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The Vow of Parvati
A love story for the ages.
Drawn to beauty, sweetness, and the softer things in life, the young devi Sati is about to choose her vahana, the vehicle that would be the symbol of her identity. But before she can, her world is shaken by the arrival of Rudra, the snake-wearing intoxicated Adi Yogi, who haunts cremation grounds and consorts with wild ganas.
When they meet, sparks fly. He is her opposite in every way but all she feels is a strong attraction even as their personalities clash. When family pressure compels Sati to choose her husband, she has to decide whether she can accept the darker, fiercer aspects of herself that Rudra brings out.
However, a cataclysmic tragedy forever alters Devaloka, tearing the lovers apart. From the ashes of the aftermath the young devi emerges once more-this time as Parvati. Given a new chance at life, at determining her fate, Parvati makes a fateful vow to win the heart of Rudra. Can she succeed once again?
Drawn to beauty, sweetness, and the softer things in life, the young devi Sati is about to choose her vahana, the vehicle that would be the symbol of her identity. But before she can, her world is shaken by the arrival of Rudra, the snake-wearing intoxicated Adi Yogi, who haunts cremation grounds and consorts with wild ganas.
When they meet, sparks fly. He is her opposite in every way but all she feels is a strong attraction even as their personalities clash. When family pressure compels Sati to choose her husband, she has to decide whether she can accept the darker, fiercer aspects of herself that Rudra brings out.
However, a cataclysmic tragedy forever alters Devaloka, tearing the lovers apart. From the ashes of the aftermath the young devi emerges once more-this time as Parvati. Given a new chance at life, at determining her fate, Parvati makes a fateful vow to win the heart of Rudra. Can she succeed once again?
- GenresSpiritualityRomance
225 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2022
7 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Aditi Banerjee
12 books58 followersAditi Banerjee is a practicing attorney at a Fortune 500 financial services company. She is currently an Executive MBA student at Columbia University. She co-edited the book, Invading the Sacred: An Analysis of Hinduism Studies in America. She has published several essays on Hinduism and the Hindu-American experience in publications such as The Columbia Documentary History of Religion in America since 1945 and Buddhists, Hindus, and Sikhs in America: A Short History (Religion in American Life) (Oxford University Press). She earned a Juris Doctor from Yale Law School and received a B.A. in International Relations, magna cum laude, from Tufts University. In her free time, she enjoys wandering the Himalayas and reading voraciously. The Curse of Gandhari is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
July 22, 2022
Written for #1000reviewersclub by
@IndicaBooks
Introduction and Backdrop
From the get-go, Aditi Banerjee establishes the tone, mood and intention of her narration. Inspired by the Shiva Puranam, she presents the legendary, indivisible and invincible love shared by Rudra and Sati, Shiva and Parvati, Purusha and Prakriti and all the elemental opposites whose attraction far exceeds their differences that comprise the material Universe we reside in, cementing the notion that our existence itself is beholden to the everlasting fervour of cosmic love. This is very much a romance novel first.
There is no mistake in the tone of the book - its a fictionalised re-telling of a popular puranic lore, with highly romantacised aesthetic notes, modernised dialogues and a quirky western disposition be it Vishnu grinning in playful, perceptive mischief, Nandi harrumphing at the mouth of the cave, or Sati gushing deep-red at the sight of Rudra's resounding gait - events which are clearly interpolated as per the author's imagination and fascinations. The books reads very much like a western sitcom/drama series infused into the Indian pantheon of Gods, which makes them all the author's characters than anything academic or serious. They are most definitely inspired by the original but present themselves with a flair that can only be a product of the author's imagination. It may be a tale of voluptuous apsaras, daring devas, radiant devis and the omniscient Trimurti, but through the anthropomorphisation of the pantheon-inspired Gods, the author makes their emotion, sentiment and temperament parallel to that of the humans.
The author pitches beyond the boundaries of doubt that this is not a replacement or a guide for the original Puranam, but a spawn of creativity and bhakti.
My Experience With This Genre
In the interest of transparency, I must confess myself bottle-necked when it comes to any permutation of romance and fiction. It is a skill that is being worked on but raw nonetheless. With a vast arrays of tropes, double entendres, euphemisms, alliterations, personifications and more literary devices, it is easy to get lost in caverns of copious collections of contemporary and classical constructions, clauses, citations and comparisons. The following, while adhering to the rules of literary reviewing, will be subjective (as is the fickle genre of fiction) in order to accurately portray what I felt while engaging with the text as opposed to what the author's motive may have been.
Stylisation of Shiva and Parvati
The Love Story
As mentioned before, this is an east-meets-west novel where the disposition, both physical and in dialogue are that of a popular western TV shows, superimposed on an Indian-inspired pantheon of Gods. There is a very stark resemblance of Sati to JK Rowling's Harry Potter, in that they're both the 'chosen ones', unusually gifted who will one day decide the 'fate of the world' and use tears to save their animal from injury (although it was the animal who saved Harry Potter). Similarly, there are parallels to training where Brihaspati tutors her into creating worlds to become a Devi, just like Harry Potter attending wizarding classes to sharpen his skills. A major flaw here exists in the form of the author not specifying why she was special and simply asserted she was - the devas cherished her, her father had a soft corner, she was the favourite of her preceptor's and the cherry blossom of Mount Meru - but the reason is left out and simply asserted. This may not be news to many readers who grew up within the culture but is a glaring gap to those who seek to or reading for merriment. Sati is introduced as the daughter of Daksha, the purohit of the Devas. Dainty and protected, the author beautifully describes her romance with Universe, as she dances from planet to star, caressing the creations of Brahma and pampering them to no bounds - a precursor to becoming Jagadamba, or the Mother of the Universe.
The author's flair for describing Sati's every intimate though, action and desire is commendable, almost making you hear the chiming of her jewellery, feeling the velvet veil she rests on and taste the unceasing and unconditional love she has for existence - a heavy indication of the author wielding the Mills and Boon prose to its limit. However, the unchecked use of this trope begins to decay the zesty, enthusiastic and introverted personality of Sati to become demure and a (sacrificial) pawn in a man's chessboard. There is a lack of consistency as her characterisation shifts from her natural personality to that of one seen through the eyes of Rudra, which leads to loss of trust in the protagonist. For instance, there was little to no reason for exaggerated signs of shock, awe and attachment when Rudra saved her from falling off the tree with a motion of his thumb. Given we read Sati star-hopping and creating new worlds a few moments ago, this was not beyond the realm of surprise, yet the author employed the most magnificent accessories to describe what was a pretty believable and an ordinary situation. This kept spiraling downwards as Rudra took up a cliched "alpha" and "domineering" role in an attempt to hide his feelings for Sati, while retaining an over-the-top disdain towards her. While we have the motif of "opposites balance out each other" scattered across the book, the subsequent interactions between Sati-Rudra took up a toxic and emotionally manipulative flavour - not unlike the average high school romance. The only reason it worked out was because Sati, for some baffling reason, kept up with the punches for no other reason than he was Rudra. This attempt at mixing bhakti in an anthropomorphic story falls flat since it portrays many negative traits one sees in a dying relationship or courtship. His existence was enough for Sati to burst into an internal monologue about how timorous he makes her feel while Rudra did little to reciprocate (despite wanting to) and engaged in unnecessary teenage awkwardness by "turning his back to leave but secretly wanting to stay" or being rude for no reason other than to portray masculinity. I've lost count on how many times Sati "lost her heart" to Rudra for doing little more than walking or existing. Despite sulking for a long time about how she was not ready to become a full-fledged Devi yet, a touch from Rudra was enough to transform her from the girl who enjoyed whirling with the planets and playing with star dust to a blood-thirsty Goddess of Power, Mahakali. There is no intimation, forewarning or build-up - the change is sudden enough to jerk you out of immersion and wonder if you received a book with missing pages. What adds to the frustration is Rudra grinning as she's amidst mass slaughter about how beautiful she looks with darkened skin and a mala of skulls, showing superficiality of the Nth degree and portrays her as far as one could be from Dakshinakali, the destroyer of ego. The name dropping of Durga and Kali doesn't help the larger readerbase understand who they are and why Sati gets to have all this prowess with no effort put into getting them apart from blushing beet-red for what seems to be a permanent feature of her now. There is little done to explore Shiva's emotions as he's depicted as cold, calculating and callous till the very end of the Parvati arc - bordering Jacob Black-esque (Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga) traits. But again, this is the author's Rudra and Sati normalised to fit the understanding of humans.
