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Shiva Trilogy #1-3
The Shiva Trilogy: Boxset of 3 Books
The complete Shiva Trilogy box set! The Immortals of Meluha, The Secret of Nagas and The Oath of the Vayuputras. The fastest selling book series in Indian publishing history. Come experience our epics in a whole new way!
1527 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
1233 people are currently reading
5109 people want to read
About the author
Amish Tripathi
71 books7,759 followersAmish is an IIM (Kolkata) educated, banker turned award-winning author. The success of his debut book, The Immortals of Meluha (Book 1 of the Shiva Trilogy), encouraged him to give up a fourteen-year-old career in financial services to focus on writing. He is passionate about history, mythology and philosophy, finding beauty and meaning in all world religions.
His 7 books have sold over 5 million copies and been translated into 19 Indian & international languages. His Shiva Trilogy is the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history while his Ram Chandra Series is the second fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history.
In 2019, Amish was appointed to a diplomatic role as Director , The Nehru Centre in London, India's premier cultural centre abroad.
His 7 books have sold over 5 million copies and been translated into 19 Indian & international languages. His Shiva Trilogy is the fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history while his Ram Chandra Series is the second fastest-selling book series in Indian publishing history.
In 2019, Amish was appointed to a diplomatic role as Director , The Nehru Centre in London, India's premier cultural centre abroad.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
May 6, 2014
Warning: Contains spoilers for the series as a whole.
I do not read books by Indian authors as a rule, no thank you. I belong to that small minority of book lovers who believe that authors like Chetan Bhagat and Ravinder Singh have done more harm to reading in India than good. Hence, it was not surprising to any of my friends when I responded with derision and cynicism when they recommended Amish Tripathi's SHIVA trilogy over and over. One of them finally thrust a copy of the Immortals of Meluha at me and said, "Read! Your love for Indian mythology will win over your mental block toward Indian writers."
Stuck on a train for six hours with nothing else to do, I did start reading the Immortals.... with trepidation. Three chapters in, I realised that I liked it. The story was gripping, well-paced and kept me engrossed. (The language, of course, left much to be desired, but I decided I could put up with crappy writing because I really wanted to know what happened next in the story).
Within twenty four hours, I was done with the trilogy. Here I am, typing out this review for the sake of those like me who would otherwise blindside the books.
The biggest winning point for Amish's trilogy is the plot. Even a reader who picks up the book with no prior knowledge of Indian mythology is bound to enjoy it for its rich characterisation and intertwined storylines. Indians who have grown up with household names like Nandi, Ganesh and Karthikeyan, who celebrate Shiva as a God are bound to get a kick out of Amish's creative altering of the story. Shiva's perspective is refreshingly sincere, making you immediately like this protagonist. He is not a God, he is very much man. What comes through, though, in every line of the tale, is Amish's near-fanboyish love and adoration of Shiva. And this adoration is addictive. Over time, the reader cannot help but fall in love with Shiva too; Shiva the marijuana-smoking Tibetan immigrant, this uncouth foreigner who cannot adapt to the stoic ways of the Meluhans, who is open with his affection and hugs without inhibition. You learn to like him, you learn to want him to win, you learn to celebrate with him and you learn to cry with him. Amish's greatest victory is the hero he erects in Shiva, without once having to make him a God.
Another winner, for me, was the portrayal of the female characters. With a period novel set in ancient India, I expected the misogyny to shine through every chapter. Amish surprises there too. His premise of Meluha, the ideal society, portrays gender equality at its best. There are female warriors, the prime minister of the nation is a strong and capable woman, the heroine of the tale Sati has enough backbone to fell an elephant and repeatedly, Shiv's attraction to Sati is on grounds of her courage and self-sufficiency than beauty or other stereotypically feminine attributes. Reading between the lines, you get the social commentary that Amish intentionally leaves unsaid; social growth and progress requires equality between the sexes. A society built purely based on merit and not on caste, race or gender; this utopian ideal is examined with brutal honesty.
The narrative is interspersed with philosophical questions and debates - what is life? What is good and what is evil? Can one exist without the other? When does good turn into evil? At no point in the narrative does it turn into a religious rant or preach session directed at the non-believer. The message, if any, is subtle. Shiva is cynical and pragmatic, and in a way, he is voicing questions that the reader cannot. Using the "Drink of the Gods", the "Somras" as a metaphor for "excessive good", Amish commentates on concepts like socialism, the will of the minority, poor governance, citizenry, leadership, duty and responsibility.
The big turn-off was the language used. Amish would take you, the reader, on a plotline high only to be confronted by phrases like "Bloody hell!", "In the name of God what is this nonsense!", "Goddamnit!" and other such anachronistic blunders that leave you with feeling sour.
Another major cristicism of the books is the ending - avid fans who followed the books from the beginning and who waited to buy the finale were disappointed by the rather tame and understated climax. However, I loved it because Amish avoided the cliched route. When Sati is killed, an enraged Shiva threatens to blow up a city using the potent nuclear missile-like Pashupati-astra in his grief-induced tempestuous anger. Until the last ten pages, the reader expects the cliched turnabout, waits for Shiva to talk himself out of his rage and fulfill his goal of destroying the Somras. You expect him to bury his sorrow, put on a brave face and play the hero. You expect him to rise above his human attachments, his love for Sati and see sense. You expect him to walk the righteous path that he, as the Neelkanth is espoused to do.
Not Amish, though.
Amish achieved his goal of portraying Shiva as human as possible, with human failings and emotional upheavals. Shiva is not God, as Amish set out to prove. Shiva is human, and at his weakest moment, with Sati gone, there is very litte distinguishing him from the villain, Brighu. Shiva's anger, grief and near-catatonic state fascinate and honestly, terrify the reader. Amish's climax is fitting because he kept Shiva's human baseness alive, because he showed that even great men can lose kindness and compassion in the face of enormous loss.
At the end of this fascinating journey, like all good stories do, this one leaves you with mixed feelings. Read it for the plot and enjoy the ride.
Har Har Mahadev!
I do not read books by Indian authors as a rule, no thank you. I belong to that small minority of book lovers who believe that authors like Chetan Bhagat and Ravinder Singh have done more harm to reading in India than good. Hence, it was not surprising to any of my friends when I responded with derision and cynicism when they recommended Amish Tripathi's SHIVA trilogy over and over. One of them finally thrust a copy of the Immortals of Meluha at me and said, "Read! Your love for Indian mythology will win over your mental block toward Indian writers."
Stuck on a train for six hours with nothing else to do, I did start reading the Immortals.... with trepidation. Three chapters in, I realised that I liked it. The story was gripping, well-paced and kept me engrossed. (The language, of course, left much to be desired, but I decided I could put up with crappy writing because I really wanted to know what happened next in the story).
Within twenty four hours, I was done with the trilogy. Here I am, typing out this review for the sake of those like me who would otherwise blindside the books.
