Mandodari - Queen of Lanka

Borrowing from Sanghadasa's Jaina version, Mandodari gives a voice to one of the least known characters of the Hindu epic.

One of the most beautiful apsaras in heaven, Mandodari is married off to the mighty Ravana, the king of Lanka, and thus assumes the mantle of a queen. Despite her husband's faults, she loves him and advises him to follow the path of righteousness. Her insecurities and pious nature lead her to challenge his growing aspirations and his craving for power that ultimately destroy Lanka.

Ravana's defeat in a thirteen-day war turned him into a villain, but what if he was the real hero for his people? What if his downfall was the result of scheming to push him out of power ?

A feminist and a passionate mythologist, Manini J. Anandani is currently pursuing her postgraduate diploma in comparative mythology from University of Mumbai. She has previously worked in the hospitality, marketing, communication, banking and sales sectors, and as a corporate trainer. She lives in Mumbai with her husband, Jeetu, and her daughter, Anika. Mandodari is her first book.