The Children
The book ends in a positive note as the interaction between Parvati and Shiva balances out. No longer is Shiva manipulative, dismissive or downright rude but acknowledges her individuality and treats her as an equal. This is another sudden shift in temperament as we do not get to experience in prose the realisation and changing of Shiva's attitude towards his consort. Nevertheless, the final arc brings into picture Karthikeyan, the God of War and Ganapathi, the God of Prosperity and Beginnings which sails the book into a happy twilight after overcoming family drama, misconceptions, culminating in an Avengers-like battle with the destruction of Tripura.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Gods seen in the book are those belonging to the Aditiverse, and while they may have parallels with the ones we worship, are characters of their own right and originality with clear hints of western disposition veiled by an Indian aesthetic.
While the stylistic writing kept me wrapped to the words of the author, the narrative flattens out on the section of character progression. The third and final arc is uplifting with all the notes being hit just right, be it dialogue or character dynamics.
The dialogue, non-vocal communication and descriptions seem penned for a possible Disney animation movie with all the cliches hit, be it love at first sight, comforting stars/playing with the stars, animals who act as inseparable and understanding companions , protagonist trying to find themselves , sullen but attractive man and more - all of which are not deficient, but target a specific subsection of the teenage audience know who the Gods in name and want to learn more, trying to get in touch with their roots through a modern, colloquial means or simply looking for a solid love story to get lost into.
This book might very well set the stage for future readings of Purana in simplified prose like:
a) Ganesha Purana by R.Viswanathan or Akila Sivaraman
b) Tiruvilayadal Puranam by S. Ponnuswamy
c) Siva Puranam Retold by Ramesh Menon
d) Devi Bhagwatam Retold by Ramesh Menon
e) Sri Kandha Puranam by Akila Sivaraman
Thank you Srivalli , for assisting me in giving feedback and being a mirror to my incessant ramblings. One mug of Hot Chocolate coming right up!
Shoutout to Mugdha Sadhwani for designing a cover so pretty, I blame them for elongating my reading duration!
Introduction and Backdrop
From the get-go, Aditi Banerjee establishes the tone, mood and intention of her narration. Inspired by the Shiva Puranam, she presents the legendary, indivisible and invincible love shared by Rudra and Sati, Shiva and Parvati, Purusha and Prakriti and all the elemental opposites whose attraction far exceeds their differences that comprise the material Universe we reside in, cementing the notion that our existence itself is beholden to the everlasting fervour of cosmic love. This is very much a romance novel first.
There is no mistake in the tone of the book - its a fictionalised re-telling of a popular puranic lore, with highly romantacised aesthetic notes, modernised dialogues and a quirky western disposition be it Vishnu grinning in playful, perceptive mischief, Nandi harrumphing at the mouth of the cave, or Sati gushing deep-red at the sight of Rudra's resounding gait - events which are clearly interpolated as per the author's imagination and fascinations. The books reads very much like a western sitcom/drama series infused into the Indian pantheon of Gods, which makes them all the author's characters than anything academic or serious. They are most definitely inspired by the original but present themselves with a flair that can only be a product of the author's imagination. It may be a tale of voluptuous apsaras, daring devas, radiant devis and the omniscient Trimurti, but through the anthropomorphisation of the pantheon-inspired Gods, the author makes their emotion, sentiment and temperament parallel to that of the humans.
The author pitches beyond the boundaries of doubt that this is not a replacement or a guide for the original Puranam, but a spawn of creativity and bhakti.
My Experience With This Genre
In the interest of transparency, I must confess myself bottle-necked when it comes to any permutation of romance and fiction. It is a skill that is being worked on but raw nonetheless. With a vast arrays of tropes, double entendres, euphemisms, alliterations, personifications and more literary devices, it is easy to get lost in caverns of copious collections of contemporary and classical constructions, clauses, citations and comparisons. The following, while adhering to the rules of literary reviewing, will be subjective (as is the fickle genre of fiction) in order to accurately portray what I felt while engaging with the text as opposed to what the author's motive may have been.
Stylisation of Shiva and Parvati
The Love Story
As mentioned before, this is an east-meets-west novel where the disposition, both physical and in dialogue are that of a popular western TV shows, superimposed on an Indian-inspired pantheon of Gods. There is a very stark resemblance of Sati to JK Rowling's Harry Potter, in that they're both the 'chosen ones', unusually gifted who will one day decide the 'fate of the world' and use tears to save their animal from injury (although it was the animal who saved Harry Potter). Similarly, there are parallels to training where Brihaspati tutors her into creating worlds to become a Devi, just like Harry Potter attending wizarding classes to sharpen his skills. A major flaw here exists in the form of the author not specifying why she was special and simply asserted she was - the devas cherished her, her father had a soft corner, she was the favourite of her preceptor's and the cherry blossom of Mount Meru - but the reason is left out and simply asserted. This may not be news to many readers who grew up within the culture but is a glaring gap to those who seek to or reading for merriment. Sati is introduced as the daughter of Daksha, the purohit of the Devas. Dainty and protected, the author beautifully describes her romance with Universe, as she dances from planet to star, caressing the creations of Brahma and pampering them to no bounds - a precursor to becoming Jagadamba, or the Mother of the Universe.
The author's flair for describing Sati's every intimate though, action and desire is commendable, almost making you hear the chiming of her jewellery, feeling the velvet veil she rests on and taste the unceasing and unconditional love she has for existence - a heavy indication of the author wielding the Mills and Boon prose to its limit. However, the unchecked use of this trope begins to decay the zesty, enthusiastic and introverted personality of Sati to become demure and a (sacrificial) pawn in a man's chessboard. There is a lack of consistency as her characterisation shifts from her natural personality to that of one seen through the eyes of Rudra, which leads to loss of trust in the protagonist. For instance, there was little to no reason for exaggerated signs of shock, awe and attachment when Rudra saved her from falling off the tree with a motion of his thumb. Given we read Sati star-hopping and creating new worlds a few moments ago, this was not beyond the realm of surprise, yet the author employed the most magnificent accessories to describe what was a pretty believable and an ordinary situation. This kept spiraling downwards as Rudra took up a cliched "alpha" and "domineering" role in an attempt to hide his feelings for Sati, while retaining an over-the-top disdain towards her. While we have the motif of "opposites balance out each other" scattered across the book, the subsequent interactions between Sati-Rudra took up a toxic and emotionally manipulative flavour - not unlike the average high school romance. The only reason it worked out was because Sati, for some baffling reason, kept up with the punches for no other reason than he was Rudra. This attempt at mixing bhakti in an anthropomorphic story falls flat since it portrays many negative traits one sees in a dying relationship or courtship. His existence was enough for Sati to burst into an internal monologue about how timorous he makes her feel while Rudra did little to reciprocate (despite wanting to) and engaged in unnecessary teenage awkwardness by "turning his back to leave but secretly wanting to stay" or being rude for no reason other than to portray masculinity. I've lost count on how many times Sati "lost her heart" to Rudra for doing little more than walking or existing. Despite sulking for a long time about how she was not ready to become a full-fledged Devi yet, a touch from Rudra was enough to transform her from the girl who enjoyed whirling with the planets and playing with star dust to a blood-thirsty Goddess of Power, Mahakali. There is no intimation, forewarning or build-up - the change is sudden enough to jerk you out of immersion and wonder if you received a book with missing pages. What adds to the frustration is Rudra grinning as she's amidst mass slaughter about how beautiful she looks with darkened skin and a mala of skulls, showing superficiality of the Nth degree and portrays her as far as one could be from Dakshinakali, the destroyer of ego. The name dropping of Durga and Kali doesn't help the larger readerbase understand who they are and why Sati gets to have all this prowess with no effort put into getting them apart from blushing beet-red for what seems to be a permanent feature of her now. There is little done to explore Shiva's emotions as he's depicted as cold, calculating and callous till the very end of the Parvati arc - bordering Jacob Black-esque (Stephenie Meyer's Twilight Saga) traits. But again, this is the author's Rudra and Sati normalised to fit the understanding of humans.