The biggest winning point for Amish's trilogy is the plot. Even a reader who picks up the book with no prior knowledge of Indian mythology is bound to enjoy it for its rich characterisation and intertwined storylines. Indians who have grown up with household names like Nandi, Ganesh and Karthikeyan, who celebrate Shiva as a God are bound to get a kick out of Amish's creative altering of the story. Shiva's perspective is refreshingly sincere, making you immediately like this protagonist. He is not a God, he is very much man. What comes through, though, in every line of the tale, is Amish's near-fanboyish love and adoration of Shiva. And this adoration is addictive. Over time, the reader cannot help but fall in love with Shiva too; Shiva the marijuana-smoking Tibetan immigrant, this uncouth foreigner who cannot adapt to the stoic ways of the Meluhans, who is open with his affection and hugs without inhibition. You learn to like him, you learn to want him to win, you learn to celebrate with him and you learn to cry with him. Amish's greatest victory is the hero he erects in Shiva, without once having to make him a God.
Another winner, for me, was the portrayal of the female characters. With a period novel set in ancient India, I expected the misogyny to shine through every chapter. Amish surprises there too. His premise of Meluha, the ideal society, portrays gender equality at its best. There are female warriors, the prime minister of the nation is a strong and capable woman, the heroine of the tale Sati has enough backbone to fell an elephant and repeatedly, Shiv's attraction to Sati is on grounds of her courage and self-sufficiency than beauty or other stereotypically feminine attributes. Reading between the lines, you get the social commentary that Amish intentionally leaves unsaid; social growth and progress requires equality between the sexes. A society built purely based on merit and not on caste, race or gender; this utopian ideal is examined with brutal honesty.
The narrative is interspersed with philosophical questions and debates - what is life? What is good and what is evil? Can one exist without the other? When does good turn into evil? At no point in the narrative does it turn into a religious rant or preach session directed at the non-believer. The message, if any, is subtle. Shiva is cynical and pragmatic, and in a way, he is voicing questions that the reader cannot. Using the "Drink of the Gods", the "Somras" as a metaphor for "excessive good", Amish commentates on concepts like socialism, the will of the minority, poor governance, citizenry, leadership, duty and responsibility.
The big turn-off was the language used. Amish would take you, the reader, on a plotline high only to be confronted by phrases like "Bloody hell!", "In the name of God what is this nonsense!", "Goddamnit!" and other such anachronistic blunders that leave you with feeling sour.
Another major cristicism of the books is the ending - avid fans who followed the books from the beginning and who waited to buy the finale were disappointed by the rather tame and understated climax. However, I loved it because Amish avoided the cliched route. When Sati is killed, an enraged Shiva threatens to blow up a city using the potent nuclear missile-like Pashupati-astra in his grief-induced tempestuous anger. Until the last ten pages, the reader expects the cliched turnabout, waits for Shiva to talk himself out of his rage and fulfill his goal of destroying the Somras. You expect him to bury his sorrow, put on a brave face and play the hero. You expect him to rise above his human attachments, his love for Sati and see sense. You expect him to walk the righteous path that he, as the Neelkanth is espoused to do.
Not Amish, though.
Amish achieved his goal of portraying Shiva as human as possible, with human failings and emotional upheavals. Shiva is not God, as Amish set out to prove. Shiva is human, and at his weakest moment, with Sati gone, there is very litte distinguishing him from the villain, Brighu. Shiva's anger, grief and near-catatonic state fascinate and honestly, terrify the reader. Amish's climax is fitting because he kept Shiva's human baseness alive, because he showed that even great men can lose kindness and compassion in the face of enormous loss.
At the end of this fascinating journey, like all good stories do, this one leaves you with mixed feelings. Read it for the plot and enjoy the ride.
Har Har Mahadev!
May 24, 2021
The Immortals of Meluha - 3 stars
The Secret of the Nagas - 3 stars
The Oath of the Vayuputras - 2 stars
This trilogy was mostly a disappointment. Although the first and the second book were okay, last one disappointed the most. While Amish Tripathi's imagination knows no bounds, I was still not impressed. Throughout the entire series I felt like, all three books were written by different authors. I'm not sure why but something felt amiss. I wanted to and I really tried but I just couldn't love it as much as I had wanted to.
3 stars overall.
The Secret of the Nagas - 3 stars
The Oath of the Vayuputras - 2 stars
This trilogy was mostly a disappointment. Although the first and the second book were okay, last one disappointed the most. While Amish Tripathi's imagination knows no bounds, I was still not impressed. Throughout the entire series I felt like, all three books were written by different authors. I'm not sure why but something felt amiss. I wanted to and I really tried but I just couldn't love it as much as I had wanted to.
3 stars overall.
December 21, 2017
One of the best series i have read.
Har Har Mahadev!
Har Har Mahadev!
September 15, 2014
I never never read mythology before other than the stories we read as kids.....but Shiva Trilogy has given a completely different perspective of mythology ...it something u start believing (n that too with logic)...It was thrilling romantic and full of surprises ....not to tell but i cried wen sati dies ...i know that it was to happen but cudnt stop myself....it is in a way very endearing ...just loved.....
August 7, 2020
"Whether a man is a legend or not is decided by history, not fortune tellers."
Books can take you to a different world and honestly speaking ShivaTrilogy is that kind of book series.
It was the first book series I ever read and now it's one of my favourite book series. A book that can't be kept down in between the pages.
The trilogy is a mix of fictional mythology, fantasy, action, thriller, drama, science and passionate love. I was imagining the characters, the cities, the wars and I never felt less excited a single moment throughout the reading. The entire series engages the reader in such a way that one cannot help but get involved with the characters.
Books can take you to a different world and honestly speaking ShivaTrilogy is that kind of book series.
It was the first book series I ever read and now it's one of my favourite book series. A book that can't be kept down in between the pages.
The trilogy is a mix of fictional mythology, fantasy, action, thriller, drama, science and passionate love. I was imagining the characters, the cities, the wars and I never felt less excited a single moment throughout the reading. The entire series engages the reader in such a way that one cannot help but get involved with the characters.
March 15, 2016
Really liked the creative writing.This book and its writing style made me picture most of the scenes throughout the book.Now i like Shiva(as a man of flesh and blood) rather than the deity.
Har Har Mahadev
Har Har Mahadev
November 14, 2017
Depicting the gods of hindu mythology as human beings while maintaining the original characteristics for which they are worshipped for is the speciality of this series. I believe that if the story narrated was assumed to be true, instead of the actual mythology, it would still not lessen the respect that these deities engender. The story itself was innovative and gripping until the very end. Lots of respect for this masterpiece.
October 9, 2013
Very Nice..I fell in love with Indian culture and mythology all over again.
Its just that at some places in the book, too much emphasis has been laid on detailed description of places,rivers,structures etc,hence a little boring at times. Other than that, its great.
Its just that at some places in the book, too much emphasis has been laid on detailed description of places,rivers,structures etc,hence a little boring at times. Other than that, its great.
August 5, 2016
An illustrative depiction of mythological culture, beliefs and wisdom in another world and how these traits helps survival of mankind. A remarkable read!
April 1, 2017
It was awesome to go through the world Amish created. I completed the 2 volumes in a stretch.
September 14, 2024
This series of book is amazing. Which contain story of person who an ordinary man and than chain of decisions of his lifetime which make him a god.
May 16, 2022
Shiva was one of my long time reading list books which wanted to read. I even bought it (Original book) when I went to India and never got the time to read. However with the translation, I wanted to read all 3 books.
First of all, for all those who says this is a epic fantasy, you are mad. This is not a epic fantasy or any kind of good fantasy series. Yeh the series is written like that. But it is soo bad that I could not turn a page for hours.
