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The Flight of Deities: An Anthology of Desecration & Devotion Paperback – February 22, 2023

by Avatans Kumar (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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A collection of stories based on actual historical events as depicted in Padmasri Meenakshi Jain’s seminal book “Flight of Deities”. Inspired by the historical account, various authors have each focused on a unique historical event, clothed it in flesh and bones, and brought it to life through the magic of prose. From Aryavarta to Dakshinatwa, from the holy lands of Ayodha, Vrindavan and many more, the stories pace, digging into the harsh realities of foreign invasions while portraying vividly the efforts undergone by the devout to preserve their culture and faith. Tales of human grit and determination to preserve, prevail, persist in the face of brute force and annihilation – truly any book lover’s delight!
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  1. Print length
    216 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    February 22, 2023
  4. Dimensions
    6 x 0.49 x 9 inches
  5. ISBN-13
    979-8889596288
  6. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BWJPYFQG
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Notion Press (February 22, 2023)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 216 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8889596288
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.49 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 17 ratings

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
17 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kalpana Dokka
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is a must read for every Hindu. This book gives a mere glimpse of what all our ancestors suffered and endured so that we call ourselves Hindus today and practice Sanatana Dharma. Every story revealed the loving and familial relationship a bhakta shared with the Bhagwan!!!
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Sharadha K
5.0 out of 5 stars Visualizing a forgotten history
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2024
The horrific history of the destruction of Hindu temples by the Islamic invaders has been toned down in history books and modern narratives even thought there is overwhelming evidence which even a layperson can see. Hindus have been made apathetic and numb to this brutal attack on the ancestors and their devatas.
The stories of this book bring us the visuals of what transpired during those attacks. The gruesomeness of the iconoclasts and the bravery of Hindus comes to vivid light.
Good effort! Worth being made into a TV series.
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Top reviews from other countries

Nina T
5.0 out of 5 stars Really good
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 5, 2023
Verified Purchase
Looking forward to more material like this, hopefully historical novels
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BV
5.0 out of 5 stars Very enjoyable read that also gave me much fodder for thought
Reviewed in India on May 9, 2023
Verified Purchase
My review of the Flight of deities anthology:
I’ll go thru this story by story. The first one, by Surela Chakraborty, starts the book off well with the interesting past meets present format. The story is set in modern times, with ‘today’ characters but the conflict point emerges from the past. The protagonist Rahil’s confused state of mind, his fragile emotional state have been written very nicely and they connect very well with us.
Story 2 by Devamalya De. Loved the little bit of legend there about the princess. The author managed to beautifully weave together a story that combines emotion, devotional fervour and history. I would have preferred only English translations to all of the conversations though. This format forced me to pause and move ahead, which affected the pace of the reading.
Story 3 by Kavita Krishna Meegama, brought alive a regal woman with a fire burning inside of her for years. The suppressed devotion and the yearning to see the wrongs righted that she holds within her were conveyed marvelously. Another past meets present story weaved with artistry.
Story 4 by Aneesh Gokhale- loved the little encouragement to all of us to NOTICE things about our religious places and to discover what, why, where and when about them. I had no clue the Jagannath temple had something like this hidden away in plain sight! Although the entire story takes palce via a conversation, the pace did not lag. A short and crisp tale.
Story 5 by Pranshu Saxena caught my eye from the first for its cheeky hat-tips to the Mahabharatha throughout. They made it enjoyable and exciting and also kind of amped up the anticipation factor for the next ‘clue’. Of course, the tie in with a glorious tale from the Kurukshetra war, towards the end, was a fitting culmination to the tale. Loved the ‘happy’ ending of this tale that had action, pathos, history, romance and a lighter side to it too.
Story 6 by Aditi Gopinath was the one that knocked me for a loop with its sheer unexpectedness. A super short story that somehow was very fitting for the theme chosen, this one was sheer beauty. The notion of ‘Forgiveness’ stood out ever so beautifully in this subtly crafted tale.
Story 7 by Aditi Banerjee took my heart for the unusual and simply heart warming way she has presented Radha Krishna. It felt like they were right here in front of me talking like any normal human would. The simplicity of the theme, interestingly, magnifies the impact on your psyche.
Story 8 by Rajesh Ramachander brought home in horrifying detail what the innocent folk of Madurai and the temple priests went through during invasion. Chilling in parts, inspiring in others, this tale forces us to acknowledge the brutality and the blood shed that Madurai Meenakshi was witness to. Loved how all critical details of the siege and attacks were brought out in dialogues, without impairing the story flow.
Story 9 by Shubra Prakash brings out the need to unite to fight a common enemy very beautifully and poignantly. I liked the switch between past and present but would have liked some kind of visible delineation to make it easier to catch up after a reading pause. The grief faced by the ancient protectors when they had to give up their beloved gods comes across palpably in this story.
Story 10 by Deepa Duraiswamy is another Madurai Meenakshi tale but I was quite happy to dive right in despite reading one similar theme just a couple tales back. This story combines mystique, dreams and reality so well that it’s a great read for people with different tastes. Loved the glimpse into the boy Sarva’s daily life so deeply intertwined with duties to Shiva-Shakti. It made the story very relatable and Sarva very real. That, set off against the spectacular ending made for a wonderful and dramatic contrast.
In all, the book is a very enjoyable read that also gave me much fodder for thought.
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Deepak M R
5.0 out of 5 stars History presented as an engaging narrative
Reviewed in India on March 23, 2023
Verified Purchase
It is a known fact that invaders destroyed our temples and tried to steal our deities. Many of our deities ended up in foreign museums. All this has been documented in Meenakshi Jain's book "Flight of Deities". With this book as an inspiration, INDICA and well-known writer-activist Avatans Kumar have brought out "Flight of Deities - an Anthology of Desecration and Devotion".