The Children
The book ends in a positive note as the interaction between Parvati and Shiva balances out. No longer is Shiva manipulative, dismissive or downright rude but acknowledges her individuality and treats her as an equal. This is another sudden shift in temperament as we do not get to experience in prose the realisation and changing of Shiva's attitude towards his consort. Nevertheless, the final arc brings into picture Karthikeyan, the God of War and Ganapathi, the God of Prosperity and Beginnings which sails the book into a happy twilight after overcoming family drama, misconceptions, culminating in an Avengers-like battle with the destruction of Tripura.
Conclusion
To conclude, the Gods seen in the book are those belonging to the Aditiverse, and while they may have parallels with the ones we worship, are characters of their own right and originality with clear hints of western disposition veiled by an Indian aesthetic.
While the stylistic writing kept me wrapped to the words of the author, the narrative flattens out on the section of character progression. The third and final arc is uplifting with all the notes being hit just right, be it dialogue or character dynamics.
The dialogue, non-vocal communication and descriptions seem penned for a possible Disney animation movie with all the cliches hit, be it love at first sight, comforting stars/playing with the stars, animals who act as inseparable and understanding companions , protagonist trying to find themselves , sullen but attractive man and more - all of which are not deficient, but target a specific subsection of the teenage audience know who the Gods in name and want to learn more, trying to get in touch with their roots through a modern, colloquial means or simply looking for a solid love story to get lost into.
This book might very well set the stage for future readings of Purana in simplified prose like:
a) Ganesha Purana by R.Viswanathan or Akila Sivaraman
b) Tiruvilayadal Puranam by S. Ponnuswamy
c) Siva Puranam Retold by Ramesh Menon
d) Devi Bhagwatam Retold by Ramesh Menon
e) Sri Kandha Puranam by Akila Sivaraman
Thank you Srivalli , for assisting me in giving feedback and being a mirror to my incessant ramblings. One mug of Hot Chocolate coming right up!
Shoutout to Mugdha Sadhwani for designing a cover so pretty, I blame them for elongating my reading duration!
July 24, 2022
2.5/5: It was okay/Liked it
This is a love story with Pauranic setting, mostly fit for YA. With all the non-Pauranic fantasy elements, this book still succeeds in giving an interesting introduction to the Puranas.
The story is divided in three parts. First part is about Sati, her meeting, falling in love and marrying Shiva and finally her death. The second part is about Parvati, her birth as a human and her tapasya for Mahadeva. The third part revolves around their children, Kartikeya and Ganesha, their birth, rivalry, and many other stories.
With Sati, the reader explores most of the world building. The world is completely the author's imagination and the descriptions are western in thought. There is a separate world for devas and the pantheon, them residing over many of the 'mortal' worlds. In fact the story begins with Sati plucking stars and putting them into her necklace (which I didn't like).
Sati reminded me of some mutant with great powers and not enough knowledge/control over it. Also, Sati was very 'girly' with everything pink and beautiful and perfect. Rudra appeared to be the epitome of dominant male, with great body, physical strength, cold, distant, often appearing rude and uncaring but caring enough to give the most beautiful flower to Sati, and with overpowering personality. Spoiler: Their love brings the balance.
In this world, even Narayana and Mahadeva have existential crisis.
There are many questions that arise from the world built which are not answered. For example, what is the cause of the birth of a deva or devi? Who decides it is time/need for a new deva? If a deva/devi is born, they must also die to keep the balance; then how come they are immortal? How this balance is maintained?
Where is Mount Meru located? For that matter, where are all the abodes of various devas and devis located? Is it a planet? Or is it just floating beyond the multiverse?
If Narayana is responsible for creation/sustenance of a new world when he sleeps, what happens when he is no longer sleeping and takes Avatara?
If the devas do not need anything to sustain themselves, why do they all gather to accept Yajna offerings from the mortals?
Can a deva become rogue?
I appreciate the author's attempt to include an Indian philosophical outlook over topics like Death or Rtam into the book through various discussions. Also, the author has utilized some of the ancient forgotten customs as the norm in this novel which I liked.
I liked the use of Sanskrit terms like vahana, vrata, sristi, gandharva, but still there were many instances where the use of Sanskrit non-translatables could have been better. For example, goblins and demons are not a part of Indian legends.
You will like it if this is your first read about Hindu stories/legends or if you are into love stories.
This is a love story with Pauranic setting, mostly fit for YA. With all the non-Pauranic fantasy elements, this book still succeeds in giving an interesting introduction to the Puranas.
The story is divided in three parts. First part is about Sati, her meeting, falling in love and marrying Shiva and finally her death. The second part is about Parvati, her birth as a human and her tapasya for Mahadeva. The third part revolves around their children, Kartikeya and Ganesha, their birth, rivalry, and many other stories.
With Sati, the reader explores most of the world building. The world is completely the author's imagination and the descriptions are western in thought. There is a separate world for devas and the pantheon, them residing over many of the 'mortal' worlds. In fact the story begins with Sati plucking stars and putting them into her necklace (which I didn't like).
Sati reminded me of some mutant with great powers and not enough knowledge/control over it. Also, Sati was very 'girly' with everything pink and beautiful and perfect. Rudra appeared to be the epitome of dominant male, with great body, physical strength, cold, distant, often appearing rude and uncaring but caring enough to give the most beautiful flower to Sati, and with overpowering personality. Spoiler: Their love brings the balance.
In this world, even Narayana and Mahadeva have existential crisis.
There are many questions that arise from the world built which are not answered. For example, what is the cause of the birth of a deva or devi? Who decides it is time/need for a new deva? If a deva/devi is born, they must also die to keep the balance; then how come they are immortal? How this balance is maintained?
Where is Mount Meru located? For that matter, where are all the abodes of various devas and devis located? Is it a planet? Or is it just floating beyond the multiverse?
If Narayana is responsible for creation/sustenance of a new world when he sleeps, what happens when he is no longer sleeping and takes Avatara?
If the devas do not need anything to sustain themselves, why do they all gather to accept Yajna offerings from the mortals?
Can a deva become rogue?
I appreciate the author's attempt to include an Indian philosophical outlook over topics like Death or Rtam into the book through various discussions. Also, the author has utilized some of the ancient forgotten customs as the norm in this novel which I liked.
I liked the use of Sanskrit terms like vahana, vrata, sristi, gandharva, but still there were many instances where the use of Sanskrit non-translatables could have been better. For example, goblins and demons are not a part of Indian legends.
You will like it if this is your first read about Hindu stories/legends or if you are into love stories.
July 6, 2022
I got this book from Indica Books under their #1000ReviewersClub. So firstly a big thanks to them for sending this book.