Don't get me wrong. There is a good story behind the book. But Amish has went overboard with useless descriptions of everything all over the book it makes no sense. The main character literally goes through the whole India from west to east , east to south, south to north and all over the same route and Auther just follows him through describing the route. If anyone knows India, its huge. Same with the description.
The story behind the series could have greatly written using a volume of 1.5 books rather than 3. Total waste of time. It tries to become a epic fantasy, but fails to become a interesting novel. Author has tried more and more just to relate the story to Hindu references, and less in trying to make it a exciting story.
Wow, reading this literally made me kill by reading habits. I spent more than a month just forcing throught to read it.
Total waste of time which I lost in my life.
First of all, for all those who says this is a epic fantasy, you are mad. This is not a epic fantasy or any kind of good fantasy series. Yeh the series is written like that. But it is soo bad that I could not turn a page for hours.
Don't get me wrong. There is a good story behind the book. But Amish has went overboard with useless descriptions of everything all over the book it makes no sense. The main character literally goes through the whole India from west to east , east to south, south to north and all over the same route and Auther just follows him through describing the route. If anyone knows India, its huge. Same with the description.
The story behind the series could have greatly written using a volume of 1.5 books rather than 3. Total waste of time. It tries to become a epic fantasy, but fails to become a interesting novel. Author has tried more and more just to relate the story to Hindu references, and less in trying to make it a exciting story.
Wow, reading this literally made me kill by reading habits. I spent more than a month just forcing throught to read it.
Total waste of time which I lost in my life.
December 1, 2020
"No foreigner who came to our land, believed that such a great man could possibly have existed in reality, that all he is, is just a figment of our imagination. But what if they are wrong? What if we are Wrong? What if he is a person of flesh and blood like you and me, who rose to become a goldlike because of his Karma."
.
This is not your usual story, it's a blend of Mythology and fiction. It's the tale of Lord Shiva of who he was and who he became. Amish depicted all the elements of Shiva's character exceptionally well be it the compassion for the weak or the wisdom and depth in his thoughts. The passionate lover that he is or the fierce warrior. Whether its his skill for dancing or the talent for singing. All powerful and yet incorruptible.
It's not just his journey but the journey of the people who travelled along with him, whether it was Nandi or Goddess Sati or Parvateshavar or Daksha. Each character is given equal importance, with such minute intrinsic details that you can't help yourself but love and cherish.
While reading this epitome of Perfection, don't expect it to turn out your way, cause it won't. Don't make any assumptions beforehand, cause they will be useless. Just hop in, put your seat belt on and get ready for this one hell of a rollercoaster ride.
.
"A man becomes a Mahadev, only when he fights for good. A Mahadev is not born from his mother's womb. He is forged in the heat of battle, when he wages a war to destroy evil. Har Har Mahadev (All of us are Mahadev)."
~Amish (Immortals of Meluha)
.
This is not your usual story, it's a blend of Mythology and fiction. It's the tale of Lord Shiva of who he was and who he became. Amish depicted all the elements of Shiva's character exceptionally well be it the compassion for the weak or the wisdom and depth in his thoughts. The passionate lover that he is or the fierce warrior. Whether its his skill for dancing or the talent for singing. All powerful and yet incorruptible.
It's not just his journey but the journey of the people who travelled along with him, whether it was Nandi or Goddess Sati or Parvateshavar or Daksha. Each character is given equal importance, with such minute intrinsic details that you can't help yourself but love and cherish.
While reading this epitome of Perfection, don't expect it to turn out your way, cause it won't. Don't make any assumptions beforehand, cause they will be useless. Just hop in, put your seat belt on and get ready for this one hell of a rollercoaster ride.
.
"A man becomes a Mahadev, only when he fights for good. A Mahadev is not born from his mother's womb. He is forged in the heat of battle, when he wages a war to destroy evil. Har Har Mahadev (All of us are Mahadev)."
~Amish (Immortals of Meluha)
July 9, 2017
This work of Amish Tripathi is pure excellence. To make mythology adventurous and that too in a truly compelling way is no cinch! Let me share my interpretation of these books with you.
It is the story of a Tibetan barbarian named Shiva who crosses his homeland of Tibet and embarks on a journey of India; little does he know that he is going to become a living God leaving behind a legacy for the future generations to follow. He meets the love of his life, Sati on this journey and the conversations between the two are very beautiful.
Amish also constructs a plethora of characters who help Shiva on his way to destroy the Evil. Lord Shiva as the successor to the previous Mahadev, Lord Rudra is supposed to do so. Be it the ever loyal Nandi who manifests his devotion by standing up for his wife Sati till the very end or the Meluhan vikarma Drapaku who servilely devotes himself to the Neelkanth's cause of "Taking the Evil out of the equation"or Lord Parvateshwar who is the living embodiment of loyalty; or Lord Ganesh who is the epitome of righteousness. Inspite of the agonizing fate which Lord Ganesh is subjected to, his admiration for Lord Ram, the seventh Vishnu is commendable. He follows all the codes of conduct which a Kshatriya is supposed to, never indulges in subterfuge and tries to solve issues with negotiations to avoid unnecessary bloodsheds.
A lot of characters described in the book represent a particular quality, there's an inherent propensity of the character to that quality which makes it all the more interesting to identify the same: Ganesh being righteousness, Lord Parvateshwar being loyalty, Kartik being Valor and Courage (with brains as could be deduced in the concluding chapters of the third book).
Amish has amalgamated all the themes which we mortals encounter in our lives in his books: war, love, politics, adventure, parenting, philosophy etc. making it all the more intriguing for us. We can very viscerally connect with the characters in this book.The books are embellished with great literary expressions and sentences some of them being:
Only an honest evaluation of one's weaknesses followed by their mitigation can win the day.
The silence at dusk belied the exuberance of the dawn.
Sometimes the hypocritical nature of the world makes us immune to a rare sincere man.
- The Oath of Vayuputras
To possess an illusion is as good as to possess nothing.
The opposite of love is not hatred, the opposite of love is apathy.
-The Secret of Nagas
And the first rule of serendipity is that miracles come when we forget rational laws and have faith.
Death brings a final end to a souls aspirations. Ironically, However, it is the hovering imminence of the end itself which gives a soul the courage to challenge every constraint and express even a long denied dream.
-The Immortals of Meluha
The conversations between Vasudev Pandits and the Neelkanth aka Lord Shiva are very very thoughtfully written and are exhaustively explained with examples. I can particularly recall a conversation between Lord Shiva and the chief of Vasudevs Lord Gopal where Lord Gopal convinces Shiva that everything that has a begining is bound to end and to begin again. And it is the journey in between the two milestones that has to serve a purpose. This dichotomy operates at a universal level as well as at the microscopic level. It transcends the fabric of space and time, by which I mean, the journey can range from a picosecond to several aeons and it could span a microscopic grain of sand to a giant planetary system in a galaxy. When Shiva is still unconvinced and tries to dismiss this theory, Gopal persuades him with a simple illustration: that of the rain.
Water eventually returns to the course where it started from i.e. water bodies like rivers, seas, oceans etc. but in the journey, it flourishes the flora and fauna of the Earth. Without this cycle which according to Shiva would be pointless as the water ends up where it started from, life on Earth wouldn't be sustained. This simple example testifies the fact that everything in the universe that has a begining has an end, including the Universe itself. And when the purpose of that thing is served, it appears as a new thing to serve another purpose.
