--- product_id: 76959184 title: "Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 | Anand Neelakantan | Mahabharat Retelling | Indian Mythological Book | Mahabharta | Book 2 of Ajaya Book Set | Author of Asura" price: "659919₫" currency: VND in_stock: true reviews_count: 13 url: https://www.desertcart.vn/products/76959184-rise-of-kali-ajaya-series-2-anand-neelakantan-mahabharat-retelling store_origin: VN region: Vietnam --- # 4.5/5 star rating Mahabharata retelling Indian mythology focus Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 | Anand Neelakantan | Mahabharat Retelling | Indian Mythological Book | Mahabharta | Book 2 of Ajaya Book Set | Author of Asura **Price:** 659919₫ **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Summary > 📖 Flip the epic script—where villains become heroes and legends come alive! ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 | Anand Neelakantan | Mahabharat Retelling | Indian Mythological Book | Mahabharta | Book 2 of Ajaya Book Set | Author of Asura - **How much does it cost?** 659919₫ with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vn](https://www.desertcart.vn/products/76959184-rise-of-kali-ajaya-series-2-anand-neelakantan-mahabharat-retelling) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Key Features - • **Humanized Legends:** No divine powers—characters portrayed as relatable mortals with complex emotions. - • **Philosophical Depth:** Explores Dharma, Adharma, and caste with modern relevance and thought-provoking questions. - • **A Bold New Perspective:** Experience the Mahabharata through Dhuryodhana’s eyes, challenging traditional narratives. - • **Untold Stories Revealed:** Discover hidden tales of unsung heroes like Eklavya and Aswathama. - • **Critically Acclaimed Bestseller:** Ranked #22 in Alternate History Sci-Fi with 1,800+ glowing reviews. ## Overview Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 by Anand Neelakantan is a bestselling Indian mythological book that retells the Mahabharata from Dhuryodhana’s perspective. Praised for its humanized characters and fresh narrative, it challenges traditional views by removing divine elements and highlighting lesser-known heroes. With a 4.5-star rating and strong critical acclaim, this book is a must-read for mythology enthusiasts and those craving a bold reinterpretation of an ancient epic. ## Description The Epic Mahabharata endures as one of the greatest Indian stories ever told. But while Jaya is the story of the Pandavas, told from the perspective of the victors of Kurukshetra, the Ajaya series is the narrative of the unconquerable Kaurava, who were all decimated to the last man. From the pen of the author who gave voice to Ravana in the national bestseller, Asura, comes the riveting narrative which compels us to question the truth behind the Mahabharatam. As the Pandavas stake their claim to the Hastinapura throne, the Kaurava Crown Prince, Suyodhana, rises to challenge Krishna. As great minds debate dharma and adharma, power hungry men prepare for an apocalyptic war. The women, highborn and humble, helplessly watch the unfolding disaster with deep foreboding. And greedy merchants and unscrupulous priests lie in wait like vultures. Both sides know that beyond the agony and carnage the winner will take all. But even as gods conspire and men’s destinies unfold, a far greater truth awaits. The dark age of kali is rising and every man and woman must choose between duty and conscience, honour and shame, life and death… For fans of mythological bestsellers such as The Palace of Illusions by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni and The Forest of Enchantments, or those immersed in the Ramayana in English, Ajaya 1 and 2 are compelling choice. It is also a must-read for anyone interested in Indian mythology, mythological fiction books, spiritual books, and historical fiction books. Readers who enjoy the following or similar mythological books or religious books will find the Ajaya series a worthy addition to their collection: The Ram Chandra Series by Amish Tripathi, including Scion of Ikshvaku, Sita: Warrior of Mithila, Raavan: Enemy of Aryavarta, and War of Lanka, or Chanakya's Chant, The Rozabal Line and Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi, or The Palace of Illusions, The Forest of Enchantments or the Conch Bearer by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni. Whether you are interested in mythological fiction books, books bestsellers or exploring Mahabharata tales, or a Mahabharat retelling from a new perspective, the Ajaya series is an essential addition to your library . Review: The best interpretation of Mahabharata which gave voice to Dhuryodhana and his side. - Review Rise of Kali is the second and the last book in the Ajaya Duology by Anand Neelakantan which says the story of Mahabharata from the perspective of Suyodhana aka Dhuryodhana. This book follows the events of the part one, Roll of the dice. The first book ended with the most disgraceful event of the epic – the disrobing of Draupadi. Until then Suyodhana’s character was flawless but this event brought about a tend in his character even for the readers who admired and adored Dhuryodhana. Understanding this situation the author starts the second book Rise of Kali with a very interesting scenario and that ultimately came as a great and befitting redemption for Dhuryodhana’s damaged image. The author builds up a curiosity right from the very beginning and it persist till the very end. Right when you feel like almost every important anecdote of the epics have been told and what more the author has to write about ? He diligently surprises us with his unique story telling power and many untold events. The way in which he had woven this well known epic from a very