The Winds of Hastinapur by Sharath Komarraju

"The Winds of Hastinapur" by Sharath Komarraju. This book is published by HarperCollins and has 301 pages.

This book is the story of great war which is also the story of Ganga and Satyawati.

First section of the book is story of Ganga. Mount Meru is the abode of celestials like Indra, Yama, Ganga, Agni, Prabhas etc. Celestials are men and women who drink water from crystal lake on Meru and due to miraculous properties of the water live very long life, though they are not immortals. They also have special powers, know magic and can probe mysteries. Celestials have
a unique ability of passing on their memories to their successors. The successor knows everything that had happened in the lives of his predecessors as if it was his own memory. Thus they appear immortal to human beings on earth and are considered Gods. However the real God or Goddess is mother nature, Bhagwati.

Ganga comes back to Hastina after giving birth to eighth son. Devavrat learns Vedas, weponery and justice at Meru. Ganga does not want Devavrat to return to Hastina and convinces Prabhas to make him his successor. So she smuggles water of crystal lake and make Devavrat drink it. Usually level of crystal lake drops in winter and rises in summer. It also drops when there is a war on earth.

What kind of water is it? Why does the level rise and fall? Is it water? What is the secret of crystal lake? Why does Devavrat renounce Meru and opt Hastina instead?

Second part is story of Satyawati. A Fisher girl who becomes mother at the age of 14 through a willing union with Sage Parashar. A girl who has acquired secret formula from Parashar to make a fragrant powder that will suppress the smell of fish. She is a girl without inhibition who takes a new man once every month managing her cycles deftly.

When Shatanu comes to her hut, she obtains numerous concessions from him and expresses desire to marry him, become queen and eventually king mother.

Devavrat's terrible oaths enable the marriage. When she looses both her sons she invites Vyas to sire sons to ensure continuance of Kuru clan. The book ends with she deciding to rear all three sons of Vyas in same fashion together so that they will not fight for kingdom.

Although this is the start of Mahabharata, it does not dwell into more famous part of the story. Sharath has chosen the section of epic well. It gives a startling new dimension to the story. The angle of approach is fresh, new, ground breaking and realistic. Author had a knack of keeping the readers interested even when not much is happening the story.

I liked the first part, especially life on Mount Meru seems interesting. I would not mind if the writer decides to write a special book just about Mount Meru, life on it & it's inhabitants.

Ganga and Satyawati both have a destiny. Both do not agree with it. Both want to change it. Both try their best to change it. Both do not succeed and finally give-in.

Sharath has displayed excellent imagination in creating the Meru world. Although his imagination runs wild, he has somehow managed to sound it real. The books pace is optimum. You are lost in the winds of Hastinapur.

Knowing the story of Mahabharata, a sequel is in order. Will Sharath be able to resist the temptation of a sequel. I wish he can. This was Sharath's third book and now I would like to read first two.

A Very good book. Recommend reading.