6 Powerful Books on Mythology for Women

Fascinating characters. Vivid imagination. Subtle but powerful messages.

The world of mythology is majestic in many aspects. You get inspiration, you relate with the characters while getting an opportunity to view the world through the author’s lenses.

Your Grandma’s tales are retold with a twist. Things become more fun when you try to relate these characters with the present world, and how they would tackle the challenges you are facing.

In case you are a woman, a lady who loves tales and mythology, but feel uncomfortable with how women characters have been presented in the mythological dramas or standard versions, there books are a great choice for you.

These are stories from a woman’s perspective, where woman themselves are the central characters and heroines, not waiting for someone to carry them on a horseback. These are powerful stories with creative imageries about women who carved an identity for themselves through their courage, intellect and perseverance.

1.   The Palace of Illusions

Mahabharata from Draupadi’s viewpoint. “The Palace of Illusions” is a novel by Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, where she presents Draupadi as the main protagonist of the story.

While the Mahabharata epic focuses more upon her role as the wife of the Pandavas and Shree Krishna’s guidance, “The Palace of Illusions” highlights Panchali’s ambitions, her thought processes and how she manages her relationship with her husbands. The story presents her journey in a patriarchal world navigating between her struggles, challenges and ambitions.

How does Draupadi navigate the labyrinth of conspiracies? How does she manage her relationships? Is being a woman all about being a wife and mother?

2. The Daughter from a Wishing Tree: Unusual Tales about Women in Mythology

Sudha Murty’s book “The Daughter from a Wishing Tree” is a rich and empowered offering of many women, many goddesses, many warriors, and many queens, all coming together to tell you one thing: that they’re makers of their own destinies.”

- Urmi Bhattacharyya

Perhaps there are not better word to describe this book that these words from Urmi Bhattacharya.

The Daughter from a Wishing Tree is a fascinating collection of 24 inspiring and insightful stories of women in mythology. Vivid, different, but powerful, these unusual stories have the capacity to unleash your creativity and help you transcend every limit.

3.  Mandodari: Queen of Lanka

What are the struggles in a woman’s life after marriage? What are the insecurities she faces? How helpless does one feel realizing that one’s husband is in the wrong path but is unable to get him back into tract? How does Ravana look from the lenses of Mandodari?

In “Mandodari: Queen of Lanka”, the author Manini J Anandi beautifully gives voice to Mandodari, the Ravan’s wife and the queen of Lanka.  The story is about Mandodari, how she thinks, what causes Ravan’s downfall and how Mandodari plays an active role in what happens in Ramayana.

4.  Sita: Warrior of Mithila

A masterpiece by Amish Tripathi, “Sita: Warrior of Mithila”, is the story of Sita, the legendary princess of Janakpur and the daughter of learned Sage King Janaka. While the Ramayana largely focuses upon Sita, as the ideal wife of Lord Rama, and as an icon for an ideal daughter and devoted wife, Amish Tripathi’s Sita transcends much beyond.  

In the book, Sita is a warrior. She has political ambitions. She is brave, farsighted, and courageous. She brings in reforms and strategically plans for her rise. There is conspiracy, fun, action, but this time it is Sita, who shapes the story. She uses her intellects, exhibits enormous courage and defines her own identity beyond the one shaped by her birth and marriage.

5.  Karna's wife: The Outcast Queen

Kavita Kane’s beautiful creation “Karna’s wife: The Outcast Queen” is another interesting mythological tale of a character we rarely hear about: Karna’s wife.

How does Mahabharata look from Karna’s viewpoint? How does it feel when you realize that your husband is devoted for a friend, who is in the path of Adharma? What does it feel like to be an outcast princess?

What are the challenges she faces in her inter-caste marriage? What does it mean to stand by a husband when everyone else is pitting against him?

“Karna’s Wife: The Outcast Queen” is a narration about Uruvi’s outlook of her husband and how Mahabharata looks from Karna’s lenses. It is a great book to read, especially if you an admirer of Karna.

6.   Sita's Sister

How does it feel to be apart from your husband for 14 years? Why did Urmila, Sita’ sister and Laksman’s wife not choose to go with her husband? How painful is it in the palace when Laksman leaves his bride to accompany his brother?

What was Sita’s childhood like? How does it feel to be brought up in a court filled with sages and saints?

Another marvelous creative creation of Kavita Kane, “Sita’s sister” is about Urmila, one of the under looked characters of Ramayana. It is a story about how King Janaka brought up the girls as independent and strong women, with lives of their own.

It is a story about the palace, a wife and a sister. It is an interesting tale of immense conviction, strength and patience.

Mythology re-looked and re-imagined from a woman’s perspective. Tales where women are the heroines of their own life. Tales where you don’t have to wait from a prince to carry you on a horseback. Tales that inspire and enrich your creativity.