Usually I am super wary of reading stories of my Gods by modern day authors. As they say once bitten, twice shy and I have been traumatized by a lot of work which I read in my growing up years to make me give up this genre all together. So when I saw the book in my mail I was happy but a little doubtful. I picked it up thinking I will just skim through the book first and read it eventually when I am in the right mood for it.
I picked up the book and from the first page I was hooked! The Vow of Parvati tells the epic story of Sati/ Parvati to reach Shiva, a love which defeated time, death, and the cycle of birth-rebirth. We first meet Sati who is a young girl but still a Devi, capable of building worlds out of her imagination. The author paints beautiful pictures of Sati's creativity and world building and you can see it all painted clearly across your mind. Fortunately Sati or Parvati here is not a modern day feminist. She is shy but also assertive. She builds relations wherever she goes and such strong are her bonds that they last even in her next birth, helping her in unexpected way. The author has been careful to always have a respectful tone while writing about all the Gods. She has also kept the romance between the divine couples decent and befitting Mahadeva & Mahadevi. Its all very subtle and classily written. Special mention to the vahanas of the Devas who are all uniformly super cute!!
The book will make a delightful read for anyone who wishes to know more about our Gods but is not at the stage of reading the actual Puranas. And even if you already know all the stories this book can be read for the beautiful writing and world-building done by the author. There are a few times when modern day language creeps in into the story which could have been avoided but inspite of this the book is thoroughly enjoyable and quite unputdownable. I finished it in 2 days and I am a slow reader :) A 5/5 from my side.
Usually I am super wary of reading stories of my Gods by modern day authors. As they say once bitten, twice shy and I have been traumatized by a lot of work which I read in my growing up years to make me give up this genre all together. So when I saw the book in my mail I was happy but a little doubtful. I picked it up thinking I will just skim through the book first and read it eventually when I am in the right mood for it.
I picked up the book and from the first page I was hooked! The Vow of Parvati tells the epic story of Sati/ Parvati to reach Shiva, a love which defeated time, death, and the cycle of birth-rebirth. We first meet Sati who is a young girl but still a Devi, capable of building worlds out of her imagination. The author paints beautiful pictures of Sati's creativity and world building and you can see it all painted clearly across your mind. Fortunately Sati or Parvati here is not a modern day feminist. She is shy but also assertive. She builds relations wherever she goes and such strong are her bonds that they last even in her next birth, helping her in unexpected way. The author has been careful to always have a respectful tone while writing about all the Gods. She has also kept the romance between the divine couples decent and befitting Mahadeva & Mahadevi. Its all very subtle and classily written. Special mention to the vahanas of the Devas who are all uniformly super cute!!
The book will make a delightful read for anyone who wishes to know more about our Gods but is not at the stage of reading the actual Puranas. And even if you already know all the stories this book can be read for the beautiful writing and world-building done by the author. There are a few times when modern day language creeps in into the story which could have been avoided but inspite of this the book is thoroughly enjoyable and quite unputdownable. I finished it in 2 days and I am a slow reader :) A 5/5 from my side.
September 15, 2023
Been a fan of Shiva for ages, was very eager to know more about his love story and personal relationships. loved the book and the narrative. made me smile, cry and live through many emotions. almost vividly portrayed their life. Some parts of the story contradicted with some other south indian myths. For instance, there is a legend that says Parvati was suppostedly born in Western Ghats and Shiva married Parvati in Tenkasi which is how the town gets it's name, TenKasi - Kasi of the South. But then as per this book, Parvati is born in the Himalayas.
A beautiful love story. A goodread to anyone into Hindu Mythology. Keen on reading more about Shiva.
Thanks KRP for this lovely birthday gift, very timely read.
A beautiful love story. A goodread to anyone into Hindu Mythology. Keen on reading more about Shiva.
Thanks KRP for this lovely birthday gift, very timely read.
June 30, 2023
First, I sincerely thank team @IndicaOrg and @IndicaBooks for their wonderful initiative of 1000-Reviewers-Club-2022, which I am a part of and based on which I got my hands on this book.
Aditi Banerjee's "The Vow of Pravati" is a compelling novel that immerses readers in the lives of its colorful characters. The combination of romance, mystery, and self-discovery in this book creates a gripping story that holds your attention from beginning to end.
The elegant and evocative writing of Banerjee transports readers to the magical world of Pravati through the use of vivid images. The author expertly captures the essence of each locale, bringing them to life within the words, starting with the calm splendor of the Himalayas.
Readers will certainly root for these fully realised and relatable characters because Banerjee skillfully ties the story together with the characters' inner development and evolution.
The novel's examination of cultural topics and traditions is one of its best features. Banerjee seamlessly incorporates Indian traditions, rituals, and beliefs into the plot thanks to her rigorous study and attention to detail, enhancing the reading experience. The narrative gains depth and authenticity from this cultural immersion, which makes the reader's journey interesting and enlightening.
If you're looking for an enchanting read that transports you to a world of emotions and adventure, this book is well worth your time.
Aditi Banerjee's "The Vow of Pravati" is a compelling novel that immerses readers in the lives of its colorful characters. The combination of romance, mystery, and self-discovery in this book creates a gripping story that holds your attention from beginning to end.
The elegant and evocative writing of Banerjee transports readers to the magical world of Pravati through the use of vivid images. The author expertly captures the essence of each locale, bringing them to life within the words, starting with the calm splendor of the Himalayas.
Readers will certainly root for these fully realised and relatable characters because Banerjee skillfully ties the story together with the characters' inner development and evolution.
The novel's examination of cultural topics and traditions is one of its best features. Banerjee seamlessly incorporates Indian traditions, rituals, and beliefs into the plot thanks to her rigorous study and attention to detail, enhancing the reading experience. The narrative gains depth and authenticity from this cultural immersion, which makes the reader's journey interesting and enlightening.
If you're looking for an enchanting read that transports you to a world of emotions and adventure, this book is well worth your time.
November 21, 2022
3.8/5: Written for#1000reviewersclub by @IndicaBooks
Before I write my views about the book I must say that the book is beautifully designed by Mughda Shadwani. It was the cover that fascinated me into reading the book.
The story is about Sati and Rudra. Their love story, their sacrifices and their reunion. The book is divided into three parts: Sati, Parvati and the children. The story begins with Sati a young beautiful Devi who is living a carefree life where love and happiness is all she sees. She is into making her own imaginary world until her guru who teaches her the balance of life. Her world changes with entry of Rudra who seems to be exact opposite of what Sati has imagined. They fell in love and got married. But destiny had its fate. Sati once disheartened by her father’s disrespect towards her husband jumped into the fire to stop the Yajna and sacrificed herself. This angered Shiva who killed Daksha. Later on he isolated himself and went into deep meditation. The second part is about Sati reborn as Parvati. She is unaware of her past life. From there the story flows on how she met Shiva and how they unite. The third part is about their children Ganesha and Karthik, how they are born and the relationship between the brothers.
My take on the book
I like the authors imagination of binding the story. The first part is very well elaborated describing every portion of the cosmic world. The book becomes exciting with the entry of Rudra and his interaction with Sati. There were certain portions which I really like, like when Sati called Rudra, Shiva for the first time and the vahan ceremony. Then in a scene we see Shiva holding Sati’s body, roaming around the world. It really ached my heart wondering the pain he was going through.
The second and the third part however, were not much elaborated and to me it somewhat felt like a rush but thik h it was good.
What I didn’t like was in the beginning of the story we see Sati jumping in the air, plucking stars and putting it in her necklace (To me it felt like a typical Ekta Kapoor starrer serial). Then there was this constant usage of “pink” “velvety cushion”, which was very annoying making me feel Sati to be someone from Barbie world. Then there were certain description of scenes which were too much elaborated taking the interest away.
