Several authors like - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Kavita Kane and Anuja Chandramouli and several others are writing books from the major ignored and left off female perspective. Thus, comes this new book by author Koral Dasgupta. The book is based on the character of Ahalya who is known to be one of the Panch Kanyas from Hindu Mythology. These Panch Kanyas are known to be as the most intelligent, beautiful and full of wisdom the world has ever known. Likewise, the author will proceed further with the rest of the 4 Panch Kanyas in her upcoming book to complete 'The Sati Series'.
Ahalya is well known from the epic of Ramayana, where, Lord Ram, Vishnu's avatar, places his foot over a stone which turns the stone into a woman named Ahalya. She was cursed by her husband Rishi Gautam to be turned to stone until Lord Ram himself sets foot on her. This all may seem weird to those unknown with the metaphorical way of Hindu stories. Often turning someone to stone is a metaphor for one to become like a stone not turning into a stone, which means to feel nothing, no pain, no emotions, no-touch, devoid of all senses (Indriyas in Hindi). The story is familiar but the narration from Ahalya's point of view is new in the often mislead/misinterpreted/incomplete narration of the whole story.
Author, Koral Dasgupta wrote this book in a completely unbiased way, where neither of the characters is portrayed as bad or good. Everyone had their reason to be the way they were which somehow justifies their deeds. Ahalya's soul came on the earth for the first time and wanted to explore and get indulged in the worldly pleasure while the Gautam being a rishi was a complete opposite of her, who wanted to get control over his senses and wanted to detach from worldly things and attain Moksha. The narration and storytelling of this book is one to get a hold on and will make us clear of how incomplete a story gets when it is heard from a singular point of view. Such stories are the need of the hour (and generations to come) which gives a better meaning to the equality amongst gender from the mythological lore which was long suppressed by the rise of Monastic orders and need to be retold or at least reinterpreted for the coming generation to learn lessons from.
Conclusion - Unbiased story of Ahalya. Must read.
Full Review on Blog.
Video review on YouTube
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
Quote from the Book I Liked - 'Everyone is born perfect, they pick up the imperfection along the course of life.' (Page no. 30)
Rating - 4.5 Stars
*Important take from the book* - All the perspective of a story is important to understand it completely or the story remains incomplete and the reader remains in ignorance and often misjudge it in whole, choosing bad and good without even knowing enough.
Plot Summary - It is known that Ahalya was cursed by her husband, Gautam, for indulging in a physical relationship with Indra. But is there another story to Ahalya's truth? Who was Indra anyway? A king? A lover? A philanderer? The first book of the Sati series, Ahalya hinges on these core questions, narrating the course of her life, from innocence to infidelity.
My Review - Mythology is one of my most favourite Genre. Not just because of some religion thing but because of the wide range of stories and lessons that these stories teach us. And one common theme that goes around is the Male perspective of every story which somehow does not complete the story in itself. Often the female perspective is either left by the author or completely ignored. But this story is now changing at a greater pace. Several authors like - Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Kavita Kane and Anuja Chandramouli and several others are writing books from the major ignored and left off female perspective. Thus, comes this new book by author Koral Dasgupta. The book is based on the character of Ahalya who is known to be one of the Panch Kanyas from Hindu Mythology. These Panch Kanyas are known to be as the most intelligent, beautiful and full of wisdom the world has ever known. Likewise, the author will proceed further with the rest of the 4 Panch Kanyas in her upcoming book to complete 'The Sati Series'.
Ahalya is well known from the epic of Ramayana, where, Lord Ram, Vishnu's avatar, places his foot over a stone which turns the stone into a woman named Ahalya. She was cursed by her husband Rishi Gautam to be turned to stone until Lord Ram himself sets foot on her. This all may seem weird to those unknown with the metaphorical way of Hindu stories. Often turning someone to stone is a metaphor for one to become like a stone not turning into a stone, which means to feel nothing, no pain, no emotions, no-touch, devoid of all senses (Indriyas in Hindi). The story is familiar but the narration from Ahalya's point of view is new in the often mislead/misinterpreted/incomplete narration of the whole story.
Author, Koral Dasgupta wrote this book in a completely unbiased way, where neither of the characters is portrayed as bad or good. Everyone had their reason to be the way they were which somehow justifies their deeds. Ahalya's soul came on the earth for the first time and wanted to explore and get indulged in the worldly pleasure while the Gautam being a rishi was a complete opposite of her, who wanted to get control over his senses and wanted to detach from worldly things and attain Moksha. The narration and storytelling of this book is one to get a hold on and will make us clear of how incomplete a story gets when it is heard from a singular point of view. Such stories are the need of the hour (and generations to come) which gives a better meaning to the equality amongst gender from the mythological lore which was long suppressed by the rise of Monastic orders and need to be retold or at least reinterpreted for the coming generation to learn lessons from.
Conclusion - Unbiased story of Ahalya. Must read.
Full Review on Blog.
Video review on YouTube
Link to Blog - The Tales of Fugitive Biker
October 5, 2020
3.5 stars
October 11, 2020
Through a poetic retelling of Ahalya's story, Koral Dasgupta shines a spotlight on the life of this resilient character from Hindu mythology.
From her birth to the events leading up to Gautam's curse on her, this book gives you a glimpse into Ahalya's perspective. It addresses questions of women empowerment, societal norms, and patriarchy in an attempt to deliver the story with great clarity.
