Book Review : 'Kartikeya : The Destroyer's Son' by Anuja Chandramouli

Anuja Chandramouli’s ‘Kartikeya : The Destroyer’s Son’, is not a exactly a book of the lords, instead it runs on a slightly different path. (I think I can talk of at least three friends, who are all named Karthik, or Kartik or whatever else pleases you, who incidentally are all my so-called brothers. Also, a reason for me to read up this book, soon as I received it.)

The book happened to land in my lap on 23^rd November 2017, which according to the author was in the stars, since I received it on exactly, Karthigai Deepam.

So, I got to reading up the book. Of course, I do remember it from the days of reading Amar Chitra Katha, but there is the biggest change and that is in Chandramouli’s writing. While, she stays true to the ‘facts’, of how exactly he was born, the main person, who causes the seed to spill, from Shiva to Parvati and the whole deal with Indra, Agni, then Ganga and the nymphs, she adds her own twist to the entire plot.

There is also the entire part of how Kartikeya marries Valli and Devasena, who is the daughter of the much cursed Indra. And Indra is cursed by Parvati, so much that you have to read this book, to realise why. You would understand how and why Devasena gets the better of the whole deal, too. How and why Parvati is against her son, marrying Devasena too? Will they recover from the whole thing?

Of course, the story shifts to Maya, the sorceress and Kashyapa. Through them, the whys and hows of the killing of the ‘demons’ Soora, Simha, and Taraka. They run the entire version of how he manages to be rid of their evil. Oh, and let’s not forget Nesha… who is she and what does she bring into the world?

Was Kartikeya ever a truly violent warrior or was he a compassionate man? Does he also keep ravishing women or manage to protect them? How does he face his sibling, Ganesha? How will he manage to handle most of it and also handle the entire South too?

You can Read the Book, right here.