This anthology presents the history of our land from various places. Stories of temple destruction and other atrocities are presented not as an academic historical account, but in the form of an engaging narrative. Ten authors, some new and some well-known have penned ten amazing stories that bring out the history of devotion that helped to save our deities.

Pranshu Saxena presents a tale from the Mughal Era that is extremely well-researched. The author has done an amazing job blending history while adding fictional elements that would remind you of the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata.

Rajesh Ramachander and Deepa Duraiswamy write about the Madurai Meenakshi temple. Rajesh tells an extremely spellbinding tale that takes you through the terrible invasion of Madurai by Malik Kafur. Deepa presents the aftermath when the Vijayanagar prince set out to restore the deity's sanctity, a touching tale that will bring goosebumps.

Kavita Krishna Meegama tells the story of a man whose mother tells him her dark secret. His life is changed and he goes on a journey of redemption.

Aditi Gopinath tells a powerful tale that brings out the tragic destruction of the Martanda Temple. This is a tale that is extremely impactful.

Aditi Banerjee has come out with a very interesting story where the deities Govinda and Radhadevi talk to the priest, the only problem is he does not know their language.

Aneesh Gokhale narrates the surprising history of Jagannath Puri which was subject to invasion thirteen times. Shubra Prakash brings out a story that highlights how our lack of units led to the flight of deities.

Devamalya De narrates the tale of the brave Rajputs who take Krishna to his final destination of Nathdwara. Surela Chakraborty tells the story of an archeologist haunted by a dream and the appearance of a Naga Sadhu.

All the ten stories are engaging and will keep you engrossed. This is a book I strongly recommend not just for history lovers, but for all Indians who want to know our true history.
Customer image
Deepak M R
5.0 out of 5 stars History presented as an engaging narrative
Reviewed in India on March 23, 2023
It is a known fact that invaders destroyed our temples and tried to steal our deities. Many of our deities ended up in foreign museums. All this has been documented in Meenakshi Jain's book "Flight of Deities". With this book as an inspiration, INDICA and well-known writer-activist Avatans Kumar have brought out "Flight of Deities - an Anthology of Desecration and Devotion".

This anthology presents the history of our land from various places. Stories of temple destruction and other atrocities are presented not as an academic historical account, but in the form of an engaging narrative. Ten authors, some new and some well-known have penned ten amazing stories that bring out the history of devotion that helped to save our deities.

Pranshu Saxena presents a tale from the Mughal Era that is extremely well-researched. The author has done an amazing job blending history while adding fictional elements that would remind you of the Virata Parva of the Mahabharata.

Rajesh Ramachander and Deepa Duraiswamy write about the Madurai Meenakshi temple. Rajesh tells an extremely spellbinding tale that takes you through the terrible invasion of Madurai by Malik Kafur. Deepa presents the aftermath when the Vijayanagar prince set out to restore the deity's sanctity, a touching tale that will bring goosebumps.

Kavita Krishna Meegama tells the story of a man whose mother tells him her dark secret. His life is changed and he goes on a journey of redemption.

Aditi Gopinath tells a powerful tale that brings out the tragic destruction of the Martanda Temple. This is a tale that is extremely impactful.

Aditi Banerjee has come out with a very interesting story where the deities Govinda and Radhadevi talk to the priest, the only problem is he does not know their language.

Aneesh Gokhale narrates the surprising history of Jagannath Puri which was subject to invasion thirteen times. Shubra Prakash brings out a story that highlights how our lack of units led to the flight of deities.

Devamalya De narrates the tale of the brave Rajputs who take Krishna to his final destination of Nathdwara. Surela Chakraborty tells the story of an archeologist haunted by a dream and the appearance of a Naga Sadhu.

All the ten stories are engaging and will keep you engrossed. This is a book I strongly recommend not just for history lovers, but for all Indians who want to know our true history.
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