What a splendidly written book! I am always mesmerized by stories of Hindu mythology. But the writing in this one takes the cake.
Koral Dasgupta has penned Ahalya's story with such a fluid and dream-like composition. The writing is driven by nature imageries and the constantly pondering state of Ahalya's mind.
The book starts from the point where Ahalya is a spirit, waiting keenly for her father, Brahma to create the perfect vessel for her soul. And so we get to see her as a curious child who is oblivious to the ways of the humans. The statements about about mother, father, woman are fundamental to the field of philosophy and can be considered as thought-provoking.
Over the course of the story, we see Ahalya's character transform from that of an innocent child to an enthusiastic grown woman who has discovered the pleasures of life on her own accord.
Gautam's character will make you wish that Ahalya had found a better companion for herself, someone who reflects her enthusiasm for life and engages her intellect.
There are so many profound thoughts that form the basis of this book. I annotated so many pages and I look forward to revisiting the story again later.
Also, I am really elated to know that this is the first book in the Sati series and I can't wait to get my hands on the other 4 titles.
Highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in mythology!
From her birth to the events leading up to Gautam's curse on her, this book gives you a glimpse into Ahalya's perspective. It addresses questions of women empowerment, societal norms, and patriarchy in an attempt to deliver the story with great clarity.
What a splendidly written book! I am always mesmerized by stories of Hindu mythology. But the writing in this one takes the cake.
Koral Dasgupta has penned Ahalya's story with such a fluid and dream-like composition. The writing is driven by nature imageries and the constantly pondering state of Ahalya's mind.
The book starts from the point where Ahalya is a spirit, waiting keenly for her father, Brahma to create the perfect vessel for her soul. And so we get to see her as a curious child who is oblivious to the ways of the humans. The statements about about mother, father, woman are fundamental to the field of philosophy and can be considered as thought-provoking.
Over the course of the story, we see Ahalya's character transform from that of an innocent child to an enthusiastic grown woman who has discovered the pleasures of life on her own accord.
Gautam's character will make you wish that Ahalya had found a better companion for herself, someone who reflects her enthusiasm for life and engages her intellect.
There are so many profound thoughts that form the basis of this book. I annotated so many pages and I look forward to revisiting the story again later.
Also, I am really elated to know that this is the first book in the Sati series and I can't wait to get my hands on the other 4 titles.
Highly recommend this book to everyone who is interested in mythology!
May 19, 2025
Rich, beautiful and lyrical.
March 14, 2021
Review soon!
February 18, 2023
I accidentally got to know about the Sati series and decided to start with the first one. Very lyrically written, captures the sensuality of the story. A woman’s perspective and a woman’s story but outcome of deceit of a man and that is the lord.
Straight narrative yet layered and helps understand the story in detail what we have all heard in bits and pieces with many versions. Details the treachery and despite that celebrates love.
A 3.5 actually . I will surely read the next one - Kunti in the series .
Straight narrative yet layered and helps understand the story in detail what we have all heard in bits and pieces with many versions. Details the treachery and despite that celebrates love.
A 3.5 actually . I will surely read the next one - Kunti in the series .
September 25, 2020
Currently lingering over that satisfying feeling you get when you complete a well written book.
Ahalya is a part of the Pancha Kanyas (5 women) who are regarded as the most enlightened & pure women in the Hindu Mythology despite them having spent a life with more than one partner. They are revered as someone whose purity of mind precedes over the purity of body.
Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta is the first book in the "Sati Series" which are a feminist retellings of all the women of the Pancha Kanyas. Something that stood out for me was the writing style of the author. The book is so beautifully written that it made me want to read it super slowly and devour every single sentence. At every stage of the book the author constantly brings up the problematic topics that inevitably run through our culture due to such depiction of women in our stories.
Ahalya is always regarded as the women who was cursed by her husband, who when we hear in the stories is often portrayed as a medium of distraction. It was so refreshing to hear the story from a female perspective. After reading this book a lot of things do come up for discussions, especially how our stories have been perceived or translated as and what the youth have been learning from it.
The story might sound a bit contradicting to itself at times when the plot is subjected to remain the same as told in folklore but still invoke feminist feelings considering the plot is highly misogynistic in my personal understanding.
Overall I think it's a must read.💖
Ahalya is a part of the Pancha Kanyas (5 women) who are regarded as the most enlightened & pure women in the Hindu Mythology despite them having spent a life with more than one partner. They are revered as someone whose purity of mind precedes over the purity of body.
Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta is the first book in the "Sati Series" which are a feminist retellings of all the women of the Pancha Kanyas. Something that stood out for me was the writing style of the author. The book is so beautifully written that it made me want to read it super slowly and devour every single sentence. At every stage of the book the author constantly brings up the problematic topics that inevitably run through our culture due to such depiction of women in our stories.
Ahalya is always regarded as the women who was cursed by her husband, who when we hear in the stories is often portrayed as a medium of distraction. It was so refreshing to hear the story from a female perspective. After reading this book a lot of things do come up for discussions, especially how our stories have been perceived or translated as and what the youth have been learning from it.
The story might sound a bit contradicting to itself at times when the plot is subjected to remain the same as told in folklore but still invoke feminist feelings considering the plot is highly misogynistic in my personal understanding.