different aspect and in a very interesting way was the strength of this book and the author. The most interesting thing about Anand Neelakantan’s writing is, he never infiltrates any magical elements into the book. He never said any of the characters had super powers and he simply depicted Krishna as a human and there was no mythical powers involved behind the birth of the famous Pandavas. The way he humanified the entire epic was so interesting and relatable even for today’s world and generation. The characterization of Duryodhana was extraordinary and his character never cease to amaze us with his generous heart and his integrity. The love he has for his friends was really inspiring, he is definitely the epitome of friendship. This book also showed some of shortcomings of Karna and that was really thought provoking. And this book deliberately sings the glory of the real unsung heroes of this epic, Eklavya and Aswathama. Through this book the author has exhibited Aswathama and Eklavya’s love for Dhuryodhana was no way lower thaan Karna’s. This is something most of the interpretations of Mahabharata fails to talk about in great detail. The friendship shared between Dhuryodhana, Karna, Aswathama and Eklavya was an epic in itself. And it obviously deserves a separate book to talk about. In this book, two innocent characters were introduced to the readers, they both were beautiful souls but who had a tragic life and ending. They were Dhuryodhana’s daughter and son, Lakshmana Kumara and Kumara. Their introduction part was the most adorable sequence of the book and the relationship shared between Dhuryodhana’s daughter and Ekalavya was really cute and heart warming. The dirty politics played by Shakuni and Krishna was unacceptable and really cruel. The whole conflict wouldn’t have happened if not for these two guys. And there was this character called Dhayumya whose character was extremely horrible than any other bad characters you would’ve seen. The author had cover a lot of things and that includes how the Pandavas and their allies treated Pandava’s illegitimate sons, Khatodkacha and Iravan. And that showcased their mindset and core personality. These events were really ugly and heartbreaking. Mild and subtle incidents that the author had written had a lot of impact on the character development of each and every character. Obviously, this book will make the readers realize how good a story it is. You cannot simply stop astonishing at the storytelling ability of The Great Sage Vyasa. This is remarkably one of the best stories the world has ever witnessed. For the most part of the book the author vividly covered all the war sequences. And it broadly showed how both the side fought their war. The Pandavas, who considered to be the heroes of the epic had almost broken every single law and actually won the war through crook and hook whereas the so called villains had never step away from the path of Dharma. This book did not vilify the Pandavas but it simply just manifested their inability to think on their own and act as per their heart’s wishes. Most of the time, it felt really sad to look at these five brothers who were caught up in the whirlpool of orthodox fanatics’ illusion which emphasis on divinity of non existential things like caste, godly lineage and so on. Whereas, on the other hand, it was so fulfilling to look back at the glorious life lead by Dhuryodhana because he acted as per her heart’s wishes. He had a great sense of social justice and responsibility and that was exhibited through his every deeds and actions. He wanted to bring about a social order where nobody is constrained or caged by the orthodox thought process of the society. He is such a hero material. It was really astonishing to see a man with such a commitment towards society, that too especially during that period. After reading this book, Dhuryodhana was the only character who stood tall and mighty throughout the book. He acted like a human and accepted his shortcomings and flaws, and that’s what made him better than every other characters in the book. And definitely, it is totally a worthy read. My Views OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! The best book, I have ever read. I loved this duology so much. Today I’m falling short of words to describe my love for this book. I have always liked Dhuryodhana but this duology and the author gave me the correct and reasonable reasons to love him. This man was really perfect and he just did one deadly mistake and the world started to see him as the villain and turned blind eye towards all his goodness and positives. If you are a mythology lover, you should absolutely read this book. Or if you’re someone who had watched the Mahabharata series on your tele and loved it, then please do give this book a shot because it is such an amazing book and I literally want every single person to read this book and believe me, you will not regret it. Anand Neelakantan’s books are the only books I sit with pen and keep on highlighting nonstop and I totally love doing it. Please SS Rajamouli, turn this wonderful book into a movie and only you can do justice to this amazing plot written by Anand Neelakantan. Okay, so my top most favorites of this epic would be Suyodhana aka Dhuryodhana, Karna, Aswathama, Eklavya, Bhanumati and Balarama. My rating for this book would be 5 out of 5 stars Happy reading folks!! Review: Great book to view Suyodhana point of view - Great book by great author I really like the way, Mr. Anand provide the point of view of Soyadhan ## Features - Physical Condition: No Defects ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #19,325 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #13 in Alternate History Science Fiction (Books) #267 in Myths, Legends & Sagas | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 1,840 Reviews | ## Images ![Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 | Anand Neelakantan | Mahabharat Retelling | Indian Mythological Book | Mahabharta | Book 2 of Ajaya Book Set | Author of Asura - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61utlNjflBL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The best interpretation of Mahabharata which gave voice to Dhuryodhana and his side. *by M***I on 3 June 2021* Review Rise of Kali is the second and the last book in the Ajaya Duology by Anand Neelakantan which says the story of Mahabharata from the perspective of Suyodhana aka Dhuryodhana. This book follows the events of the part one, Roll of the dice. The first book ended with the most disgraceful event of the epic – the disrobing of Draupadi. Until then Suyodhana’s character was flawless but this event brought about a tend in his character even for the readers who admired and adored Dhuryodhana. Understanding this situation the author starts the second book Rise of Kali with a very interesting scenario and that ultimately came as a great and befitting redemption for Dhuryodhana’s damaged image. The author builds up a curiosity right from the very beginning and it persist till the very end. Right when you feel like almost every important anecdote of the epics have been told and what more the author has to write about ? He diligently surprises us with his unique story telling power and many untold events. The way in which he had woven this well known epic from a very different aspect and in a very interesting way was the strength of this book and the author. The most interesting thing about Anand Neelakantan’s writing is, he never infiltrates any magical elements into the book. He never said any of the characters had super powers and he simply depicted Krishna as a human and there was no mythical powers involved behind the birth of the famous Pandavas. The way he humanified the entire epic was so interesting and relatable even for today’s world and generation. The characterization of Duryodhana was extraordinary and his character never cease to amaze us with his generous heart and his integrity. The love he has for his friends was really inspiring, he is definitely the epitome of friendship. This book also showed some of shortcomings of Karna and that was really thought provoking. And this book deliberately sings the glory of the real unsung heroes of this epic, Eklavya and Aswathama. Through this book the author has exhibited Aswathama and Eklavya’s love for Dhuryodhana was no way lower thaan Karna’s. This is something most of the interpretations of Mahabharata fails to talk about in great detail. The friendship shared between Dhuryodhana, Karna, Aswathama and Eklavya was an epic in itself. And it obviously deserves a separate book to talk about. In this book, two innocent characters were introduced to the readers, they both were beautiful souls but who had a tragic life and ending. They were Dhuryodhana’s daughter and son, Lakshmana Kumara and Kumara. Their introduction part was the most adorable sequence of the book and the relationship shared between Dhuryodhana’s daughter and Ekalavya was really cute and heart warming. The dirty politics played by Shakuni and Krishna was unacceptable and really cruel. The whole conflict wouldn’t have happened if not for these two guys. And there was this character called Dhayumya whose character was extremely horrible than any other bad characters you would’ve seen. The author had cover a lot of things and that includes how the Pandavas and their allies treated Pandava’s illegitimate sons, Khatodkacha and Iravan. And that showcased their mindset and core personality. These events were really ugly and heartbreaking. Mild and subtle incidents that the author had written had a lot of impact on the character development of each and every character. Obviously, this book will make the readers realize how good a story it is. You cannot simply stop astonishing at the storytelling ability of The Great Sage Vyasa. This is remarkably one of the best stories the world has ever witnessed. For the most part of the book the author vividly covered all the war sequences. And it broadly showed how both the side fought their war. The Pandavas, who considered to be the heroes of the epic had almost broken every single law and actually won the war through crook and hook whereas the so called villains had never step away from the path of Dharma. This book did not vilify the Pandavas but it simply just manifested their inability to think on their own and act as per their heart’s wishes. Most of the time, it felt really sad to look at these five brothers who were caught up in the whirlpool of orthodox fanatics’ illusion which emphasis on divinity of non existential things like caste, godly lineage and so on. Whereas, on the other hand, it was so fulfilling to look back at the glorious life lead by Dhuryodhana because he acted as per her heart’s wishes. He had a great sense of social justice and responsibility and that was exhibited through his every deeds and actions. He wanted to bring about a social order where nobody is constrained or caged by the orthodox thought process of the society. He is such a hero material. It was really astonishing to see a man with such a commitment towards society, that too especially during that period. After reading this book, Dhuryodhana was the only character who stood tall and mighty throughout the book. He acted like a human and accepted his shortcomings and flaws, and that’s what made him better than every other characters in the book. And definitely, it is totally a worthy read. My Views OH MY GOD! OH MY GOD! The best book, I have ever read. I loved this duology so much. Today