Another interesting conversation between Lord Manobhu and Lord Shiva sparks off in the Secret of Nagas where his uncle explains him the it is not the ramifications or the consequences ensuing an event matter but it's what your karma is that makes a great deal! What you chose to do in that event and does it align with your svadharma dictates how it is going to impact your life after that event culminates.
In conclusion, this three part series is a compelling mix of adventure, drama, politics and philosophy with excellent story-telling and the best part about it is that the author is considerate of the scientific intellect of the audience and doesn't presume anything or inexorably voice his opinions anywhere in the book. You are in for an adventurously insightful treat if you choose to read this book. He is rightly called the Tolkien of India!
It is the story of a Tibetan barbarian named Shiva who crosses his homeland of Tibet and embarks on a journey of India; little does he know that he is going to become a living God leaving behind a legacy for the future generations to follow. He meets the love of his life, Sati on this journey and the conversations between the two are very beautiful.
Amish also constructs a plethora of characters who help Shiva on his way to destroy the Evil. Lord Shiva as the successor to the previous Mahadev, Lord Rudra is supposed to do so. Be it the ever loyal Nandi who manifests his devotion by standing up for his wife Sati till the very end or the Meluhan vikarma Drapaku who servilely devotes himself to the Neelkanth's cause of "Taking the Evil out of the equation"or Lord Parvateshwar who is the living embodiment of loyalty; or Lord Ganesh who is the epitome of righteousness. Inspite of the agonizing fate which Lord Ganesh is subjected to, his admiration for Lord Ram, the seventh Vishnu is commendable. He follows all the codes of conduct which a Kshatriya is supposed to, never indulges in subterfuge and tries to solve issues with negotiations to avoid unnecessary bloodsheds.
A lot of characters described in the book represent a particular quality, there's an inherent propensity of the character to that quality which makes it all the more interesting to identify the same: Ganesh being righteousness, Lord Parvateshwar being loyalty, Kartik being Valor and Courage (with brains as could be deduced in the concluding chapters of the third book).
Amish has amalgamated all the themes which we mortals encounter in our lives in his books: war, love, politics, adventure, parenting, philosophy etc. making it all the more intriguing for us. We can very viscerally connect with the characters in this book.The books are embellished with great literary expressions and sentences some of them being:
Only an honest evaluation of one's weaknesses followed by their mitigation can win the day.
The silence at dusk belied the exuberance of the dawn.
Sometimes the hypocritical nature of the world makes us immune to a rare sincere man.
- The Oath of Vayuputras
To possess an illusion is as good as to possess nothing.
The opposite of love is not hatred, the opposite of love is apathy.
-The Secret of Nagas
And the first rule of serendipity is that miracles come when we forget rational laws and have faith.
Death brings a final end to a souls aspirations. Ironically, However, it is the hovering imminence of the end itself which gives a soul the courage to challenge every constraint and express even a long denied dream.
-The Immortals of Meluha
The conversations between Vasudev Pandits and the Neelkanth aka Lord Shiva are very very thoughtfully written and are exhaustively explained with examples. I can particularly recall a conversation between Lord Shiva and the chief of Vasudevs Lord Gopal where Lord Gopal convinces Shiva that everything that has a begining is bound to end and to begin again. And it is the journey in between the two milestones that has to serve a purpose. This dichotomy operates at a universal level as well as at the microscopic level. It transcends the fabric of space and time, by which I mean, the journey can range from a picosecond to several aeons and it could span a microscopic grain of sand to a giant planetary system in a galaxy. When Shiva is still unconvinced and tries to dismiss this theory, Gopal persuades him with a simple illustration: that of the rain.
Water eventually returns to the course where it started from i.e. water bodies like rivers, seas, oceans etc. but in the journey, it flourishes the flora and fauna of the Earth. Without this cycle which according to Shiva would be pointless as the water ends up where it started from, life on Earth wouldn't be sustained. This simple example testifies the fact that everything in the universe that has a begining has an end, including the Universe itself. And when the purpose of that thing is served, it appears as a new thing to serve another purpose.
Another interesting conversation between Lord Manobhu and Lord Shiva sparks off in the Secret of Nagas where his uncle explains him the it is not the ramifications or the consequences ensuing an event matter but it's what your karma is that makes a great deal! What you chose to do in that event and does it align with your svadharma dictates how it is going to impact your life after that event culminates.
In conclusion, this three part series is a compelling mix of adventure, drama, politics and philosophy with excellent story-telling and the best part about it is that the author is considerate of the scientific intellect of the audience and doesn't presume anything or inexorably voice his opinions anywhere in the book. You are in for an adventurously insightful treat if you choose to read this book. He is rightly called the Tolkien of India!
December 1, 2017
i think it is just brilliant
April 7, 2020
Amazing series!
January 1, 2022
Hate is not the opposite of Love. It is apathy.
Finished shiv trilogy...
I want to see this trilogy as a series
Finished shiv trilogy...
I want to see this trilogy as a series
May 19, 2025
Doesn't live up to the praise
I have just finished the last book of the Shiva Trilogy and I am overall not impressed. I don't recommend this book to anyone who wants to read quality fantasy stories or is interested in Shiva as a character. The language, setting and the story do not do justice to the character of the Mahadev and the book series is overrated, in my opinion.
The review contains spoilers, so proceed with caution if you haven't read it yet.
To begin with, I went in blindly and just picked up the books at the public library. I don't know anything about the author other than what is written on the cover of the book. I don't hold any personal grudges to the author and neither do I intend to offend any religious people.
I'm going to look through several aspects in my review.
1. World building
While introducing an enticing premise for the world, the author fails to deliver both on its development and consistency.
The level of technology described by the author, especially in Meluha, is somewhat on par with the technologies we possess these days. However, the author simply states that these technologies are available and ready to be used without providing the necessary infrastructure for them. The bright example could be daivi astras , which are an in-world way to name rocket missiles, more advanced version of which, the Brahmastra, is basically a nuclear bomb. Unlike the epic story of Mahabharata, where these weapons are actual arrows gifted by the gods, in this story they are weapons that are manufactured by one of the parties. In the real world producing and using such weapons warrants special infrastructure, from the manufacturing of the bomb to its transportation. Neither of this exists in the world of the book, which gives an impression of these daivi astras being a deux-ex-machina tool granted by the author to the characters in order to raise the stakes or give them leverage.
Another blatant disregard for the way technologies should be worked into a fantasy world that particularly struck with me is the episode in the first book. In it, Shiva observes city gates made of a metal unfamiliar to him. Nandi explains that the gates are constructed from iron, a recently discovered metal known for its exceptional strength but limited availability due to scarce ore resources. So, we are given to understand that in this world there are powerful antibiotics and even nuclear weapons, but no iron (and its derivatives, like steel or cast iron). How am I supposed to believe as a reader that a civilization that had just discovered iron is capable of manufacturing nuclear bombs?
The way certain technological advancements are explained in the book also leaves much to be desired. Explaining the effect of Somras, Brahaspati uses the words "oxygen" and "cancer" which are of Greek origin. There is no mentioning of contacts with Greek civilization in the book. And why would a character in a fantasy story use modern-day terms? Wouldn't an advanced iron-free nation with nukes and antibiotics come up with their own scientific terminology?