Overall I think it's a must read.💖
September 11, 2020
Ahalya is one of the Pancha Kanyas in Hindu mythology. Through the first book in The Sati series, we are being introduced into the world beyond mortality.
Ahalya's soul is not nurtured in a mother's womb, as Brahma, her father (rather creator) wants her to be the epitome of perfection. The one who is not anchored to the liabilities of human life. She questions her creator about the roles of a Mother and a Father, and hearing his answers validates the fact that the firm grip of patriarchy goes back a long way.
Ahalya is constantly on her toes, making sure to abide by the rules that have been set for her long before her very birth. She is not supposed to shed tears, she is not supposed to feel happy, she is supposed to be the perfect wife and perform her duties, and in a nutshell, she must pledge death to her will.
Through her narration, we are finally being privy to ways of the Heaven and how it extends to life on Earth. There's always another side to a story, and this one's the side of the Woman, whose voice have never been heard before, whose tale has never been told before.
Definitely recommend it to mythology lovers and feminist literature enthusiasts.
Ahalya's soul is not nurtured in a mother's womb, as Brahma, her father (rather creator) wants her to be the epitome of perfection. The one who is not anchored to the liabilities of human life. She questions her creator about the roles of a Mother and a Father, and hearing his answers validates the fact that the firm grip of patriarchy goes back a long way.
Ahalya is constantly on her toes, making sure to abide by the rules that have been set for her long before her very birth. She is not supposed to shed tears, she is not supposed to feel happy, she is supposed to be the perfect wife and perform her duties, and in a nutshell, she must pledge death to her will.
Through her narration, we are finally being privy to ways of the Heaven and how it extends to life on Earth. There's always another side to a story, and this one's the side of the Woman, whose voice have never been heard before, whose tale has never been told before.
Definitely recommend it to mythology lovers and feminist literature enthusiasts.
September 6, 2025
Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta is a short and beautifully written book that offers a fresh, modern perspective on a classic tale. The language is elegant and evocative, making for a swift and engaging read. Koral’s prose is at its best when it delves into Ahalya's inner world, giving voice to a character who is often reduced to a footnote in the Ramayana.
The author’s primary goal seems to be the humanization of a sacred feminine figure and she achieves this effectively with Ahalya's character. However, this approach extends to the male sages as well and this is where the book makes a bold and arguably flawed, departure from the traditional narrative. It portrays sages like Gautam Rishi and King Indra not as figures of divine wisdom but as men driven by humanly feelings of desire and lust. This reinterpretation might feel like a misstep for some readers, as it recasts these revered characters in a way that can seem inconsistent with their status in the original myth.
For those who are open to a new, more psychological take on ancient stories, the book's ambitious vision is compelling. However, its modern lens on the sages may not resonate with all audiences, making it a powerful but somewhat divisive piece of fiction.
The author’s primary goal seems to be the humanization of a sacred feminine figure and she achieves this effectively with Ahalya's character. However, this approach extends to the male sages as well and this is where the book makes a bold and arguably flawed, departure from the traditional narrative. It portrays sages like Gautam Rishi and King Indra not as figures of divine wisdom but as men driven by humanly feelings of desire and lust. This reinterpretation might feel like a misstep for some readers, as it recasts these revered characters in a way that can seem inconsistent with their status in the original myth.
For those who are open to a new, more psychological take on ancient stories, the book's ambitious vision is compelling. However, its modern lens on the sages may not resonate with all audiences, making it a powerful but somewhat divisive piece of fiction.
September 28, 2020
Ahalya, by Koral Dasgupta, is an enticing narrative of Ahalya, one of the five Pancha Kanyas, and the masterpiece of Brahma. Eagerly waiting to read the next books in the series.
This is a thought-provoking tale. Koral’s narration style is evocative and the storyline is intriguing. Ahalya’s struggle to keep her engaged with her surroundings when she had no one to talk to and her visits to the village with Gautam and his disciples are very well explained.
Koral has very well played with the words and prodigiously narrated Ahalya’s story. The way Koral described Ahalya’s learning, her connections with Gautam and the Mist, and her sensuous feelings are captivating and remarkable.
Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...
This is a thought-provoking tale. Koral’s narration style is evocative and the storyline is intriguing. Ahalya’s struggle to keep her engaged with her surroundings when she had no one to talk to and her visits to the village with Gautam and his disciples are very well explained.
Koral has very well played with the words and prodigiously narrated Ahalya’s story. The way Koral described Ahalya’s learning, her connections with Gautam and the Mist, and her sensuous feelings are captivating and remarkable.
Read the full review on:
https://readreactreview21.wordpress.c...
February 1, 2021
Who was Ahalya, is there another story of Ahalya's truth? It's a book that narrates the course of her life, her innocence to infidelity. A book that gave me goosebumps. A book that I fell in love with.
I regret not reading it in one sitting but I enjoyed this book. I loved the way the author narrated the story. The lyrical and engaging writing style of the author makes the reader fall in love with this book more and more. It's an interesting book that sheds light on who Ahalya was, how her life was and a lot more.
Love reading mythology? Do not miss this book. It's a beautiful book you'll fall in love with.
