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Today, He is a God. 4000 years ago, He was just a man.

The hunt is on. The sinister Naga warrior has killed his friend Brahaspati and now stalks his wife Sati. Shiva, the Tibetan immigrant who is the prophesied destroyer of evil, will not rest till he finds his demonic adversary.... read more

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Summary edit see section history

The story begins where The Immortals of Meluha ended. Shiva, the fabled savior of the land of Meluha, rushes to save his wife Sati from the Naga, the supposed killer of Shiva's friend Brahaspati. The Naga escapes, leaving behind coins with strange engravings. After consulting with Sati's... read more (warning: may contain spoilers)

The story begins where The Immortals of Meluha ended. Shiva, the fabled savior of the land of Meluha, rushes to save his wife Sati from the Naga, the supposed killer of Shiva's friend Brahaspati. The Naga escapes, leaving behind coins with strange engravings. After consulting with Sati's father Daksha and Dilipa, the king of Ayodhya, they come to know that the coin belongs to King Chandraketu, the ruler of the land of Branga in eastern India. Shiva and Sati travel to Kashi, where a community of Brangas inhabit, in order to get more information on the Nagas. They are accompanied in their journey by Shiva's General Parvateshwar, his associates Nandi and Veerbhadra, Ayurvati the doctor, and Bhagirath and Anandamayi, the prince and princess of Ayodhya. At Kashi, Parvateshwar gets mortally injured while trying to pacify a riot at the Branga community. The Branga leader Divodas administers a medicine on Parvateshwar; it works and the General is healed, but Shiva comes to know from Ayurvati that it contains herbs which is only available at Panchavati, the capital of the Nagas. He consults with Divodas and comes to know that Branga suffers from a mortal plague, which has led them to ally with the Nagas, in return for benefits. Shiva decides to travel to Branga but Divodas informs him that to reach there special ships need to be made, which would take about six months.
As the ships are prepared Sati gives birth to Kartik, her son with Shiva. The journey to Branga starts, with Sati staying back at Kashi to help the King with a lion attack on the local villagers. When Sati and her soldiers are on the verge of losing against the lions, a group of Naga soldiers led by a man and a woman arrive and assist them in killing the lions. The Naga woman reveals herself to be Kali, Sati's twin sister. She was denounced by their father Daksha since she was born with deformities, including two extra, functioning hands. The man reveals himself as Ganesh, Sati's first child, whom she believed to have died at child birth. Since Ganesh was also born with deformities, which led to his face resembling that of an elephant’s, Daksha denounced him and lied to Sati. Both Kali and Ganesh are brought back to Kashi by Sati and they wait for Shiva's arrival.
At Branga, Shiva learns that the only person aware of the medicine recipe is a bandit named Parashuram, who leads a secluded life and kills any man coming near his abode in the jungles. Shiva and his men defeat Parashuram, and to his surprise comes to know that he is a Vasudev, the group of scholars who have been guiding him on his journey. Parashuram is also surprised to see Shiva as the fabled Neelkanth; in remorse for his actions, he severs his left hand. He gives the recipe of the medicine to the people of Branga and leaves for Kashi with Shiva. At Kashi, Shiva is introduced to Ganesh and Kali by Sati. Shiva recognizes Ganesh as the Naga who tried to attack on Sati and as the killer of Brahaspati. Severely angered, he leaves Sati and takes up residence at the Branga locality. One day, while playing with Kartik at a local park, three lions attack them and Ganesh becomes severely injured while saving Kartik. Shiva forgives him and together with Sati, confronts Daksha, who confesses to murdering Sati's first husband and denouncing Kali and Ganesh. Daksha blames Shiva for causing distrust between him and Sati, who disgusted with Daksha's deeds, asks him to leave Kashi and go back to Meluha.
Meanwhile it is depicted that Dilipa who is ill is getting cured by the medicines that Bhrigu gave him and in exchange he is ready to attack a territory in his guidance.
Shiva decides to travel to Panchavati under the guidance of Kali, who is the Naga queen and knows the path through the Dandak Forest to the Naga capital. While traveling they are attacked from the river side by a cache of ships containing the weapons of mass destruction known as Daivi Astra that was once forbidden by Lord Rudra, the legendary supreme ruler of India. After fleeing from the attack and safely reaching Panchavati, Shiva and Sati suspect Daksha to be behind this. Kali takes Shiva to a nearby school in the capital, where she believes that the greatest secret of the Nagas lies. There in a classroom, Shiva finds Brahaspati, perfectly alive and teaching a class.

