Book Review: The Shiva Triology by Amish

Let me begin this review by congratulating Amish on the fabulous success that his three titles, namely The Immortals of Meluha, The Secrets of The Nagas and The Oath of The Vayuputras have achieved. He is no doubt one of the best story tellers of our age. The three books present us with the life of the main protagonist, Siva, his triumphs and catastrophes.

The three books present us with a classical story with all the correct mix of joy, sorrow, romance, hate, suspense and action. But the beauty of the authors work doesn’t lie there! It lies in how effortlessly he has interwoven two distinct threads of mythology and current affairs in the fabric of the story! These two threads also happen to be the main pillars on which the story stands.

If the author would have used some other names for his characters, anything other than the mythological names, this story would have been simple and sorted. But the author doesn’t want us to relax; he wants to challenge our prejudiced mythological minds. A word of caution for those adamantly religious hearted.

Let me just give a glimpse of the story. The story starts with a basic assumption that Mahadeva is a title and not a person; and that different ages have seen different worthy souls assuming that title for the correction of course of the human society that has gone astray due to some evil. All the other characters then fall in place with their distinct roles to play around the Mahadeva. The story highlights many of today’s social evils such as untouchability , blind faith in rituals, imbalance of wealth and power within society, but it particularly strikes at the core of our belief of what is evil. It begs us to consider the fact that there is no such thing as evil but only good, that has outrun its course of being good.  A complex thought, I know, but it is truly enlightening. And then we require a leader how would break our addiction of that good which has gone foul and set us on path of an alternate good; that leader is the Mahadeva.

The story also stays abreast with the mythology where in it goes on to show Sati as Shiva’s soul mate. Daksha as Sati’s over possessive father, Ganesha and Karthika as Sati’s sons, eventual death of Sati, and rage of Shiva that destroys Daksha and his company.

If you are spiritually inclined then the book has lots to offer in terms of though provocation. But, even if you are not and just want to have something good to read this is a book for you. Those of you reading my review who have already had the pleasure of reading the series, kindly post your thoughts as comments to this post for the benefit of others. Have a great read!