Overall I liked the book and I appreciate the author’s attempt. I will re-read just to feel the essence of certain portions of the book.
Before I write my views about the book I must say that the book is beautifully designed by Mughda Shadwani. It was the cover that fascinated me into reading the book.
The story is about Sati and Rudra. Their love story, their sacrifices and their reunion. The book is divided into three parts: Sati, Parvati and the children. The story begins with Sati a young beautiful Devi who is living a carefree life where love and happiness is all she sees. She is into making her own imaginary world until her guru who teaches her the balance of life. Her world changes with entry of Rudra who seems to be exact opposite of what Sati has imagined. They fell in love and got married. But destiny had its fate. Sati once disheartened by her father’s disrespect towards her husband jumped into the fire to stop the Yajna and sacrificed herself. This angered Shiva who killed Daksha. Later on he isolated himself and went into deep meditation. The second part is about Sati reborn as Parvati. She is unaware of her past life. From there the story flows on how she met Shiva and how they unite. The third part is about their children Ganesha and Karthik, how they are born and the relationship between the brothers.
My take on the book
I like the authors imagination of binding the story. The first part is very well elaborated describing every portion of the cosmic world. The book becomes exciting with the entry of Rudra and his interaction with Sati. There were certain portions which I really like, like when Sati called Rudra, Shiva for the first time and the vahan ceremony. Then in a scene we see Shiva holding Sati’s body, roaming around the world. It really ached my heart wondering the pain he was going through.
The second and the third part however, were not much elaborated and to me it somewhat felt like a rush but thik h it was good.
What I didn’t like was in the beginning of the story we see Sati jumping in the air, plucking stars and putting it in her necklace (To me it felt like a typical Ekta Kapoor starrer serial). Then there was this constant usage of “pink” “velvety cushion”, which was very annoying making me feel Sati to be someone from Barbie world. Then there were certain description of scenes which were too much elaborated taking the interest away.
Overall I liked the book and I appreciate the author’s attempt. I will re-read just to feel the essence of certain portions of the book.
July 10, 2022
Thanks Indica for giving us the opportunity to read fascinating books as part of 1000 reviewers club.
This book comes straight from the vivid imaginations of author about the Devloks. The way of living of our Devatas and the author rightly captured the sense of how Swarg lok looks like.
The author rightly touched the subject with very charismatic explanation of our Devatas day to day life enjoyment and struggles.
The book started with the devi Sati life as girl and her imaginations about Shivji and their marriage and then the coming of devi Sati as Shakti and her Vahana. Parvatiji birth and her meeting with Shivji and their children is summarised beautifully.
The incarnation of devi Sati as devi Parwati is also well captured and we'll explained, though the topic of book is 'Vow of Parvati' is not well suited to the book as the whole book in on the family and personal life of Adishakti.
The first part of Devi Sati..is very well delt with details and in second part of devi Parvati'..the book seems to be running with details like Ganeshji, Kartikeyji and their life. The Sati part is about 150 pages with sole focus on Sati and the Parvati part is 100 pages with focus on multiple characters.
The book is dedicated to Devi Parvati and should unravel more stories towards the Shakti of Parvati or Sati that governs all the shaktis of Devas and universe as per Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran.
Also the usage of Chillum by Shivji should or can be avoided as it's not serving to the plot of the book.
At the end, the book is well written and author explained in details about the thoughts and imaginations of Devishakti as a female person.
This book comes straight from the vivid imaginations of author about the Devloks. The way of living of our Devatas and the author rightly captured the sense of how Swarg lok looks like.
The author rightly touched the subject with very charismatic explanation of our Devatas day to day life enjoyment and struggles.
The book started with the devi Sati life as girl and her imaginations about Shivji and their marriage and then the coming of devi Sati as Shakti and her Vahana. Parvatiji birth and her meeting with Shivji and their children is summarised beautifully.
The incarnation of devi Sati as devi Parwati is also well captured and we'll explained, though the topic of book is 'Vow of Parvati' is not well suited to the book as the whole book in on the family and personal life of Adishakti.
The first part of Devi Sati..is very well delt with details and in second part of devi Parvati'..the book seems to be running with details like Ganeshji, Kartikeyji and their life. The Sati part is about 150 pages with sole focus on Sati and the Parvati part is 100 pages with focus on multiple characters.
The book is dedicated to Devi Parvati and should unravel more stories towards the Shakti of Parvati or Sati that governs all the shaktis of Devas and universe as per Shrimad Devi Bhagwat Puran.
Also the usage of Chillum by Shivji should or can be avoided as it's not serving to the plot of the book.
At the end, the book is well written and author explained in details about the thoughts and imaginations of Devishakti as a female person.
July 25, 2022
Let me begin by giving my due to the beautiful cover art to Mugdha Sadhwani design. It is phenomenal and a thing of beauty.
That being said, I was slightly apprehensive of reading this book as I am generally wary of authors who write mythology. It’s so easy to go wrong and so difficult to please while writing something like this. It took me 15 odd pages to get the hang of this book and after that I could not put it down the entire day. It is beautifully written! Simple, tasteful and mythologically accurate. The only prerequisite of reading this book is some basic knowledge of Hindu pantheon and mythology.
The first three fourths of the book is especially noteworthy where the author explains and draws beautiful character arcs for Lord Mahadev and Maa Sati. When it comes to Maa Parvati, it feels slightly rushed up and slow at the same time. I dont know how else to explain it but I feel the character of Maa Parvati should have been given some more time. That being said, it still does a good job in explaining Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartik’s stories.
Should you spend money on this book? Yes.
That being said, I was slightly apprehensive of reading this book as I am generally wary of authors who write mythology. It’s so easy to go wrong and so difficult to please while writing something like this. It took me 15 odd pages to get the hang of this book and after that I could not put it down the entire day. It is beautifully written! Simple, tasteful and mythologically accurate. The only prerequisite of reading this book is some basic knowledge of Hindu pantheon and mythology.
The first three fourths of the book is especially noteworthy where the author explains and draws beautiful character arcs for Lord Mahadev and Maa Sati. When it comes to Maa Parvati, it feels slightly rushed up and slow at the same time. I dont know how else to explain it but I feel the character of Maa Parvati should have been given some more time. That being said, it still does a good job in explaining Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartik’s stories.
Should you spend money on this book? Yes.
July 28, 2022
I received a copy from Indica Books in exchange for an honest review and posted as a part of Thousand Reviewers Club.
As the name suggests, this book is based on the ever lasting and ever refreshing love story of Shiva and Parvati.
The book begins with a young Sati getting drawn towards Mahadeva, whose nature is not even understood even by the well versed devas and rishis. As Sati tries to know him, she embark on to experience of her own reality. The story then continues to their union followed by a brief period of separation only to be finally united when she is reborn as Parvati.
The book also explores their life as a family- Shiva, Parvati and their sons.
The writer has made some modifications as per her understanding to make the story more appealing and continuous but has not interfered with the sanctity and sacredness associated with the characters of the story. The story of Shiva and Parvati can be read multiple times and yet every time the reader will get a fresh perspective or facet of their story.
As the name suggests, this book is based on the ever lasting and ever refreshing love story of Shiva and Parvati.
The book begins with a young Sati getting drawn towards Mahadeva, whose nature is not even understood even by the well versed devas and rishis. As Sati tries to know him, she embark on to experience of her own reality. The story then continues to their union followed by a brief period of separation only to be finally united when she is reborn as Parvati.
The book also explores their life as a family- Shiva, Parvati and their sons.
The writer has made some modifications as per her understanding to make the story more appealing and continuous but has not interfered with the sanctity and sacredness associated with the characters of the story. The story of Shiva and Parvati can be read multiple times and yet every time the reader will get a fresh perspective or facet of their story.