I regret not reading it in one sitting but I enjoyed this book. I loved the way the author narrated the story. The lyrical and engaging writing style of the author makes the reader fall in love with this book more and more. It's an interesting book that sheds light on who Ahalya was, how her life was and a lot more.
Love reading mythology? Do not miss this book. It's a beautiful book you'll fall in love with.
January 15, 2025
I was apprehensive before I started the book and I remain apprehensive afterwards. Let me break down my thoughts.
First, Ahalya should be allowed to line up Brahma, Indra, and Gautam, and shoot them one by one. The three men created her, played with her, and discarded her, just because they could. Keeping in mind that this is a fictional version of the myth, I abhorred these versions of the historical figures.
The story is told from Ahalya's perspective and it is revealed in the end that she might not have been a reliable narrator. Her senses, i.e. her indriyas were being influenced by the Hindu king of gods, Indra. It was confusing whether she had any sort of autonomy or if she was a mere vessel for fulfilling Indra's lust. Another twist the story gives us is proclaiming that the man she was loyal to was Indra, and not her husband Gautama. And this intense devotion earns her a place in the legend of Pancha Kanyas.
This made zero sense. You don't remain 'loyal' to your kidnapper. She had Stockholm syndrome, my dear.
Anyway, Gautam was insignificant. Apparently, every one of his yielding actions was influenced by Indira. Okay, I suppose.
Moving on, the author makes it very clear that this is a feminist text. And the way she does it is literally state multiple times how Ahalya is a slave to patriarchy and spell out how different men and women are, according to Brahma. A lot of tell and no show. I wanted to shoot Brahma and his pompous ass.
The writing is good. The author has a beautiful imagination and she delivers brilliantly in places. The only reason I'm giving this book two stars. That and the fact that I finished it in one day.
However, the writing takes itself too seriously at times. The author's philosophical prose feels pretentious and I struggled to understand its meaning in the first place. Every character is a philosopher. Some random lady in the village gives a lecture on how a mother and father are different. Give me a break. *sigh*
I'm also deducting one whole star for making Brahma say "... you're not feeling the vibes.."
VIBES?? that's the man creating literally everything in the universe. I don't think he'll explain anything in terms of vibes.
Though I'm curious about the other pancha kanyas, I think I'll drop the series. I cannot stand the pretentious prose. It's too much for me.
First, Ahalya should be allowed to line up Brahma, Indra, and Gautam, and shoot them one by one. The three men created her, played with her, and discarded her, just because they could. Keeping in mind that this is a fictional version of the myth, I abhorred these versions of the historical figures.
The story is told from Ahalya's perspective and it is revealed in the end that she might not have been a reliable narrator. Her senses, i.e. her indriyas were being influenced by the Hindu king of gods, Indra. It was confusing whether she had any sort of autonomy or if she was a mere vessel for fulfilling Indra's lust. Another twist the story gives us is proclaiming that the man she was loyal to was Indra, and not her husband Gautama. And this intense devotion earns her a place in the legend of Pancha Kanyas.
This made zero sense. You don't remain 'loyal' to your kidnapper. She had Stockholm syndrome, my dear.
Anyway, Gautam was insignificant. Apparently, every one of his yielding actions was influenced by Indira. Okay, I suppose.
Moving on, the author makes it very clear that this is a feminist text. And the way she does it is literally state multiple times how Ahalya is a slave to patriarchy and spell out how different men and women are, according to Brahma. A lot of tell and no show. I wanted to shoot Brahma and his pompous ass.
The writing is good. The author has a beautiful imagination and she delivers brilliantly in places. The only reason I'm giving this book two stars. That and the fact that I finished it in one day.
However, the writing takes itself too seriously at times. The author's philosophical prose feels pretentious and I struggled to understand its meaning in the first place. Every character is a philosopher. Some random lady in the village gives a lecture on how a mother and father are different. Give me a break. *sigh*
I'm also deducting one whole star for making Brahma say "... you're not feeling the vibes.."
VIBES?? that's the man creating literally everything in the universe. I don't think he'll explain anything in terms of vibes.
Though I'm curious about the other pancha kanyas, I think I'll drop the series. I cannot stand the pretentious prose. It's too much for me.
September 17, 2023
Upon further reflection, bumped this up to 4 stars
February 28, 2023
DNF
Tried reading it, tried listening to it but just didn't work out
Tried reading it, tried listening to it but just didn't work out
July 25, 2023
Such a fulfilling day, which I mainly owe to this book. This is the first Audible book that I have finished in one sitting. I think the Audible narration made it even more engaging. A captivating retelling of Ahalya’s story that directly connects with the heart. Koral Dasgupta has given a much needed, powerful voice to Ahalya, infact to all Ahalyas who are disowned by the society.
Some of my favourite lines from the book. Infact, there are many:
🌻”With great attention I received every education only to interpret it later with fictional imageries of literature. Literature had answers that science didn’t. I didn’t document things, for the wandering mind travel beyond boundaries, discovering the conflict in available information and filling the voids with literary imagination.”
🌻”Torn between the reality that I didn’t want and the fantasy I couldn’t reject, I was trapped within dubious factors of morality, which made me furiously loyal to the lover yet the world would remember me for my deceit.”
🌻 The indomitable spirit of creation is you can create only a part of your vision, the rest creates itself. How strange is life, even the creator doesn’t have complete control over its creation.”
