About the Book: Daughter of Kumari
When the troops of the powerful sultan Allauddin Khilji conquer Madurai, the
citys goddess, Meenakshi, flees to the coastal land of Kumari. There she remains
for sixty years, sheltered within the Venad kingdom, as the land flourishes
under her presence and protection. When the divine law finally calls Meenakshi
to her home, Madurai, her departure is felt as a deeply human loss to the people
of Kumari, she is no longer just a deity but also a daughter. This elegant and
vivid translation traces the entwined lives of gods and mortals, where history,
devotion and love meet and where faith