Book Review #81 Ganga The Constant Goddess : Anuja Chandramouli

This book was sent by the author in exchange of an honest and unbiased review. Thank you Anuja for the same.

Blurb:

Believed to be the liquid manifestation of Shakti and the nurturer of the three worlds with her life-sustaining waters, Goddess Ganga is the epitome of beauty and purity, famous for her indomitable spirit and boundless charm. Renowned as a devoted daughter, a caring mother, a passionate lover and a merciful saviour, she is here to absorb and absolve us of our sins. A constant goddess, she is part of the Indian ethos, revered and loved across the ages.

The exquisite epic that is Ganga’s story, from her miraculous origins, her sojourn in the heavens, her poignant relationships with the divine trinity, the birth of her sons Bhishma and Kartikeya and her descent into a wicked world that is not worthy of her, is dazzlingly told by Anuja Chandramouli. Without this Goddess, life as we know it will be over, for her righteous retribution will be terrifying.

This book is a vibrant retelling of the story of Ganga, who has the power to save us all and bestow the precious gift of moksha, embracing saints and sinners alike with her all-encompassing compassion.

My Take:

Anuja does it again. A very reverting take on the less known journey of Ganga. We all know Ganga as the holy water. The purest of all.However her journey is not much known about. The author has flair in touching characters less explored and writing about them with a thorough research. Ganga as a person and her journey and stay in earth is explored in this book.

Most of our knowledge about Ganga is  only via Mahabharatha where she comes in from the river and talks to Bhishma. Her back story about marrying the king Shantanu is all we know about. Here Anuja talks about her journey to earth, her role on the earth, how she became one of the most important and respected and her relationship with  Bhoomi, Shiva and Parvati.

I loved her equation with her sister Parvati. Their banters, Parvati's obsession/ love for Shiva , her relation with her parents, her ability to think logically and daring to ask questions to even Gods makes Ganga a personality to look up to. Both sisters were a part of Shiva. One is the better half and the other one needed Shiva's love and patience to bring some balance in her. In a way she completed Shiva and vice versa.


The best thing about Ganga I felt is her free spirit. Not the one to be domesticated, she believed in living freely and on her terms. Not a easy one at that, but she did that with grace and epitome.A journey you won't want to miss. She is an inspiration. Ganga is a great addition to your collection. 

Rating:

I would rate this 4.8/5 for the research and narration. This work is completely worth every penny spent. Grab a copy here.