To cut it short, the technologies are not believable in the context of the world they are used in. The logic in how technologies develop is skewed which confused me as a reader, because it is difficult to overlook such ridiculous slips. The way certain things work is explained as if it was a modern science textbook, even the same terms are used. In my opinion, the author should have done a better job developing this aspect of his fantasy world.
2. Characters
The book presented a dilemma for me as a reader. The story relies heavily on the original Shiva legends, using the same names for the characters with the same role (Sati for the wife, Ganesh and Kartik for children), as well as using well-known Indian epic character names (like Ram or Parshuram). The dilemma is - if you are already familiar with some Indian epics (like Mahabharata and Ramayana), then you would recognize these borrowings and be disappointed in how freely and without thought they are used. If you haven't read anything of the sort before, then these references will be lost on you which will probably detract from your immersion in the story.
Shiva and Sati
Here he is a leader of a remote tribe in Tibet who, along with his people, gets invited to settle in the prosperous country of Meluha. After drinking Somras, the elixir of life, his neck turns blue which is seen by the people as a sign of him being the chosen one, the Neelkanth.
Unfortunately in this case, the character is only as good as a writer can create him.
When it comes to attracting his love interest, Sati, Shiva behaves like a cliche Bollywood movie character. His internal monologues, consisting of "Say yes, dammit!" and "Shit! What am I saying!" really cheapen his image as a person destined for greatness. Their "great" love is based on a "I saw you once, now I will love you forever" basis which is not trustworthy to me. The characters' stilted interaction, like Shiva wanting to teach Sati dancing (ironically, reminiscent of another Bollywood-style cliche where it usually works much better) does not add to the impression that they are a match made in heaven.
Sati's death sends Shiva into a rage-like state where the desire for vengeance is his main motivation. He ends up using the nuclear missile against the city where she was murdered, essentially losing his appeal to two sides: firstly, the Vayuputras, who provided him with the weapon on the grounds of never using it, and secondly, me as a reader, because Shiva, who had been described as a hero-in-the-making, acts as an ultimate evil.
As a military and political leader, Shiva fares better, but not without flaws either. We are not given sufficient reasons to explain how a leader of a small tribe lost in the mountains is suddenly able to command modern troops with the technologies far exceeding anything that he had seen before. The author conveniently utilizes blind faith as a means to explain how Neelkanth is loved by everyone around him. Shiva tends to ignore his friends' warnings when it doesn't serve his purpose (like the warning about Parvateshwar siding with Meluha).
Overall, the Auspicious One deserves a much better portrayal than this.
Sati is one of the better-written characters of the story. She's disciplined, brave, accepts adversities with wisdom and determination, but she won't let others humiliate her or her family. She's a loving mother and a fearless leader. Born into a royal family, she knows how to rule and lead people. She deserves a better Shiva, not the one the author presented in the book.
Ganesh and Kartik
Children of Shiva and Sati. While being different characters, they essentially perform the same role: military leaders in the Shiva's army.
Ganesh had been deprived of his mother due to scheming of his grandfather and a cruel Meluha system, which discards malformed children as Nagas - the punishment for the sins of their parents. Despite that, Ganesh holds no grudge against Sati and is generally likeable, wise and strong.
Kartik is a kid who's extremely skilled in the art of fighting. He looks up to his older brother, but is not afraid to act independently if need be. Despite his young age, he is capable of leading an army. While this may be a stretch for the kid, the character is based on a Hindu god of war, so it is well within his capabilities.
Other characters are present mostly as functions: to explain how stuff works, to act as an unexpected but so necessary help, to organize things for Shiva's comfort. The author tries to add more flesh to the bones of their stories, but in many cases it is not enough. A good example is Parvateshwar and Anandmayi, the general of Meluha and his wife, princess of Ayodhya. Parvateshwar leaves Shiva's entourage, motivating it by having a duty to protect Meluha. While it is a strong enough motivation by itself, the author fails to explain how Parvateshwar's views are different from Shiva's and why they should be on the opposing sides. In the end, Parvateshwar dies with his wife in the nuclear explosion, having done precious nothing to protect Meluha.
3. Pacing and logic of the story
Throughout the story, it is unclear just how much time passes and what characters do during that time. Sati is pregnant with Kartik for what feels like two years instead of the regular times, the road to the Naga city of Panchavati first takes several months, then several weeks.
For the first two books, nothing much happens in terms of story either. For the most part of the first book, Shiva travels around Meluha as a prospective savior of the nation from nobody knows what. After defeating the Chandravanshi army of Ayodhya, we learn that they also have the same legend of Neelkanth and had hoped that he would be on their side. However, after that nothing follows. Ayodhya and Meluha start working together as if there hadn't been an age of strife and hostility between the two nations.
Daksha, Sati's father and the emperor of Meluha, is proclaimed Emperor of India. The author uses modern existing names for places, such as the names of the rivers (Saraswati, Yamuna, Narmada, Ganga), cities (Ayodhya, Panchavati). However, a cursory glance on the map of India shows that at best Daksha rules over several regions in the north, not even approaching the modern state of Maharashtra, which is in central India. What is India in the author's story and what are its borders?
Later, Shiva declares Somras, the elixir of life, evil and is determined to stop its production. He releases proclamations where he states his beliefs and intentions. At this point, most of his followers have never even used it (Brangas, Nagas, Chandravanshis), so the question is: why would they engage in a war for the sake of something they never used? The author tries to give explanation by connecting Somras to these groups of people: in this way, Nagas are genetic mutations caused by the use of Somras and the Brangas suffer from the plague that is caused by the Somras wastewater facility that poisons the water they drink from. No convincing connection is given for Chandravanshis other than the fact that they are jealous of Meluhans using it.
Why not simply destroy the Somras manufacturing facility and present the leaders of Meluha with the fact of the matter? Why risk people's lives? Why destroy valuable infrastructure, such as ships, roads and cities? The author doesn't consider other options his characters may take.
The war itself is predictable and doesn't add anything new. If the main characters win a battle, then it means that they are going to lose the next one. The main characters have plot armor and nothing ever is going to happen to them, except for Sati.
Sati's death seems like a desperate attempt to finish the war by the author. Her death at the hands of the assassin (who was actually planning to kill Shiva) in a conspiracy organized by her father, emperor Daksha, is tragic and is a turning point of the story. However, why does this signify the end of war? The Somras party, led by Maharishi Bhrigu, never had any particular respect for her, moreover, she was recognized as an enemy. The Anti-somras party with Shiva and company, enraged by their wife's/mother's death would only be spurred to more vicious action. Somehow, both sides decide to end the war after this event. Well, before that Shiva nukes Devagiri, the capital of Meluha, because his wife was murdered there.
The author should have given more thought to how to end events more logically.
Finally, we have a 'thirty years later' epilogue, where we see Shiva depicted closer to his traditional image - he is a master of meditation, prefers solitude to company. He's permanently melancholic and mourns the loss of his wife.
However, many aspects are skewed or omitted. Shiva's third eye is just dismissed as a birthmark, he doesn't dance anymore. And where is my man Vasuki, the snake that coils around his neck?
We learn that most of the events after the notorious nuking of Meluha's capital, actually happened without Shiva's participation. Meluha fell apart into several independent states ruled by local governors. The Shakti temples, built to commemorate Sati, were constructed by Ganesh and Kartik.