🌻”Indra can only be experienced, never possessed. It is a woman’s relationship with Indra, not with any other man, that determines the strength of a character. Indra is what she feels. Indra is what she makes others perceive. Her loyalty towards Indra would secure its due respect.”
🌻”The mind can bring two people closer into a bond that even two naked bodies cannot inspire.”
🌻 “They blamed others for things they could not change.”
🌻”God and devil are not opposites of each other. God is neutral. He never takes sides. Devil is indifferent. He isn’t bothered of the impact of his deeds or others. Scriptures have humanised both God and devil. Ancient philosophy believes that no one can be completely neutral or completely indifferent. Hence, humans can never be raised as God or reduced to devil.
🌻”I would be remembered as the philosophical strength of the mortals that would never deflect from her Dharma.”
Some of my favourite lines from the book. Infact, there are many:
🌻”With great attention I received every education only to interpret it later with fictional imageries of literature. Literature had answers that science didn’t. I didn’t document things, for the wandering mind travel beyond boundaries, discovering the conflict in available information and filling the voids with literary imagination.”
🌻”Torn between the reality that I didn’t want and the fantasy I couldn’t reject, I was trapped within dubious factors of morality, which made me furiously loyal to the lover yet the world would remember me for my deceit.”
🌻 The indomitable spirit of creation is you can create only a part of your vision, the rest creates itself. How strange is life, even the creator doesn’t have complete control over its creation.”
🌻”Indra can only be experienced, never possessed. It is a woman’s relationship with Indra, not with any other man, that determines the strength of a character. Indra is what she feels. Indra is what she makes others perceive. Her loyalty towards Indra would secure its due respect.”
🌻”The mind can bring two people closer into a bond that even two naked bodies cannot inspire.”
🌻 “They blamed others for things they could not change.”
🌻”God and devil are not opposites of each other. God is neutral. He never takes sides. Devil is indifferent. He isn’t bothered of the impact of his deeds or others. Scriptures have humanised both God and devil. Ancient philosophy believes that no one can be completely neutral or completely indifferent. Hence, humans can never be raised as God or reduced to devil.
🌻”I would be remembered as the philosophical strength of the mortals that would never deflect from her Dharma.”
September 25, 2020
3.5/5
Ahalya was a fairly new take on a character who has unfortunately not been explored much - and to the extent that, her story is often relegated to the backseat. I admit I myself first was truly intrigued by her when Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni explored her characteristics and actions in THE FOREST OF ENCHANTMENTS, another feminist retelling of the Ramayana, from the female (Sita's) gaze. Prior to that my knowledge of Ahalya was limited to what I knew of her thanks to all the stories I had listened to, growing up.
When I came to know about this book, thanks to PAN MACMILLAN INDIA, I was very excited to read it and delve deeper into her story. Unfortunately, this was an overhyped read, and although I enjoyed it, I am afraid it fell short of what I was expecting. I felt that this book was very philosophical in a way (overtly so) and it was the one thing that I was not extremely fond of.
However, I also cannot deny that the utter beauty of the prose was rendered due to this wordplay the author had used - the intertwining of the philosophies of life along with Ahalya's own growth. This is the contradiction at the heart of it - while I did not particularly like the philosophizing much, I shudder to think what the narrative would have been like without this lyrical and poetic hand that the author has used.
The characters have also all been really humanized - no one is really good or bad. They are humans (although admittedly with some godly qualities) like us, and therefore not entirely black or white. There is so much of the gray area in their beings. I felt really touched by the insecurities and fears that hindered them in their pursuit of growth and knowledge. After all, isn't that what happens with us too?
It is a wonderful undertaking by the author and I look forward to the other works in this series. I rate it 3.5/5 stars.
Ahalya was a fairly new take on a character who has unfortunately not been explored much - and to the extent that, her story is often relegated to the backseat. I admit I myself first was truly intrigued by her when Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni explored her characteristics and actions in THE FOREST OF ENCHANTMENTS, another feminist retelling of the Ramayana, from the female (Sita's) gaze. Prior to that my knowledge of Ahalya was limited to what I knew of her thanks to all the stories I had listened to, growing up.
When I came to know about this book, thanks to PAN MACMILLAN INDIA, I was very excited to read it and delve deeper into her story. Unfortunately, this was an overhyped read, and although I enjoyed it, I am afraid it fell short of what I was expecting. I felt that this book was very philosophical in a way (overtly so) and it was the one thing that I was not extremely fond of.
However, I also cannot deny that the utter beauty of the prose was rendered due to this wordplay the author had used - the intertwining of the philosophies of life along with Ahalya's own growth. This is the contradiction at the heart of it - while I did not particularly like the philosophizing much, I shudder to think what the narrative would have been like without this lyrical and poetic hand that the author has used.
The characters have also all been really humanized - no one is really good or bad. They are humans (although admittedly with some godly qualities) like us, and therefore not entirely black or white. There is so much of the gray area in their beings. I felt really touched by the insecurities and fears that hindered them in their pursuit of growth and knowledge. After all, isn't that what happens with us too?
It is a wonderful undertaking by the author and I look forward to the other works in this series. I rate it 3.5/5 stars.
September 19, 2021
I was looking forward to this series. A feminist retelling of a story that definitely needs a female voice. Unfortunately it was mildly disappointing. While the story is intact, Ahalya, perhaps, doesn't get past her lyrical observations which gets repetitive.