June 8, 2022
4.5 stars
Always been fascinated by the story of Shiva Sati (and her journey and reincarnation as Parvati) but there are very few books on them.
This is the best one I've read on this subject and it's now one of my favourites!✨
Always been fascinated by the story of Shiva Sati (and her journey and reincarnation as Parvati) but there are very few books on them.
This is the best one I've read on this subject and it's now one of my favourites!✨
May 18, 2022
✨Book Review✨
🌸I have always loved knowing more Indian mythology via textbooks, TV series, and through tales passed down to us. But it is my first time reading it in a book.
🌷Every Indian knows the story of Shiva and Sati (and Parvati). But still every time I see a series on the story, I’m still drawn to it. I want to watch it and don’t want to miss any of it. That’s how beautiful and powerful their story is.
🌺The author has done an amazing job with the book. It is difficult to put their story into one book and impossible to cover everything. But I loved how the author wrote their story by giving all the details that were required starting from what was happening to what happened or became of the places they went to or how we know them today.
🌹I loved the witty conversations between Narayana and Rudra. The sweet interactions and the playful teasing between Sati, Lakshmi and Saraswati. And the electrifying encounters between Rudra, Sati (and Parvati).
Rudra – Mahadev, who is fierce and powerful and feared by all.
Sati (Parvati) – Jagadamba, who is known for her kindness, beauty, and compassionate heart.
They are complete opposites of each other yet complete together.
🌼From their very first meeting, every interaction has me biting my lips and I long to know what exactly they are thinking at that very moment.
🌻There were small but deep details in story which I never realised before reading this book. Who first thought about the match between Sati and Rudra? Who took the first step? Rudra who loved a solitary life, how did his feelings change? Sati who loved everything beautiful and couldn’t even bear to see a flower die, how did she come to love the fierce appearance of Rudra? How did they end up being tied so strongly to each other that they are worshiped as a symbol of love?
🏵️While I already know the story, I had an amazing time relieving them through this book and learning more about it. I am definitely going to read more mythology from now on.
Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the #reviewcopy
🌸I have always loved knowing more Indian mythology via textbooks, TV series, and through tales passed down to us. But it is my first time reading it in a book.
🌷Every Indian knows the story of Shiva and Sati (and Parvati). But still every time I see a series on the story, I’m still drawn to it. I want to watch it and don’t want to miss any of it. That’s how beautiful and powerful their story is.
🌺The author has done an amazing job with the book. It is difficult to put their story into one book and impossible to cover everything. But I loved how the author wrote their story by giving all the details that were required starting from what was happening to what happened or became of the places they went to or how we know them today.
🌹I loved the witty conversations between Narayana and Rudra. The sweet interactions and the playful teasing between Sati, Lakshmi and Saraswati. And the electrifying encounters between Rudra, Sati (and Parvati).
Rudra – Mahadev, who is fierce and powerful and feared by all.
Sati (Parvati) – Jagadamba, who is known for her kindness, beauty, and compassionate heart.
They are complete opposites of each other yet complete together.
🌼From their very first meeting, every interaction has me biting my lips and I long to know what exactly they are thinking at that very moment.
🌻There were small but deep details in story which I never realised before reading this book. Who first thought about the match between Sati and Rudra? Who took the first step? Rudra who loved a solitary life, how did his feelings change? Sati who loved everything beautiful and couldn’t even bear to see a flower die, how did she come to love the fierce appearance of Rudra? How did they end up being tied so strongly to each other that they are worshiped as a symbol of love?
🏵️While I already know the story, I had an amazing time relieving them through this book and learning more about it. I am definitely going to read more mythology from now on.
Thank you @bloomsburyindia for the #reviewcopy
April 17, 2023
Novels based on mythological stories have always been on the list of my favourites. The uniqueness of the story-telling, as well as the 'out of the box' perspective never fails to amaze me and this one is no exception. The story begins with the beautiful description of Sati- a mysterious young girl. This book has a little bit of those fairy tale elements which actually captivates the readers. The story-telling is very engaging. The wonderful and vivid description of the unspoken love between these two deities can make one shiver in awe sometimes. One cannot, for once, put down this book as it's very intriguing from the beginning till the end. To make it more realistic the author has created many little conversation between Shiva and Parvati, which actually brings out the 'intensity of love', they share/have. We can feel closer to these deities.
There are three parts through which the entire story has been told and with each part, the story has the potential to grow you even more curious than before. Apart from the main story line, here we can find funny and memorable little sub stories as well. How Vishnu plays a vital role in making the match, the Vahana story and many more. The book doesn't solely focuses on Shiva and Parvati but also the other stories and characters that nourishes the entire novel. The book has got a lot in it but the part where Parvati made Shiva realize how important 'Prakriti' is along with 'Purusha', was my favourite. Because of the lucid way of story telling, everything becomes more tangible.
At last,I would like to thank Indica for their Wonderful initiative and gifting me with this amazing book. Go for it! Happy Reading!
There are three parts through which the entire story has been told and with each part, the story has the potential to grow you even more curious than before. Apart from the main story line, here we can find funny and memorable little sub stories as well. How Vishnu plays a vital role in making the match, the Vahana story and many more. The book doesn't solely focuses on Shiva and Parvati but also the other stories and characters that nourishes the entire novel. The book has got a lot in it but the part where Parvati made Shiva realize how important 'Prakriti' is along with 'Purusha', was my favourite. Because of the lucid way of story telling, everything becomes more tangible.
At last,I would like to thank Indica for their Wonderful initiative and gifting me with this amazing book. Go for it! Happy Reading!
August 8, 2022
Unlike some of more mindless books filed under the 'Romance' genre , this book is one rooted in the Puranas of Sanatana Dharma & is based on one of the cosmos's most celebrated consorts : The divine duo of Shiva and Shakti . Despite knowing the story and it's ending, I knew I'd come way from this reading session , both enthused and enriched . I have read the author's first book ' The Curse of Gandhari ' and have no doubts regarding her talents and prowess as a writer .
The book is roughly divided into 3 sections . The first deals with Devi's life experiences and encounters as the virtuous Sati. Thr second deals with the same Sati reborn as the daughter of the mountain king Himawat , now named Parvati and her subsequent wooing of and wedding to Lord Shiva . The third and last section 'Children ' deals with the entry of Karthik and Ganesha into the lives of the Cosmic Couple .
The first section is incredibly well written . We learn of Sati's initial years , being tutored by the Divine Guru Brihaspati & being brought up by her somewhat over protective father Daksha , the officiating priest of the Devas. She spends her maiden years conversing and sharing company with her sister Devis ,the radiant Lakshmi and erudite Saraswati and shows every sign of living her life in accordance with the conventions of her time .
Life,however has other plans .
Soon enough the elegant Sati meets the mysterious (but fascinating ) Rudra. Inexplicable , but alluring she finds herself more and more enamoured by this enigmatic Deva with whom she seems to share little in common with . After many (mis)adventures together ,much drama and miscommunication and a few clandestine meetings to boot , the expected union does eventually occur.
The two lovers are happily married off despite her father's initial distaste to and displeasure at the union .
But unfortunately their happiness is short lived .
Devi soon finds out that Daksha is holding a Yagna to which he has invited all the major (and even minor )Devas but has deliberately disinvited her and Shiva . Sati refuses to believe that her father would behave in such a manner and tries to convince Shiva to attend nonetheless . Although he wisely guesses Daksha's true intentions & grants her the freedom to do as she wishes ,he refuses to accompany her .She goes off , hopeful that can she fix the situation although she is vaguely troubled by what the future portends.
I won't spoil the rest for those who are don't know the story but for those who do , it's a still an excellent read .