How am I supposed to believe that this old, tired, broken man is a God? What did he do to deserve this title? Nuked the city?
And no, adding phrases like "he added many fresh thoughts to the philosophies of India" doesn't count. I would like to read about a God being made in the course of the story, not "well, that happens later".
4. Language
Business Standard calls the author "India's Tolkien". As a great fan of professor Tolkien's works, I could not disagree more.
The language of the story is a pretty standard English. So much standard, that some parts of the story are written like a science textbook, as I have already said before. The way the characters speak is the same for everyone, no matter if it is a tribal leader without any formal education or a temple priest. None of the characters displays any speech peculiarities, like favourite phrases or special words for objects. Even the exclamation "Lord Ram, be merciful" is the same for everyone. How are we supposed to believe that these characters are from different countries and are of different social standing? Language is the best way to show these differences, in my opinion.
The descriptions of places feel lengthy and are always written in the same one-paragraph format. Considering that there is quite a lot of travelling in the books, every new place is presented in the same manner, which is not good for the pacing of the story and the interest of the reader. Additionally, every location is described from a solely positive point of view. The infrastructure is perfect and well-maintained everywhere, there is no effect of weather or age on the objects. Why not add a bit more of life to the places?
Shekhar Kapur calls the author "India's first literary popstar". If that is so, then that is really disappointing. India, with its rich and diverse literary tradition, deserves better.
5. Conclusion
To sum it up, I don't recommend this book to anyone who wants to read quality fantasy stories or is interested in Shiva as a character. The language, setting and the story do not do justice to the character of the Mahadev and the book series is overrated, in my opinion.
It may work as a bedtime read, at least that was the way I read it. If you do want to read it, then opt for public libraries or other free legal means to read the book. It is not worth your money.
I have just finished the last book of the Shiva Trilogy and I am overall not impressed. I don't recommend this book to anyone who wants to read quality fantasy stories or is interested in Shiva as a character. The language, setting and the story do not do justice to the character of the Mahadev and the book series is overrated, in my opinion.
The review contains spoilers, so proceed with caution if you haven't read it yet.
To begin with, I went in blindly and just picked up the books at the public library. I don't know anything about the author other than what is written on the cover of the book. I don't hold any personal grudges to the author and neither do I intend to offend any religious people.
I'm going to look through several aspects in my review.
1. World building
While introducing an enticing premise for the world, the author fails to deliver both on its development and consistency.
The level of technology described by the author, especially in Meluha, is somewhat on par with the technologies we possess these days. However, the author simply states that these technologies are available and ready to be used without providing the necessary infrastructure for them. The bright example could be daivi astras , which are an in-world way to name rocket missiles, more advanced version of which, the Brahmastra, is basically a nuclear bomb. Unlike the epic story of Mahabharata, where these weapons are actual arrows gifted by the gods, in this story they are weapons that are manufactured by one of the parties. In the real world producing and using such weapons warrants special infrastructure, from the manufacturing of the bomb to its transportation. Neither of this exists in the world of the book, which gives an impression of these daivi astras being a deux-ex-machina tool granted by the author to the characters in order to raise the stakes or give them leverage.
Another blatant disregard for the way technologies should be worked into a fantasy world that particularly struck with me is the episode in the first book. In it, Shiva observes city gates made of a metal unfamiliar to him. Nandi explains that the gates are constructed from iron, a recently discovered metal known for its exceptional strength but limited availability due to scarce ore resources. So, we are given to understand that in this world there are powerful antibiotics and even nuclear weapons, but no iron (and its derivatives, like steel or cast iron). How am I supposed to believe as a reader that a civilization that had just discovered iron is capable of manufacturing nuclear bombs?
The way certain technological advancements are explained in the book also leaves much to be desired. Explaining the effect of Somras, Brahaspati uses the words "oxygen" and "cancer" which are of Greek origin. There is no mentioning of contacts with Greek civilization in the book. And why would a character in a fantasy story use modern-day terms? Wouldn't an advanced iron-free nation with nukes and antibiotics come up with their own scientific terminology?
To cut it short, the technologies are not believable in the context of the world they are used in. The logic in how technologies develop is skewed which confused me as a reader, because it is difficult to overlook such ridiculous slips. The way certain things work is explained as if it was a modern science textbook, even the same terms are used. In my opinion, the author should have done a better job developing this aspect of his fantasy world.
2. Characters
The book presented a dilemma for me as a reader. The story relies heavily on the original Shiva legends, using the same names for the characters with the same role (Sati for the wife, Ganesh and Kartik for children), as well as using well-known Indian epic character names (like Ram or Parshuram). The dilemma is - if you are already familiar with some Indian epics (like Mahabharata and Ramayana), then you would recognize these borrowings and be disappointed in how freely and without thought they are used. If you haven't read anything of the sort before, then these references will be lost on you which will probably detract from your immersion in the story.
Shiva and Sati
Here he is a leader of a remote tribe in Tibet who, along with his people, gets invited to settle in the prosperous country of Meluha. After drinking Somras, the elixir of life, his neck turns blue which is seen by the people as a sign of him being the chosen one, the Neelkanth.
Unfortunately in this case, the character is only as good as a writer can create him.
When it comes to attracting his love interest, Sati, Shiva behaves like a cliche Bollywood movie character. His internal monologues, consisting of "Say yes, dammit!" and "Shit! What am I saying!" really cheapen his image as a person destined for greatness. Their "great" love is based on a "I saw you once, now I will love you forever" basis which is not trustworthy to me. The characters' stilted interaction, like Shiva wanting to teach Sati dancing (ironically, reminiscent of another Bollywood-style cliche where it usually works much better) does not add to the impression that they are a match made in heaven.
Sati's death sends Shiva into a rage-like state where the desire for vengeance is his main motivation. He ends up using the nuclear missile against the city where she was murdered, essentially losing his appeal to two sides: firstly, the Vayuputras, who provided him with the weapon on the grounds of never using it, and secondly, me as a reader, because Shiva, who had been described as a hero-in-the-making, acts as an ultimate evil.
As a military and political leader, Shiva fares better, but not without flaws either. We are not given sufficient reasons to explain how a leader of a small tribe lost in the mountains is suddenly able to command modern troops with the technologies far exceeding anything that he had seen before. The author conveniently utilizes blind faith as a means to explain how Neelkanth is loved by everyone around him. Shiva tends to ignore his friends' warnings when it doesn't serve his purpose (like the warning about Parvateshwar siding with Meluha).
Overall, the Auspicious One deserves a much better portrayal than this.
Sati is one of the better-written characters of the story. She's disciplined, brave, accepts adversities with wisdom and determination, but she won't let others humiliate her or her family. She's a loving mother and a fearless leader. Born into a royal family, she knows how to rule and lead people. She deserves a better Shiva, not the one the author presented in the book.
Ganesh and Kartik
Children of Shiva and Sati. While being different characters, they essentially perform the same role: military leaders in the Shiva's army.
Ganesh had been deprived of his mother due to scheming of his grandfather and a cruel Meluha system, which discards malformed children as Nagas - the punishment for the sins of their parents. Despite that, Ganesh holds no grudge against Sati and is generally likeable, wise and strong.
