Mahadevan Thampi's Mrityusutra is a daring novel which depicts the clash of Titans - the spiritual Guru Arya, who tries to wipe out all sorrows from the earth, and the power-hungry Atmanathan who thwarts all his moves. Caught between them are helpless individuals whose beliefs and loyalties are torn asunder. While some seek refuge in orgiastic love games, others become mere automatons. The psychedelic scenes and metaphoric images that present this eternal human drama as well as the mystical gem that lies at the very core expose the duplicity of all ritualistic religions and underscore the anchoring force of Indian philosophy.
