I have been fascinated about this book series by the praise I heard for this author and his work. After making right time to start with this book, also because of my pure interest in SPIRITUALITY, I haven't tried before reading any spiritual book but had followed the story of LORD SHIVA for the matter of fact of being Hindu by religion or otherwise the worship done in family but yes indeed, I had some interest in reading the book only for the matter of fact it being based on story of Lord Shiva and yet it offering something new and different was the another obvious reason to go for it!
Mind you! Taking the same story line and trying to write it differently without deviating from it's real essence as well as fulfilling the essence on the main sculpture isn't totally an easy task which the author Amish had fulfilled to the greater extent if not completely.
Having known the story of Lord Shiva and reading something same in order to find something new was into itself a too high as a hope from deep inside of my tiny heart and yet the book had not disappointed me so much so that as soon as I finished with the first series I fetch the following one from the same series rather than taking a break and continuing with something else to refresh my mind.
The story, as already described is written based on the Modern lifestyle in the same spiritual sense, this is something that this man 'AMISH' did to break the ice. Well, to admit it or to confess, I have never been a person to love reading HISTORY, GEOGRAPHY, WAR or TRAVEL type of books. And this book has almost all of these things and I held it high in my hands reading it over long late nights, wishing day not to end like this, getting scoldings from Parents for indulging too much into a book, hiding myself and pretending to be asleep sometimes to rescue from the taunts, I read the book that was very aptly descriptive neither too heavy nor too shallow. The imaginary descriptions awesomely transfuse to distill historic spiritual essence to transform the wholesomeness of actual momentary situations into the actuality of real world making them appear in front of your eyes as you read them. May it be the war, the wit, friendliness, faith or the dance of the Neelkanth it all transforms as real in the description without stretching it beyond reasons.
The story has newness yet wasn't vague. The historic heroes and other characters were very well defined, characterized, played into the plot that was not ditto to what any of us would have heard or seen as a story of Lord Shiva. Having seen the series of show Devon ke Dev Mahadev on Life OK channel I am well acquainted with the whole story. Yet Shiva and Sati of this new modern story are different yet similarly spiritual and soulful.
The part that touched me deeply-Ram rajya and the policies framed by Lord Rama. Having seen the caste system prevailing in INDIA since decades and surely going to go on for don't-know-how-long, what Amish wrote was such a perfect policy for the perfect empire like Meluhans'. I wished if the Karma of human being actually decided the fate of profession they would be in then many wouldn't have suffered in the past nor would have they been suffered this way in present and not in mere future. But well.. that's the PERFECT scenario... Still, it felt good to know the perfect scenario!
The Vikarma system-untouchable it's was and is indeed very strange one, the logic, the following of same in the society, it's difficult to curb it. Only Neelkanth could erase it but not from real India.
The fiction that Amish added, it's perfection make me feel whether the real GOD forgot to imbibe those principles in lives of humanity before their extinction for the real India still suffers from so much from it's vague beliefs that humanity is still in danger. Well, may be only God knows, whether he forgot or we forgot...
The death of Brihaspati was indeed shocking and sad. The friendship shown between Shiva and him was affectionately sweet and lovely. A friend anyone would want to have.
The faith of people of Meluhans' in the Neelkanth led normal man Shiva drive ahead and lead the humanity to free them from the EVIL. Shiva's past-the nightmare he get was the transformation of a child into man and yet the guilt remained forever which was also an essential for him to lead his destiny to save Meluhans'.
Sati, strong yet delicate, cultural yet revolting, loving yet opposing, supportive yet a thinker, daughter of King yet accepted the title of Vikarma. One of the wonderful character Amish has plot with the suspense of she being the Vikarma, her culture, her sacrifices, her dignity, her love, her support, everything about SATI was a learning for me as a woman, as an Indian woman.
Love of Shiva & Sati has always touched me deeply as a person who believes in soulmates. The attempt to sacrifice her life for Shiva by Sati and then Shiva's immense faith in saving Sati's life even though everyone gave up all hope was really touching phase.
The first part ends with the suspense whether the Nagas are the real evil if not the Chandravanshi?
P.S.: One thing I felt that could have been better is the cover of the book. Since Amish has depicted the importance of THE NEELKANTH so much in the book, the faith of people in people him by mere his name. I wish the cover pic would have been that of The Neelkanth than this one! (Just a thought being a complete reader whom title as well as cover too matters along with the story! ;-))
Well, I am not giving any sort of recommendations whether you should read this book or not but with the given summary of the same you felt like you can feed your brain with something from this one then go for it, for everyone has different taste and preferences in reading. You may sometimes experiment with your taste though, who knows you might like it? ;-)
Happy Reading! :-)