Characters/People edit see section history

  • Kali - Queen of the Nagas: Queen of the Naga capital Panchavati.
  • Ganesh - Lord of the People: Nephew of Naga Queen. A valiant warrior.
  • Shiva: Tibetan identified as the Neelakanth, a Mahadev, believed to be incarnated Lord Rudra
  • Sati: Daughter of Meluhan Kind Daksha, wife of Shiva, brave lady with values.
  • Kartik: Son of Shiva and Sati
  • Brahaspati: Chief scientist of Meluhan Kingdom
  • Dilipa: King of Chandravanshi kingdom Ayodhya
  • Parvateshwar: Military Chief of Meluhan kingdom and almost a father for sati.
  • Nandi: Meluhan warrior and Shiva's friend
  • Veerabhadra: Shiva's childhood friend and Meluhan warrior
  • Bhagirath: Son of Chandravanshi King Dilipa
  • Drapaku: Warrior in Meluhan army
  • Anandmayi: Princess of Ayodhya, King Dilipa's daughter and Bhagirath's sister. Wife of Parvateshwar.
Show all 13 characters
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Quotes edit see section history

  • “The opposite of Love is not Hate. Hate is just love gone bad. The actual opposite of love is apathy. When you dont care a damn as to what happens to the other person.”
    Veerbadhra
  • “Gold managed to do what good intentions couldn’t.”
  • “When something is so beautiful, achieving it cannot be easy”
  • “Standing by and doing nothing while a sin takes place is as bad as committing the sin yourself.”
  • “Have faith in the one person that loves you most: Yourself”
    Shiva
  • “I remember hearing that one of Lord Ram’s commandments was that laws are not important. What is important is justice. If the purpose of justice is served by breaking a law, then break it”
    Shiva
  • “Remember nobody is good or bad. They are either strong or weak. Strong people stick to their morals, no matter what the trials and tribulations. Weak people, many a times, do not even realize how low they have fallen.”
    Shiva

First Sentence edit see section history

The boy was running as fast as his feet could carry him, the frost-bitten toe sending shrads of icy pain up his leg.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. The Strange Demon
2. Sailing Down the Sarayu
3. The Pandit of Magadh
4. The City Where the Supreme Light Shines
5. A Small Wrong?
6. Even a Mountain Can Fall
7. Birth Pangs
8. The Mating Dance
9. What is Your Karma?
10. The Gates of Branga
11. The Mystery of the Eastern Palace
12. The Heart of Branga
13. Man-eaters of Icchawar
14. The Battle of Madhumati
15. The Lord of the People
16. Opposites Attract
17. The Curse of Honour
18. The Function of Evil
19. Rage of the Blue Lord
20. Never Alone, My Brother
21. The Maika Mystery
22. Two Sides, Same Coin
23. The Secret of All Secrets

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 2 of 3 in The Shiva Trilogy. (standard series)

Preceded by The Immortals of Meluha, and followed by The Oath of The Vayuputras.

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

  1. Amish Tripathi (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: English
Publisher: Westland ltd
Country: India
Publication Date: 2011
ISBN: 978-93-80658-79-7
Page Count: 396

Classification edit see section history

  • Library of Congress: MLCS 2011/01870 (P) PR9499.4.A45
  • Dewey: 823.92

Notes for Parents edit see section history

Reading Level: Young Adults

Please read and ask your children to read.


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