Title: Shakti 

Sub-title: The Feminine Divine

Author name: Anuja Chandramouli

ABOUT THE BOOK:

This is a modern retelling of the story of Goddess Shakti, and her avatars, mainly Usas, the 

goddess of dawn; Durga; and Kali. Goddess Shakti is the supreme feminine Goddess, the 

female half of Ardhanareshwar, with Lord Shiva being the male half. As such, she is the 

female principle that governs the universe. This book talks about her first as the beautiful 

and dainty Usas, who is raped by Lord Brahma and chased out of heaven, to reemerge as 

the fiery Durga, who defeats Mahisasur when none of the other gods in heaven can, thanks 

to the boon Mahisasur received that he cannot be killed by any male; and finally as Kaali, 

the deviant goddess who shows Lord Indra his place when he initiates a witch-hunt to 

suppress any ‘immoral’ acts in heaven. Finally the book also talks about her relationship 

with Shiva as Sati and then Parvati, and ends with the unification of Shakti and Shiva which 

will restore balance in the universe. It is written with a feminist angle to show how women, 

even in the heavens, are subjugated by men and made victims.

 

cover design: Mugdha Sadhwani

cover illustration: Onkar Fondekar

pencil doodlles