The major conflict of the story is the accusation of infidelity which I believe should have taken majority of the dialogue. But this makes up handful of pages and Indra, the antagonist, is reduced to an idea villan like tendencies than a realized person.
This has been a recurring theme in olden myths and unfortunately history as well where women have been accused of infidelity with no fault of theirs. Ahalya suffers through her punishment and absolves from it, as the story goes, when Rama finds her.
And the end has this bizarre moment which honestly left me surprised.
The major conflict of the story is the accusation of infidelity which I believe should have taken majority of the dialogue. But this makes up handful of pages and Indra, the antagonist, is reduced to an idea villan like tendencies than a realized person.
This has been a recurring theme in olden myths and unfortunately history as well where women have been accused of infidelity with no fault of theirs. Ahalya suffers through her punishment and absolves from it, as the story goes, when Rama finds her.
And the end has this bizarre moment which honestly left me surprised.
January 30, 2021
Reading this book is like witnessing a blooming flower. The beauty is revealed slowly. First of the Sati Series, it will leave you wanting more.
It reads like poetry, meandering down the path of the reader's consciousness at a leisurely pace. This book is thought-provoking and sparked so many questions within me. Great for a book club discussion.
The book for me is an exploration of all the aspects of Women Sexuality - the burden it comes with and the inability of our society to accept it.
Pick it up to read on a sun-soaked afternoon.
It reads like poetry, meandering down the path of the reader's consciousness at a leisurely pace. This book is thought-provoking and sparked so many questions within me. Great for a book club discussion.
The book for me is an exploration of all the aspects of Women Sexuality - the burden it comes with and the inability of our society to accept it.
Pick it up to read on a sun-soaked afternoon.
January 1, 2022
A poor attempt at riding the mythological fiction wave
Poorly written with unidimensional characters that inspire no feeling of connection with them. A lot more could have been built into Ahalya and Rishi Gautam, or maybe even Indra, as the more successful authors have done with their respective characters, but unfortunately that's not the case.
Might have been forgivable had this been the first book of its kind.
Poorly written with unidimensional characters that inspire no feeling of connection with them. A lot more could have been built into Ahalya and Rishi Gautam, or maybe even Indra, as the more successful authors have done with their respective characters, but unfortunately that's not the case.
Might have been forgivable had this been the first book of its kind.
July 7, 2023
“You can’t have parents because you are the unidimensional face of the father’s pleasure, not the mother’s pain. You will attract a million suitors obsessing over the beauty I craft with care, but the same beauty will be too blinding for a lover to trace the path to your soul. You will attract a million suitors obsessing over the beauty I craft with care, but the same beauty will be too blinding for a lover to trace the path to your soul.”
- Koral Dasgupta, Ahalya (Sati Series 1)
Ahalya, the pure unploughed, unaffected, the untouched was Brahma’s most beautiful creation and perhaps the only one who witnessed her birthing. When her soul went on in the pursuit of a mother, the rain and the river refused to mother Brahma’s progeny. But the mist enveloped her with motherly love. Ahalya, bound in a patriarchal system since birth was given in hand in marriage with one of the Saptarshis, Sage Gautham who was born from Brahma’s eye. Watching him closely imparting his teachings to his disciples, she became well-versed in Vedas, Shastras, Life Sciences, Philosophy and Astronomy.
Only nature acknowledged her presence whilst Gautam, the recluse was indifferent to materialistic things. As Ahalya transcended to a woman, she began to indulge herself in bodily pleasures in the Mandakini river, something that was bereft in her life.
Koral Dasgupta’s writing uses metaphor as a figure of speech to bring the desired effect. The lyrical prose is divine, enchanting to the senses. Religious texts have portrayed the fury of Gautham but very few have even attempted to understand Ahalya’s POV. The discourses of Brahma, the supreme being & the mist make you ponder about the actual meaning and the role of your birth guardians in moulding your life. Ahalya’s conditioning is very similar to women of today where she’s perceived as a weakling and looked down upon when she sheds tears.
Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta is a sensitive interpretation of a forlorn woman longing for companionship and bodily pleasures.
I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Ahalya and Draupadi’s lives. The influence of the master illusionist Indra and their magnificent birth would invite scholarly discussions.
- Koral Dasgupta, Ahalya (Sati Series 1)
Ahalya, the pure unploughed, unaffected, the untouched was Brahma’s most beautiful creation and perhaps the only one who witnessed her birthing. When her soul went on in the pursuit of a mother, the rain and the river refused to mother Brahma’s progeny. But the mist enveloped her with motherly love. Ahalya, bound in a patriarchal system since birth was given in hand in marriage with one of the Saptarshis, Sage Gautham who was born from Brahma’s eye. Watching him closely imparting his teachings to his disciples, she became well-versed in Vedas, Shastras, Life Sciences, Philosophy and Astronomy.
Only nature acknowledged her presence whilst Gautam, the recluse was indifferent to materialistic things. As Ahalya transcended to a woman, she began to indulge herself in bodily pleasures in the Mandakini river, something that was bereft in her life.
