সোমনাথ সুন্দরী

Somnath Temple in Gujarat is believed to be the first among the twelve Jyotirlinga shrines of Lord Shiva. A powerful pilgrimage site, Somnath Temple has many fables and legends associated with it. One such is the practice of offering women to the temple as a ‘devdasi’ meaning servant of the Lord. This usually meant offering their bodies to please priests and other patrons and inhabitants of the temple. The ‘service’ given to these men was considered akin to service of God. Himadrikishore Dasgupta’s keen storytelling and thorough research bring alive the passionate and intense love affair between a princess who was offered as a devdasi and an ill-fated temple boy against the historical backdrop of Somnath Temple. A scintillating read that opens up pathways to ancient India.