In contrast to the former section which is fully fleshed out and detailed , the remaining two sections feel far more rapidly paced . As if too many events were compressed in too few pages . This is not to suggest they were badly written . Far from it .It's just that they book was so engaging that I wouldn't have minded reading a 100 more pages on the life of Devi Parvati and her subsequent wooing of Lord Shiva .
In fact the book could have been expanded upon into 2 books with the 2nd half dealing with events of section 2 and 3 in greater detail . I would definitely have bought both .
This is a minor quibble though . All in all an excellent read . Strongly recommended 👍🏼
The book is roughly divided into 3 sections . The first deals with Devi's life experiences and encounters as the virtuous Sati. Thr second deals with the same Sati reborn as the daughter of the mountain king Himawat , now named Parvati and her subsequent wooing of and wedding to Lord Shiva . The third and last section 'Children ' deals with the entry of Karthik and Ganesha into the lives of the Cosmic Couple .
The first section is incredibly well written . We learn of Sati's initial years , being tutored by the Divine Guru Brihaspati & being brought up by her somewhat over protective father Daksha , the officiating priest of the Devas. She spends her maiden years conversing and sharing company with her sister Devis ,the radiant Lakshmi and erudite Saraswati and shows every sign of living her life in accordance with the conventions of her time .
Life,however has other plans .
Soon enough the elegant Sati meets the mysterious (but fascinating ) Rudra. Inexplicable , but alluring she finds herself more and more enamoured by this enigmatic Deva with whom she seems to share little in common with . After many (mis)adventures together ,much drama and miscommunication and a few clandestine meetings to boot , the expected union does eventually occur.
The two lovers are happily married off despite her father's initial distaste to and displeasure at the union .
But unfortunately their happiness is short lived .
Devi soon finds out that Daksha is holding a Yagna to which he has invited all the major (and even minor )Devas but has deliberately disinvited her and Shiva . Sati refuses to believe that her father would behave in such a manner and tries to convince Shiva to attend nonetheless . Although he wisely guesses Daksha's true intentions & grants her the freedom to do as she wishes ,he refuses to accompany her .She goes off , hopeful that can she fix the situation although she is vaguely troubled by what the future portends.
I won't spoil the rest for those who are don't know the story but for those who do , it's a still an excellent read .
In contrast to the former section which is fully fleshed out and detailed , the remaining two sections feel far more rapidly paced . As if too many events were compressed in too few pages . This is not to suggest they were badly written . Far from it .It's just that they book was so engaging that I wouldn't have minded reading a 100 more pages on the life of Devi Parvati and her subsequent wooing of Lord Shiva .
In fact the book could have been expanded upon into 2 books with the 2nd half dealing with events of section 2 and 3 in greater detail . I would definitely have bought both .
This is a minor quibble though . All in all an excellent read . Strongly recommended 👍🏼
July 26, 2022
Received this book from Indic Academy as a part of 1000 reviewers club. I am extremely grateful for Indica for giving this book
The book is a fictional version of love story of Shiva and Sati. Unlike other books on Indic heritage, the characters are not humanized here. These are devas living in a parallel universe. Initial few pages of the book are ok but it becomes unputdownable with the entry of Rudra. The book is a treat to imagination with beautiful pictures of Mount Meru, Manidwipa, Kailasha, Vaikuntha etc. In Kumarasambhava, Shiva asks Parvati being an embodiment of grace and beauty herself, what did she like in Shiva who roams in cremation grounds, has snake around him and decorates himself in Ash? Parvati walks out angrily without answering. The question of Kalidasa unanswered by Parvati is answered here by Aditi - Balance. Balance between beauty and strength, light and darkness, Shiva and Shakti.
The book has two section- Sati and Parvati. The detailing that went into Sati is lacking in Parvati section. The book was better had it ended at Shiva's acceptance of Parvati. Rest of the book seems a mere English translation of Puranas and nothing new to contribute.
Even after writing a millions of pages, so much will be left unsaid about Mahadev. Yet, the author has done a great job. The stories of Kali, Annapoorna, Ganesha, Karthikeyan are beautifully articulated along with principles of Yoga darshana. If you have already heard or read Puranic stories of Shiva and Sati, this is a relaxing read. If you haven't, it's thrilling in every page.
The book is a fictional version of love story of Shiva and Sati. Unlike other books on Indic heritage, the characters are not humanized here. These are devas living in a parallel universe. Initial few pages of the book are ok but it becomes unputdownable with the entry of Rudra. The book is a treat to imagination with beautiful pictures of Mount Meru, Manidwipa, Kailasha, Vaikuntha etc. In Kumarasambhava, Shiva asks Parvati being an embodiment of grace and beauty herself, what did she like in Shiva who roams in cremation grounds, has snake around him and decorates himself in Ash? Parvati walks out angrily without answering. The question of Kalidasa unanswered by Parvati is answered here by Aditi - Balance. Balance between beauty and strength, light and darkness, Shiva and Shakti.
The book has two section- Sati and Parvati. The detailing that went into Sati is lacking in Parvati section. The book was better had it ended at Shiva's acceptance of Parvati. Rest of the book seems a mere English translation of Puranas and nothing new to contribute.
Even after writing a millions of pages, so much will be left unsaid about Mahadev. Yet, the author has done a great job. The stories of Kali, Annapoorna, Ganesha, Karthikeyan are beautifully articulated along with principles of Yoga darshana. If you have already heard or read Puranic stories of Shiva and Sati, this is a relaxing read. If you haven't, it's thrilling in every page.
February 8, 2023
Truly, the story of a love reborn...... So, apt the cover and the title of the book!! Shiva and Shakti, an eternal power which pervades the Universe. The source of creation, sustenance and destruction. An epic love story which continues to enthrall us all. What a fantastic and gripping tale by Aditi Banerjee. If Shiva is eternal patience, then Shakti is never ending tapasya for him. It is the pious love which ultimately wins. The story starts with Sati signifying beauty which is instinctive and intuitive.But it is the balance which she must aspire for to complete herself. Her meeting with Guru Brahaspati enlightens her about the need to transcend the limitation and to think about the balance.
The author has beautifully described her meeting with Rudra on the No Name Tree situated on Mount Meru. Again, the night of Rudra which how transformed into Mahashivratri and how Rudra gets the name Shiva from Sati is quite amazing. Then, there is the marriage, yagya,formation of Shakti Peeth, Shiva going in deep meditation, arrival of sati in the form of Parvati and again they meet.!! The narrative style of the author is superb which does not allow the reader to put down the book. One by one you flip and the story ends to begin again with the Aardhnareshwar......
Last but not the least the family potrait chapter is the icing on the cake!!
A Brilliant book powered by Shiv Shakti grace!!
The author has beautifully described her meeting with Rudra on the No Name Tree situated on Mount Meru. Again, the night of Rudra which how transformed into Mahashivratri and how Rudra gets the name Shiva from Sati is quite amazing. Then, there is the marriage, yagya,formation of Shakti Peeth, Shiva going in deep meditation, arrival of sati in the form of Parvati and again they meet.!! The narrative style of the author is superb which does not allow the reader to put down the book. One by one you flip and the story ends to begin again with the Aardhnareshwar......
Last but not the least the family potrait chapter is the icing on the cake!!
A Brilliant book powered by Shiv Shakti grace!!
May 24, 2024
I read this book written in three parts: Sati, Parvati, and The Children.
The Sati section depicts how two of our great gods fell in love. Their conversations are heartwarming and relatable. Although the first few chapters were a bit slow as they introduced the characters and set the stage, they soon picked up. There’s a charming chapter where Rudra and Sati meet; it made me smile as it portrayed a sweet love story, complete with a disapproving father and a sister who constantly warned Sati.
If you’re in love, you might find their conversations particularly resonant and relatable. The mention of Varanasi was delightful and fulfilling, as I had anticipated it before it was explicitly mentioned.