Kartik is a kid who's extremely skilled in the art of fighting. He looks up to his older brother, but is not afraid to act independently if need be. Despite his young age, he is capable of leading an army. While this may be a stretch for the kid, the character is based on a Hindu god of war, so it is well within his capabilities.
Other characters are present mostly as functions: to explain how stuff works, to act as an unexpected but so necessary help, to organize things for Shiva's comfort. The author tries to add more flesh to the bones of their stories, but in many cases it is not enough. A good example is Parvateshwar and Anandmayi, the general of Meluha and his wife, princess of Ayodhya. Parvateshwar leaves Shiva's entourage, motivating it by having a duty to protect Meluha. While it is a strong enough motivation by itself, the author fails to explain how Parvateshwar's views are different from Shiva's and why they should be on the opposing sides. In the end, Parvateshwar dies with his wife in the nuclear explosion, having done precious nothing to protect Meluha.
3. Pacing and logic of the story
Throughout the story, it is unclear just how much time passes and what characters do during that time. Sati is pregnant with Kartik for what feels like two years instead of the regular times, the road to the Naga city of Panchavati first takes several months, then several weeks.
For the first two books, nothing much happens in terms of story either. For the most part of the first book, Shiva travels around Meluha as a prospective savior of the nation from nobody knows what. After defeating the Chandravanshi army of Ayodhya, we learn that they also have the same legend of Neelkanth and had hoped that he would be on their side. However, after that nothing follows. Ayodhya and Meluha start working together as if there hadn't been an age of strife and hostility between the two nations.
Daksha, Sati's father and the emperor of Meluha, is proclaimed Emperor of India. The author uses modern existing names for places, such as the names of the rivers (Saraswati, Yamuna, Narmada, Ganga), cities (Ayodhya, Panchavati). However, a cursory glance on the map of India shows that at best Daksha rules over several regions in the north, not even approaching the modern state of Maharashtra, which is in central India. What is India in the author's story and what are its borders?
Later, Shiva declares Somras, the elixir of life, evil and is determined to stop its production. He releases proclamations where he states his beliefs and intentions. At this point, most of his followers have never even used it (Brangas, Nagas, Chandravanshis), so the question is: why would they engage in a war for the sake of something they never used? The author tries to give explanation by connecting Somras to these groups of people: in this way, Nagas are genetic mutations caused by the use of Somras and the Brangas suffer from the plague that is caused by the Somras wastewater facility that poisons the water they drink from. No convincing connection is given for Chandravanshis other than the fact that they are jealous of Meluhans using it.
Why not simply destroy the Somras manufacturing facility and present the leaders of Meluha with the fact of the matter? Why risk people's lives? Why destroy valuable infrastructure, such as ships, roads and cities? The author doesn't consider other options his characters may take.
The war itself is predictable and doesn't add anything new. If the main characters win a battle, then it means that they are going to lose the next one. The main characters have plot armor and nothing ever is going to happen to them, except for Sati.
Sati's death seems like a desperate attempt to finish the war by the author. Her death at the hands of the assassin (who was actually planning to kill Shiva) in a conspiracy organized by her father, emperor Daksha, is tragic and is a turning point of the story. However, why does this signify the end of war? The Somras party, led by Maharishi Bhrigu, never had any particular respect for her, moreover, she was recognized as an enemy. The Anti-somras party with Shiva and company, enraged by their wife's/mother's death would only be spurred to more vicious action. Somehow, both sides decide to end the war after this event. Well, before that Shiva nukes Devagiri, the capital of Meluha, because his wife was murdered there.
The author should have given more thought to how to end events more logically.
Finally, we have a 'thirty years later' epilogue, where we see Shiva depicted closer to his traditional image - he is a master of meditation, prefers solitude to company. He's permanently melancholic and mourns the loss of his wife.
However, many aspects are skewed or omitted. Shiva's third eye is just dismissed as a birthmark, he doesn't dance anymore. And where is my man Vasuki, the snake that coils around his neck?
We learn that most of the events after the notorious nuking of Meluha's capital, actually happened without Shiva's participation. Meluha fell apart into several independent states ruled by local governors. The Shakti temples, built to commemorate Sati, were constructed by Ganesh and Kartik.
How am I supposed to believe that this old, tired, broken man is a God? What did he do to deserve this title? Nuked the city?
And no, adding phrases like "he added many fresh thoughts to the philosophies of India" doesn't count. I would like to read about a God being made in the course of the story, not "well, that happens later".
4. Language
Business Standard calls the author "India's Tolkien". As a great fan of professor Tolkien's works, I could not disagree more.
The language of the story is a pretty standard English. So much standard, that some parts of the story are written like a science textbook, as I have already said before. The way the characters speak is the same for everyone, no matter if it is a tribal leader without any formal education or a temple priest. None of the characters displays any speech peculiarities, like favourite phrases or special words for objects. Even the exclamation "Lord Ram, be merciful" is the same for everyone. How are we supposed to believe that these characters are from different countries and are of different social standing? Language is the best way to show these differences, in my opinion.
The descriptions of places feel lengthy and are always written in the same one-paragraph format. Considering that there is quite a lot of travelling in the books, every new place is presented in the same manner, which is not good for the pacing of the story and the interest of the reader. Additionally, every location is described from a solely positive point of view. The infrastructure is perfect and well-maintained everywhere, there is no effect of weather or age on the objects. Why not add a bit more of life to the places?
Shekhar Kapur calls the author "India's first literary popstar". If that is so, then that is really disappointing. India, with its rich and diverse literary tradition, deserves better.
5. Conclusion
To sum it up, I don't recommend this book to anyone who wants to read quality fantasy stories or is interested in Shiva as a character. The language, setting and the story do not do justice to the character of the Mahadev and the book series is overrated, in my opinion.
It may work as a bedtime read, at least that was the way I read it. If you do want to read it, then opt for public libraries or other free legal means to read the book. It is not worth your money.
January 14, 2016
I resisted reading the Shiva Trilogy for a very long time. What people call mythology, I would like to term it as Itihasa-Purana, history that happened in ancient India in the beginning of time itself. Shiva is often referred to as Adiyogi. As a child, I was drawn to Shiva in school which stayed with me so far. He has been my favorite God, and I remember how I used to fast for him through school and college. As I grew up, I developed a deep sense of reverence for his entire family. I believed Shiva was my trusted friend and Karthik as my Protector (naivete, hell ya). That reverence stalled me as I wasn't keen on befuddling the little knowledge I had with fiction (non-believers can stop reading at this point). Finally, I picked up the books on my stay-cation at home. I distinctly remember how hard I broke down when Ayurvati recognizes Shiva as the Neelkantha, the Saviour for the first time when he arrives in Meluha. I was on the treadmill and it was the early part of "The Immortals of Meluha". The three parts of the Trilogy are absolutely spell-binding, despite the play-up of stories and facts (again, since I am a believer)- Kali was made the twin sister and Veerbhadra as the trusted confidante, while they rose from the locks of Shiva's hair when he was in a rage after Sati's self-immolation; or the entire story of Ganesha's birth through a first husband, or how Karthik's birth was reduced (my biggest disappointment) to the most ordinary tale of simple child bearing. I always perceived Karthik's jananam as one of the most complex stories in Hindu mythology- borne of Parvati than born to her, with several purposes, apart from the most obvious one of slaying Tarakasura, leading to his avatara. As even Agni was not able to contain Shiva's Tejas, Ganga finally beholds him. Similarly, other stories such as that of Kritigga (from which Karthik's name is derived), Nagas, Somras etc. have been oversimplified. Well, in any case, I knew what I was reading.
