The Immortals of Meluha (English Review)

Author	Amish Tripathi
Title
	Excerpt
published
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The story takes place around 1900 BC

Shiva is a brave warrior and leader of the tribe of Gunas in northern India near Tibet. He and his people will be invited at the request of King Daksha in its almost perfect kingdom Meluha.

   Nandi, the captain of Meluha Army leads the people first to Srinagar where they expected from Ayurvati, the revered chief medical examiner, and requiring medical attention. Shiva is visibly impressed by the city and the people, but is changing his enthusiasm in deep concern for his followers.

   After taking the legendary healing potion Somras, initially all Gunas become ill, with one exception, namely Shiva. His neck turned into blue colored due to the liberating of poison powder.

   Daksha is reported and he is convinced that the young warrior is the long-awaited Neelkanth, the Mahadev, who will rid the land of all evil, and ordered him to Devagiri, the capital. But before he embarks on the journey there, he meets Sati, a mysterious young woman. Both are involved in a fight in which she masterfully reflected the attacs, what Shiva visibly impressed. However, he has no opportunity to get to know her closer, but she dominated from then on his mind, even though she has hardly given him attention.

Once he has reached Devagiri, King Daksha leads him into many conversations in the history of Suryavanshis, and tries to convince Shiva, that he is the Neelkanth, the savior. But the humble warrior resists this vehemently and keeps his blue neck, which is the obvious sign of the Liberator, covered.

   After one of these conversations Shiva meets again on Sati. She practices in one of the gardens a dance for the monthly puja. Her teacher and her maid are not convinced of her performance and so Shiva shows her how she can make it better and touched her accidentally. Sati is astounded beyond measure. She rushes off and leaves him helpless.

   A few days later, where he unsuccessfully hopes to meet her again, he learns that she, because of a stillborn, is a vikarma. The law says that a vikarma was untouchable because he must atone for his sins and Sati follows this commandment to the letter. Shiva is horrified when he hears that and wants to find a way to repeal this regulation, but even Daksha, Satis father, it can not.

   In order to show Shiva where Somras is made, he goes with him and his family as well as an army of warriors on a visit to the mountain Mandar. Shiva is attracted by Sati and tries to win her attention, but she resists him and shows no emotion.

   On the way back to Devagiri, they are attacked by the Chandravanshis. They are the declared enemies of Meluhans, but successfully repulsed, which is Shiva’s earnings for the most part, but also Sati is brave to his side. Gradually, she is also impressed with the young man, although she does not believe that he is the Neelkanth. However, she shows herself to him more open to what Shiva is more than pleased and also Daksha recognizes the burgeoning feelings of his daughter.

   Then Daksha can convince the modest Shiva believe that he is the prophesied savior, and publicly announced the arrival Neelkanths. Shiva feels still not comfortable with it, so Daksha sends him on a journey through the country.

   The King sends Sati with him, because he has realized that Shiva brings to her deep feelings. Daksha wants to see his daughter happy, because, although she humbly follows her fate, she has great respect for the young man.

   On their journey they are again involved in a fight and Sati plunges fearlessly between Shiva and a poisoned arrow. The doctor Ayurvati, which also belongs to the travel company can do nothing more for Sati. Shiva but leaves no stone unturned and asks her to give the Somras to his beloved one. Sati does not believe in a cure and confesses her love for him, because she is convinced that she will die anyway. But the healing potion shows its effect and she will recover.

Daksha was meanwhile informed by the struggles and also the fact that his daughter is dying. He travels as fast as possible and is delighted to finding her healthy. The fact that Shiva is with her, and holds her hand, pleased him even more and he gives the insistence of the Warrior by abolishing the law of vikarma so he can marry Sati.

   Then the royal family returns including followers back to Devagiri. A huge wedding party is organized, which is expected to continue for seven days. On the sixth day, however, they reached the news of the destruction of the mountain Mandar and immediate arrangements for an expedition to be made.

   Shiva proves to be a true leader and leads the people to victory, but the joy does not last long. After he has come to know King Dilipa, the ruler of the Chandravanshis, he fears to have made ​​a terrible mistake, because the people are not so devilishly as they wanted to whiten it. The Chandravanshi Princess Anandmayi tells him that her people believe in the prophecy and the Neelkanth leads their land against the evil Suryavanshis, the Meluhans. This opening Shiva plunges into deep despair.

Amish Tripathi goes to the basic idea that all gods were first mortal people and only due to their deeds became immortal gods. This met with widespread opposition, which did not prevent him, however, to publish his novel. 

My Conclusion: Even though the story is set in the genre of fiction, it does convey an insight into the history of India. I’m anyway, convinced by the novel and I will definitely read ‚The Secret of the Nagas‘ and ‚The Oath of the Vayuputras‘.