Kamadeva: The God of desire by Anuja Chandramouli

"Kamadeva: The God of desire" by Anuja Chandramouli. This book is published by Rupa publications India in 2014 and has 328 pages.

Kamadeva is the God born from Lord Brahma's desires and was assigned the department of desire, love and sex. He was  the most beautiful male in three universes. His consort Rati was most beautiful female.

In his attempt to help Deva's, he tried to hasten the union of Shiv and Parvati. Shiva opened his third eye and burned Kamadeva to ashes. What happens next? Can he be revived? Will he be?

The book is divided into two parts. First part is of Kamadeva and Rati with his sidekicks, their adventures and misadventures, curses and pranks, booze, love and sex, his friendship with Indra and Vasant, Kama and Rati's love. Finally his death by Shiva's third eye.

Second part is story of Pradyumna, son of Krishna who was Kama reborn, his abduction when infant and attempted murder by Shambara, his upbringing by Shambara's wife Mayawati, his fulfilling the prophecy and marrying Mayawati who was Rati reborn,  his life and eventual death with the Yadu clan.

Apart from the fact that Pradyumna and Maya were Kama and Rati reborn, these two stories have nothing in common. These two stories can even be considered two separate books.

The stories are good. Story telling style of Anuja is different. Really speaking very little is known about Kamadeva in mythology apart from his department, sugarcane bow, flower arrows and death by Shiva. Creating a big novel out of what little is known is not an easy feat. Author has done a decent job of it but even she had to take refuge of Pradyumna's story to make it sizable. In reality Pradyumna's story is more happening than Kamadeva's story.

Sometimes you wonder how much time the Gods spent in carnal pleasures and procreation while they were not aiding humanity or not playing politics.

I was not impressed by the cover of book. It could and should have been more beautiful, considering that it's the story of most beautiful male known.

Read it for a change.