The Parvati section, though it could have been more detailed, was still nice, cute, and happy. The Children section mostly covered familiar ground.
This book illustrates why we feel such a strong connection with Mahadeva and Parvati. They experienced everything we do in this mortal world: love, marriage, children, family issues, desires, and more. They lived as we do and showed us how to live in peace and harmony with our loved ones.
While some parts seemed fictional and others were well-known stories, I quite enjoyed it. If you’re interested in the stories of gods and goddesses, it’s a good read however I wasn’t able to understand why the book is titled ‘The Vow of Parvati.’ It would be helpful if the author could clarify this, as she might have insights that I missed.
The Sati section depicts how two of our great gods fell in love. Their conversations are heartwarming and relatable. Although the first few chapters were a bit slow as they introduced the characters and set the stage, they soon picked up. There’s a charming chapter where Rudra and Sati meet; it made me smile as it portrayed a sweet love story, complete with a disapproving father and a sister who constantly warned Sati.
If you’re in love, you might find their conversations particularly resonant and relatable. The mention of Varanasi was delightful and fulfilling, as I had anticipated it before it was explicitly mentioned.
The Parvati section, though it could have been more detailed, was still nice, cute, and happy. The Children section mostly covered familiar ground.
This book illustrates why we feel such a strong connection with Mahadeva and Parvati. They experienced everything we do in this mortal world: love, marriage, children, family issues, desires, and more. They lived as we do and showed us how to live in peace and harmony with our loved ones.
While some parts seemed fictional and others were well-known stories, I quite enjoyed it. If you’re interested in the stories of gods and goddesses, it’s a good read however I wasn’t able to understand why the book is titled ‘The Vow of Parvati.’ It would be helpful if the author could clarify this, as she might have insights that I missed.
August 28, 2022
Many of us have either read or seen on the television the story of Sati and Shiv, their marriage, Sati’s immolation in the ritual fire when her husband was insulted by her father, her re-birth eons later as Parvati, and the coming together of the two.
It is a timeless tale, retold many times by many people. Aditi brings alive the vivid tale of love in her inimitable style. The author has also researched extensively to narrate many events that I was not aware of.
The challenge in narrating stories from the past is that there are no records of what transpired between different characters. We are also biased by the many retellings by our ancestors. The author has given her own unique perspective to the story. The dialogues that the author has attributed to the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, or the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Sati, makes the tale relatable to us. They too indulge in banter like we humans do. The intense scenes are also well etched out depicting the sentiments that the characters are going through. That makes the story interesting to read.
This ageless story would appeal to readers across different age groups.
It is a timeless tale, retold many times by many people. Aditi brings alive the vivid tale of love in her inimitable style. The author has also researched extensively to narrate many events that I was not aware of.
The challenge in narrating stories from the past is that there are no records of what transpired between different characters. We are also biased by the many retellings by our ancestors. The author has given her own unique perspective to the story. The dialogues that the author has attributed to the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, or the goddesses Lakshmi, Saraswati and Sati, makes the tale relatable to us. They too indulge in banter like we humans do. The intense scenes are also well etched out depicting the sentiments that the characters are going through. That makes the story interesting to read.
This ageless story would appeal to readers across different age groups.
November 21, 2022
I love reading books on Itihasas and Puranas. I have read multiple books and watched television shows on Mahabharata and Ramayana. I haven't read any books on Lord Shiva or Mata Parvati, but I knew about many timeless tales of them through television series and from my grandparents. So, when I got an opportunity to read this book, I didn't want to miss it.
"The Vow Of Parvati" is a book about pure love between Lord Shiva and Sakti, their relationship, the fateful events which led to Sati's immolation, the rebirth of Sati as Parvati, Kali, Annapoorna, Kashi- the city which they love the most, Ganesha and Karthikeya. This book is divided into two sections: Sati and Parvati. I loved reading how Sati, a gentle and innocent woman transforms herself into a powerful, motherly Devi whom we worship today. The vivid descriptions and engaging writing style of the author make it an engrossing read.
Even though you are familiar with these stories, this book can be a relaxing and refreshing read as the author stated her interpretation. I would recommend this book to beginners and people who enjoy reading this genre.
"The Vow Of Parvati" is a book about pure love between Lord Shiva and Sakti, their relationship, the fateful events which led to Sati's immolation, the rebirth of Sati as Parvati, Kali, Annapoorna, Kashi- the city which they love the most, Ganesha and Karthikeya. This book is divided into two sections: Sati and Parvati. I loved reading how Sati, a gentle and innocent woman transforms herself into a powerful, motherly Devi whom we worship today. The vivid descriptions and engaging writing style of the author make it an engrossing read.
Even though you are familiar with these stories, this book can be a relaxing and refreshing read as the author stated her interpretation. I would recommend this book to beginners and people who enjoy reading this genre.
September 21, 2022
The book chronicles the story of parvati. It traverses across her forms (Sati & Parvati) in a very beautiful manner. The author has written it in such a way that if the reader submits himself to the narrative , its as if the narrative is right in front of your eyes. Any story involving Bhagwan Shiva & Devi Parvati is actually a lesson on family management. All the scenarios which we mortals go through in day to day life is amazingly covered in the story. This book needs to be experienced. My sincere namaskarams to Indic Academy which sent this book as a part of 1000 reviewers club
May 16, 2024
A good simple read. This book tells the story of the union of Shiva and Parvati and their family's existence. It is a great choice for beginners. I liked the book but was not very much attached into the book mainly because I felt this was for a much younger audience than me . A simple read good book . Very small world building .
Sati Devi's fate is revolved around the great Mahadev Shiva . The story unfolds with Lord Shiva and Sati Devi's meeting and how fate plays between the two lovers . It is divided into three parts . First is Sati Devi's world and her meeting with Shiva . Their love and marriage forms the first part . Second part includes Parvathi Devi's birth and her reunion with Shiva . The third part deals with their family life with their children Ganesh and Karthik.
Sati Devi's fate is revolved around the great Mahadev Shiva . The story unfolds with Lord Shiva and Sati Devi's meeting and how fate plays between the two lovers . It is divided into three parts . First is Sati Devi's world and her meeting with Shiva . Their love and marriage forms the first part . Second part includes Parvathi Devi's birth and her reunion with Shiva . The third part deals with their family life with their children Ganesh and Karthik.
July 25, 2022
The vow of Parvati by Aditi Banerjee is a good book. The well known story has been presented in a very romantic way using elaborate descriptions.
The vocabulary used is fine and so is the flow of the story .
It could have been better if a few lesser known characters / incidents were included. Too much elaboration of the description of the scenes takes the interest away
In all, I rate it 3 out of 5.
The vocabulary used is fine and so is the flow of the story .
It could have been better if a few lesser known characters / incidents were included. Too much elaboration of the description of the scenes takes the interest away
In all, I rate it 3 out of 5.
August 7, 2022
Excellent
The first novel on the love story of Shiv and Mata Parvati. A novel that would help you to understand the most complex but loved couple of the Trinity. You would surely fall in love after reading this beautiful novel.
The first novel on the love story of Shiv and Mata Parvati. A novel that would help you to understand the most complex but loved couple of the Trinity. You would surely fall in love after reading this beautiful novel.
July 19, 2022
Wonderful book, depicting love story of Shiva and Parvati in such a beautiful manner. I had a big wide smile on my face throughout the book ( of course, except the heartbreaking chapters).
January 3, 2026
Sati rushed to explain, ' I mean you are so very wild and isolated. Music is very... beautiful. I think it will make you more sensitive. My teacher has just been instructing me about the importance of balance and being multidimensional...'
Absolutely loved it. And I have been revisiting the book. Chuckling at certain parts and in awe at others.
Absolutely loved it. And I have been revisiting the book. Chuckling at certain parts and in awe at others.
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