Koral Dasgupta’s writing uses metaphor as a figure of speech to bring the desired effect. The lyrical prose is divine, enchanting to the senses. Religious texts have portrayed the fury of Gautham but very few have even attempted to understand Ahalya’s POV. The discourses of Brahma, the supreme being & the mist make you ponder about the actual meaning and the role of your birth guardians in moulding your life. Ahalya’s conditioning is very similar to women of today where she’s perceived as a weakling and looked down upon when she sheds tears.
Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta is a sensitive interpretation of a forlorn woman longing for companionship and bodily pleasures.
I couldn’t help but draw parallels between Ahalya and Draupadi’s lives. The influence of the master illusionist Indra and their magnificent birth would invite scholarly discussions.
January 4, 2023
And the first book of the year is Ahalya by Koral Dasgupta, her first in the series of the Panch Kanya– Ahalya, Kunti, Draupadi, Mandodari and Tara. It’s a re contextualised narrative of a timeless story - feminist and modern and in the voice of the woman whose story it is.
Panch Kanya translates to five virgins in english , but is it truly the meaning ?
The author describes Ahalya as a woman with a pure mind, the virginity here is with reference to this . Removing the layers of patriarchy , she takes us to the essence of the story , and that’s the beauty of the original stories.. they are open to interpretation and learning .
The book challenges the angle of the story of Ahalya that has been told to us.. daughter of Brahma, the most beautiful woman in the universe married off to Rishi Gautam, seduced by Lord Indra and cursed to turn into stone for this transgression by her husband till her salvation by Lord Rama thousands of years later .
Her story starts even before the physical body of Ahalya is created by Brahma, the first person narrative starts with her soul. The story is from her point of view, she may be a creation of the lord Brahma, but she is her own person . She describes her journey into girl hood, puberty and youth and as a young wife - she is determined, strong and she is not afraid to be sensual and she can take charge of her intimate relations with her husband . It is a story of seduction , of her seducing her husband and Rishi Gautam’s journey from hermit to husband . It is not just the story of her seduction by Indra using his tricks. The author normalises seduction , sensuality and desire ..Seduction is thus not just in a forbidden relationship or taboo , it’s natural in a marriage .
Beautifully written, lyrical and exultant when needed , sparse in appropriate places, this retelling is a must read . Not just because it gives voice to a woman whose story had to be seen in a different context , but because it talks about desire , self fulfilment and self discovery.
October 8, 2024
“Ahalya meaning the unploughed, the unaffected, the untouched. The one who is pure. The one who doesn't carry any baggage form her earlier births. Who isn’t followed by karma, who can’t be tamed by destiny. The one whose sanctity can be altered by none".
ahalya, the first book in koral dasgupta's the sati series, reimagines the age-old tale of the enigmatic ahalya, who was known for her beauty and the curse placed upon her by her husband, maharishi gautam. in this retelling, ahalya is more than a mythical victim; she is a woman navigating the complexities of life, love, and the search for self-worth. the story unfolds in the quiet solitude of the forest, where ahalya makes friends with animals and finds comfort in nature's embrace. the evocative writing made me feel every moment, from the cooling waters of the mandakini river to the mystic presence of the mist that envelops her. in simple words i was spellbound!
dasgupta's narrative challenges traditional portrayals of ahalya, offering a fresh perspective on female sexuality and the societal constraints placed upon her as a woman. through the lens of ahalya's struggles and desires, the story explores the burden of honor and how it is closely tied to a woman’s body in a patriarchal world. ahalya's yearning to be something more, someone more, than just a passive creation of brahma, and her strained relationship with her detached husband, add depth to this tale of self-discovery and sacrifice. this book isn’t just a retelling of a well-known myth; it is an exploration of a woman's search for identity and meaning in a world that often refuses her the space to define herself.
my rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
ahalya, the first book in koral dasgupta's the sati series, reimagines the age-old tale of the enigmatic ahalya, who was known for her beauty and the curse placed upon her by her husband, maharishi gautam. in this retelling, ahalya is more than a mythical victim; she is a woman navigating the complexities of life, love, and the search for self-worth. the story unfolds in the quiet solitude of the forest, where ahalya makes friends with animals and finds comfort in nature's embrace. the evocative writing made me feel every moment, from the cooling waters of the mandakini river to the mystic presence of the mist that envelops her. in simple words i was spellbound!
dasgupta's narrative challenges traditional portrayals of ahalya, offering a fresh perspective on female sexuality and the societal constraints placed upon her as a woman. through the lens of ahalya's struggles and desires, the story explores the burden of honor and how it is closely tied to a woman’s body in a patriarchal world. ahalya's yearning to be something more, someone more, than just a passive creation of brahma, and her strained relationship with her detached husband, add depth to this tale of self-discovery and sacrifice. this book isn’t just a retelling of a well-known myth; it is an exploration of a woman's search for identity and meaning in a world that often refuses her the space to define herself.
my rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
April 8, 2024
"A mother is another name for unyielding, aggressive power. She is the embodiment of indulgence and restraint. She is the keeper, the protector. She restricts to keep all harm away. She beholds the baby with her softness, yet forms a tough cast around it to keep intruders at bay. She is the first teacher starting the learning process in confinement, by sharing the system of body and life even before the baby is born. She is the form of knowledge that results from reflex."
There are some books that will make you fall in love with reading. For me, this book is one of them.
