Madhav and Kama- A Love Story from Ancient India

by A.N.D. Haksar

Madhav and Kama- A Love Story from Ancient India is the story of Mádhavánala and Kamákandalá. Madhav, a handsome and accomplished young man, is asked to leave his city of Pushpávati: his looks and singing so distract women that they neglect their work, and cityfolk are in uproar about it. Exiled, Madhav reaches the court of King Kama Sena, the ruler of Kámávati, where he meets the bewitching courtesan Kama. The two fall in love, but royal ire ensures that the lovers must part. A heartbroken Madhav takes shelter in a temple at Ujjain, the city of King Vikramaditya.

What can the great ruler do to assuage Madhav's pain?

What does he do to reunite the lovers?

This lively and colourful tale has an ending that matches its evocative language, startling metaphors and candid narration of love. In circulation since the twelfth century AD, Madhav & Kama has been translated from the original Sanskrit text for readers in English for the first time.