Ever since I heard the story, as a little girl, of Ganesha and Kartikeya having to go around the world, I felt a little sorry for Kartikeya. I wanted to learn more about him but surprisingly there was nothing much that I could lay my hands on.

So you can imagine how thrilled I was when Usha Narayanan came up with her book, “Kartikeya”. The minute it was out it was on my To Be Read list.

And I was not disappointed. The book is so enthralling that I hated putting it down even to attend to my chores. I just wanted to finish all my work and rush back to the book.

Within the pages of the book, I discovered a joyous, loving compassionate god. One who was a warrior but hated the destruction that war always leaves behind. One who was so loved by humans and animals and birds alike, that they were willing to lay down their lives for him. A child so lovable that everyone wanted to claim him for their own; which is why he ends up with multiple sets of parents.

Though I have always had a soft spot for Ganesha, I totally tumbled into love with Kartikeya helped by the fact that Usha Narayanan’s style of writing makes the characters alive and vibrant. Even the asuras are so real that one can feel the fear and despair as they wreck their havoc.

Since I had known so little previously about such a wonderful god, once I finished the book I asked my friends in all my groups what they knew about Kartikeya. Like me, most of them knew hardly anything at all.

However one of my friends said that he was their “Ishta Devata” or favourite God. So if you want to know more about this son of Shiva, this book by Usha Narayanan is a must read. And who knows, maybe you too will decide like me, that Kartikeya is your “Ishta Devata”!

Read online here: https://bit.ly/2EXw4lV