I honestly have no words to describe this book. The writing is beautiful. Loved the descriptions of the mist, loved how Ahalya handled her situations without complaining. It was really inspiring.
As a recent fan of mythology, I can assure you that Ahalya's story will be in my top three. I never gave much thought to Ahalya. Whenever someone talks about her I get reminded of Indra. But I never knew the actual story. It makes full sense now.
Everything about this book is perfect. I can't wait to continue this series. If it wasn't for @navs I would've probably never read this book. THANK YOU!!!
There are some books that will make you fall in love with reading. For me, this book is one of them.
I honestly have no words to describe this book. The writing is beautiful. Loved the descriptions of the mist, loved how Ahalya handled her situations without complaining. It was really inspiring.
As a recent fan of mythology, I can assure you that Ahalya's story will be in my top three. I never gave much thought to Ahalya. Whenever someone talks about her I get reminded of Indra. But I never knew the actual story. It makes full sense now.
Everything about this book is perfect. I can't wait to continue this series. If it wasn't for @navs I would've probably never read this book. THANK YOU!!!
October 21, 2025
Ahalya, the first book in the Sati series was not only my first book by Koral Dasgupta but also my first experience reading a mythological retelling from a female's perspective.
I loved how the story begins with Brahma creating Ahalya and capturing her soul's curiosity, innocence, dilemma, hurt, and disappointment of leaving heaven and coming to Earth. The book beautifully portrays Ahalya's emotion, from her life as a girl to her growth into a woman. At first, I found it difficult to get into the story since I don't read mythological retellings often, but I was soon pulled in and it intrigued me.
As the story progresses, we see Ahalya navigate her life on Earth with Gautam rishi, learning things about humans, trying to find her place. I loved how Koral captures small, intimate moments between Ahalya and Gautam rishi after their marriage.
Later, Indra deceived Ahalya into a physical relationship with himself. I really appreciate how Koral portrays this from Ahalya’s perspective, capturing her confusion, hurt, and sense of betrayal. Reading further when Gautam rishi cursed Ahalya left me with questions like: Was it her fault? Did Gautam do the right thing by cursing her? And how much of her life is shaped by others' actions?
Koral's poetic and vivid writing style made me feel Ahalya's vulnerability and strength at the same time.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ahalya. It's thought-provoking and emotionally rich read. And I can't wait to read other books in this series!
I loved how the story begins with Brahma creating Ahalya and capturing her soul's curiosity, innocence, dilemma, hurt, and disappointment of leaving heaven and coming to Earth. The book beautifully portrays Ahalya's emotion, from her life as a girl to her growth into a woman. At first, I found it difficult to get into the story since I don't read mythological retellings often, but I was soon pulled in and it intrigued me.
As the story progresses, we see Ahalya navigate her life on Earth with Gautam rishi, learning things about humans, trying to find her place. I loved how Koral captures small, intimate moments between Ahalya and Gautam rishi after their marriage.
Later, Indra deceived Ahalya into a physical relationship with himself. I really appreciate how Koral portrays this from Ahalya’s perspective, capturing her confusion, hurt, and sense of betrayal. Reading further when Gautam rishi cursed Ahalya left me with questions like: Was it her fault? Did Gautam do the right thing by cursing her? And how much of her life is shaped by others' actions?
Koral's poetic and vivid writing style made me feel Ahalya's vulnerability and strength at the same time.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed reading Ahalya. It's thought-provoking and emotionally rich read. And I can't wait to read other books in this series!
October 24, 2020
This book is about Ahalya, one of the Panch-Kanyas, or the five virgins. Ahalya is known to have been cursed by her husband, for indulging in a physical relationship with Indra. People think of her as a treacherous, unfaithful woman. But what about the other side of the story? Ahalya's thoughts on all this?
This book is the first book in The Sati Series. The series is about the Panch-Kanyas of Hindu mythology, namely, Ahalya, Kunti, Draupadi, Mandodri and Tara. Koral takes a new take on the age-old tale of Ahalya. The story is told in the perspective of Ahalya, from the time she was a soul, to the time she turned into a stone, because of the curse. The book is rich in philosophy and the language is mystical, deep in meaning. Ahalya was just a mere character of Ramayana, but Koral spins a whole story around her in this enchanting book. It was one of my most enchanting, beautiful reads of this year. I loved this whole new feminist tale of Ahalya! I'm eagerly excited to read the other books of The Sati Series! And I'm certainly in awe of Koral's writing and I want to read every book she has written and will write!
Recommended to hindu mythology enthusiasts, and everybody!
This book is the first book in The Sati Series. The series is about the Panch-Kanyas of Hindu mythology, namely, Ahalya, Kunti, Draupadi, Mandodri and Tara. Koral takes a new take on the age-old tale of Ahalya. The story is told in the perspective of Ahalya, from the time she was a soul, to the time she turned into a stone, because of the curse. The book is rich in philosophy and the language is mystical, deep in meaning. Ahalya was just a mere character of Ramayana, but Koral spins a whole story around her in this enchanting book. It was one of my most enchanting, beautiful reads of this year. I loved this whole new feminist tale of Ahalya! I'm eagerly excited to read the other books of The Sati Series! And I'm certainly in awe of Koral's writing and I want to read every book she has written and will write!
Recommended to hindu mythology enthusiasts, and everybody!
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