I’m falling short of words to describe my love for this book. I have always liked Dhuryodhana but this duology and the author gave me the correct and reasonable reasons to love him. This man was really perfect and he just did one deadly mistake and the world started to see him as the villain and turned blind eye towards all his goodness and positives. If you are a mythology lover, you should absolutely read this book. Or if you’re someone who had watched the Mahabharata series on your tele and loved it, then please do give this book a shot because it is such an amazing book and I literally want every single person to read this book and believe me, you will not regret it. Anand Neelakantan’s books are the only books I sit with pen and keep on highlighting nonstop and I totally love doing it. Please SS Rajamouli, turn this wonderful book into a movie and only you can do justice to this amazing plot written by Anand Neelakantan. Okay, so my top most favorites of this epic would be Suyodhana aka Dhuryodhana, Karna, Aswathama, Eklavya, Bhanumati and Balarama. My rating for this book would be 5 out of 5 stars Happy reading folks!! ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book to view Suyodhana point of view *by P***R on 27 April 2026* Great book by great author I really like the way, Mr. Anand provide the point of view of Soyadhan ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The plot is excellent and the author has done justice to the vanquished ... *by R***A on 4 July 2016* Rise of Kali: Duryodhana's Mahabharata (Ajaya Book 2) It is a book which depicts the epic- Mahabharata from the point of view of the Kauravas. The author has presented it as an antithesis perspective epic-sequel in honour of the vanquished in the lore of History. It follows his book,'The roll of Dice: Duryodhanas Mahabharata" - Ajaya Book 1. Both the two volumes are the flip side of the Mahabharata with its Heroes and villains reversed. The plot is excellent and the author has done justice to the vanquished side.The depth of his detailing of characters and its perspective is adorable. With a simple, clear and powerful presentation, Anand has been able to keep the book thrilling and aching for more. The book helps in understanding the Mahabharata better and throws off the veil of Heroes and Villains and present the characters in a more human way. The divinity of characters is ripped off and they are presented as mere mortals. Even Lord Krishna is presented as a manipulator and someone who likes to play God. The book though revolves around the epic- Mahabharata,it derives hugely from the lesser known folklores and stories that are not part of the original epic. The central philosophy of the book dwelves with the principles of Dharma, Adharma and Varna-the caste system.It sometimes even fits the ancient plot in the framework of current timeline, philosophy, ideas and politics. The characters are given casteist shades to paint them Adharmic most probably to give voice and strength to the villains of the epic. It seems this black-wash of central characters of Mahabharata was necessary to give voices to the vanquished. The fact that many of the stalwarts like Bhishma, Drona,Karna etc sided with the Kauravas and that unfair means were used for a fair objective is thought provoking. However many of the original events within the epic has been ignored,modified and chiselled in such a way which doesn't justify some of the characters.Fictional events, fictional philosophy and facts which cannot be historically attributed has stolen the sheen off the very well written book. The book raises valid questions through its characters, which throbs with life.The authors imagination is commendable as writing something which happened thousands of years and that too the voices of the vanquished from the Mahabharata is a marathon and uphill task. Anand has been successful in resurrecting the dead villains and gave them voices to tell their side of the tale. After reading the book, a big question emanates from the mind.What is Dharma and What is Adharma. Who won the Mahabharata war.Was the war so necessary to decide the fate of Dharma and its advocates.Did the war help really to forge the spread the mantle of dharma. At times, the book may also hurt the sentiments of the devout, when Lord Krishna is depicted as a manipulator who plays God to achieve his own objective and when the Pandavas are not allowed divine lineage and characterizing them in a offensive way. Of course it can be passed off as a necessity to pull down the aura of divinity but it also dilutes the Mahabharata. Perspectives should be looking at an event,person or fact from different angles rather than substituting it to create a suitable perspective. A must read for those who are interested in religion,mythology, philosophy and all readers of the Mahabharata. A five star rating.......enjoy reading !!! *** Rajesh Chandra *** ## Frequently Bought Together - Rise Of Kali: Ajaya Series 2 | Anand Neelakantan | Mahabharat Retelling | Indian Mythological Book | Mahabharta | Book 2 of Ajaya Book Set | Author of Asura - Roll of the Dice: Duryodhana’s Mahabharata (Ajaya Book 1) - ASURA: Tale of the Vanquished | Part of 100 Books by Indian Authors to read in a Lifetime| Mythological Fiction Bestseller Novel by Anand Neelakantan | Historical Fiction about Ravana | Indian Author Book Based on Ramayana | Author of Ajaya book series --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vn/products/76959184-rise-of-kali-ajaya-series-2-anand-neelakantan-mahabharat-retelling](https://www.desertcart.vn/products/76959184-rise-of-kali-ajaya-series-2-anand-neelakantan-mahabharat-retelling) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vietnam* *Store origin: VN* *Last updated: 2026-05-20*