The great story telling, connecting the dots to popular beliefs and rituals and the plots twists are enough the sustain the interest of the reader and make up for the above. I made myself open to the books, and they are splendid work. The message on good and evil as one perceives it depending on whose side one is fighting is probably most relevant to our times. Acknowledgement of Kashi's superior architecture and city planning, Brighu Maharshi's divine knowledge, the true and deep love between Shiva and Sati, Ganesha's and Karthik's legendary respect for parents, Lord Ram as one of the greatest rulers, power of Brahmastra and Pashupatastra, Mesopotamian civilization, the rivers, the complex geography of Tsang-Po, Dandak, Panchavati, the sacred relevance of Shaktipeethas and many more keep the story tight.
I loved the distinction of Vasudevs (who reminded me of Illuminati) and Vayuputras the tribes of Vishnu and Rudra respectively how both act in determining what is the greatest good and when the greatest good turns evil (too much of anything is bad). I also expected the role of Vayuputras to be more detailed.
I fell in love with Shiva a thousand times more as I read the books and I am looking forward to read them all over again. His portrayal was the best.
The weakest point of the Trilogy is the oversimplified dialogue. Amish took calculated risks and did a clean job of tying them all together to connote history.
I shook in awe, swayed in emotion, cried in fragility and smiled intoxicatedly in elation as I indulged myself in these books.
The great story telling, connecting the dots to popular beliefs and rituals and the plots twists are enough the sustain the interest of the reader and make up for the above. I made myself open to the books, and they are splendid work. The message on good and evil as one perceives it depending on whose side one is fighting is probably most relevant to our times. Acknowledgement of Kashi's superior architecture and city planning, Brighu Maharshi's divine knowledge, the true and deep love between Shiva and Sati, Ganesha's and Karthik's legendary respect for parents, Lord Ram as one of the greatest rulers, power of Brahmastra and Pashupatastra, Mesopotamian civilization, the rivers, the complex geography of Tsang-Po, Dandak, Panchavati, the sacred relevance of Shaktipeethas and many more keep the story tight.
I loved the distinction of Vasudevs (who reminded me of Illuminati) and Vayuputras the tribes of Vishnu and Rudra respectively how both act in determining what is the greatest good and when the greatest good turns evil (too much of anything is bad). I also expected the role of Vayuputras to be more detailed.
I fell in love with Shiva a thousand times more as I read the books and I am looking forward to read them all over again. His portrayal was the best.
The weakest point of the Trilogy is the oversimplified dialogue. Amish took calculated risks and did a clean job of tying them all together to connote history.
I shook in awe, swayed in emotion, cried in fragility and smiled intoxicatedly in elation as I indulged myself in these books.
October 25, 2017
Amazing book, depicting gods in the character of humans to show the struggles they go through and become the person we imagine they might be was a wonderful experience to read.
October 21, 2017
Great books. Must read. Hoping that these will come on screen similar to that of Bahubali movie series or Serial
June 17, 2017
If you have interest in mythology, this book is perfect for you and if you don’t like mythology, storyline is enough for keeping you engaged. I am not a very big fan of Indian writers but Amish Tripathi has attempted something very different which makes me appreciate him even more.
This is a fictional story that portrays Lord Shiva in a normal human being form. King Daksha represent him as a Lord Neelkanth to his people in order to fulfil his personal gain but it turns out differently. As story proceeds, few secrets discloses to Shiva which leads to lots of twists and turns making this book more interesting. Other characters also woven in a manner that justify there name, for example Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesh, we all know they look differently but Amish know how to fit them in a story.
This book gives new definition to evil. It deals with saying that extreme good turns into extreme evil. Best part is no character in the book is either good or bad, they react as per the situation. I would say it is a must read.
This is a fictional story that portrays Lord Shiva in a normal human being form. King Daksha represent him as a Lord Neelkanth to his people in order to fulfil his personal gain but it turns out differently. As story proceeds, few secrets discloses to Shiva which leads to lots of twists and turns making this book more interesting. Other characters also woven in a manner that justify there name, for example Goddess Kali and Lord Ganesh, we all know they look differently but Amish know how to fit them in a story.
This book gives new definition to evil. It deals with saying that extreme good turns into extreme evil. Best part is no character in the book is either good or bad, they react as per the situation. I would say it is a must read.
September 11, 2017
I believe Amish Tripathi, with this book has stepped into an uncharted territory. All the traits of the the mythological figure Lord Shiva have been well preserved minus the unlimited powers. This trilogy portrays a very strong message of how one's deeds determine how one is going to be know as, how it can ascend one to godhood. It also portrays how a man's virtues play an important role in life. The author's sense of perception of good and evil is something you will not see coming.
The books are so enthralling that you will not be able to stop yourself from completing the trilogy in one go as you keep on asking yourself, "What is going to happen in the next book?".
All in all it proved out to be an indulging trilogy.
The books are so enthralling that you will not be able to stop yourself from completing the trilogy in one go as you keep on asking yourself, "What is going to happen in the next book?".
All in all it proved out to be an indulging trilogy.
August 6, 2017
I sacrificed sleep to finish the three books this week. Started as a casual read after recommendation from a friend whose choice I respect. Boy was he right! Couldn't put it down. The author's 'informed imagination' (as I put in my amazon review a few minutes ago) engaged me as an Indian who experiences significant conflict trying to reconcile scientific reason and the Hindu way of life that I grew up in. Kudos to the author who has woven a story that isn't dissimilar to a broad narrative I allowed myself to imagine when such conflicts arose inside.
March 9, 2017
What has intrigued me the most about this book is the depiction of a powerful deity, Lord Shiva, in the most human way possible. It offers a whole new perspective to the Hindu mythology and how indeed the greatness of such a being eventually led him to be worshipped through time immemorial. Har Har Mahadev!
July 17, 2017
Despite all the amazing reviews this series had, I was very skeptical about reading it because of my disappointment with other Indian authors; but I am glad I finally read it. It provided a different perspective to the one of the greatest tales in Indian mythology, which is very refreshing! It does not really deviate from the stories we all grew up with, but still is unique in it's own way.
July 18, 2021
If you are an Amish Tripathi fan , sorry to disappoint you but I did not liked the series much😶. I believe it is over hyped as there are so many great books in the same gener🤷🏻♀️. It may be good or even great for beginners but not for me..😅 I did like the book but not much... Due to the hype.. I had way too many expectations and they were not fulfilled.😕😔
(please don't kill me for this review😑😥)
(please don't kill me for this review😑😥)
December 23, 2016
A nice mythological fiction. Filled with lots of science and basic essence of life !! It keeps you engaged !!
One strong (I feel so) quote from the book: " There's nothing universal. Good and bad are two sides of the same coin, it all depends on the perspective you choose to see"
One strong (I feel so) quote from the book: " There's nothing universal. Good and bad are two sides of the same coin, it all depends on the perspective you choose to see"
June 29, 2017
My favourite series till date. Absolutely loved it for refreshing view of the stories we have heard since childhood. All the characters are so human and totally believable and the events leading them to become what they become is a treat to visualize by ourselves.
May 15, 2017
Awesome book to read in free time.
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