{"product_id":"the-birth-of-the-war-god-a-poem-by-kalidasa","title":"The Birth of the War-God: A Poem by Kálidása","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhat if the gods’ only hope rests on awakening love in a heart withdrawn from the world?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIn Kālidāsa’s long Sanskrit poem, The Birth of the War-God, the demon Taraka torments the gods. Their hoped-for commander can only be born if Shiva leaves his solitary meditation and marries Parvati, daughter of the Himalaya. In this Hindu tale, the fate of the gods rests on a seemingly impossible courtship.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIndra sends Kama, the god of love, to stir Shiva’s heart with flower-tipped arrows. Parvati seeks Shiva as her husband, but beauty alone cannot win him. Against snowy peaks and the arrival of Spring, the poem explores desire and discipline, giving nature, devotion and feeling room to unfold at a slow, richly ornamental pace.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eInside this book\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eA mountain alive\u003c\/strong\u003e – Enter the opening Himalaya scene, where rock, snow and wind-filled caves give nature a commanding presence.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLove armed with flowers\u003c\/strong\u003e – Follow Kama’s dangerous mission as the gods ask desire to reach where their power cannot.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParvati’s fierce resolve\u003c\/strong\u003e – See a mountain princess exchange jewels for bark and pursue love through demanding austerities.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFeeling beyond the plot\u003c\/strong\u003e – Discover poetry that makes room for description, music and the inner weight of devotion.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe meeting of opposites\u003c\/strong\u003e – Explore the tension between Shiva’s withdrawal and Parvati’s longing for a life joined with his.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cp\u003ePerfect for readers who love myth, vivid nature description and love stories in rich, formal poetry, or who are curious about Hindu tales of Shiva.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOpen the first page and let Kālidāsa lead you into the high Himalaya.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Library of Alexandria Press","offers":[{"title":"eBook","offer_id":58289321640284,"sku":"LOA-C732-EB","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":58289321673052,"sku":"LOA-C732-AU","price":0.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":58289321705820,"sku":"LOA-C732-PB","price":12.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":58289321738588,"sku":"LOA-C732-HC","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1027\/9442\/8764\/files\/loa-top-00732-en_88db62d7-6a5a-480a-a54a-249135e81dc0.jpg?v=1792697441","url":"https:\/\/libraryofalexandria.com\/fr\/products\/the-birth-of-the-war-god-a-poem-by-kalidasa","provider":"The Library of Alexandria","version":"1.0","type":"link"}