Intellectual Inquiry and Spiritual Reflection
Mahadevi, Myth and the Modern Mind
An evening of intellectual inquiry and spiritual reflection unfolded in Agra as The Write Circle, an initiative of the Prabha Khaitan Foundation, hosted acclaimed author Priyanka Sharma Kaintura in conversation with Shweta Bansal, Ehsaas Woman of Agra. The event began with a warm welcome by Vinti Kathuria, Ehsaas Woman of Agra.
The discussion explored mythology, philosophy, cosmology, and contemporary womanhood through the lens of Kaintura’s work Mahadevi. Explaining her choice of narrator, the author remarked, “Before Vishnu, before Rudra, who existed? The answer is energy, Shakti, Mahadevi.” She shared how she moved beyond the traditional Navadurga framework to create a chronological narrative beginning with cosmic creation, presenting the many manifestations of the divine feminine as part of a continuous story.
Kaintura reflected on how her fascination with mythology began in childhood through stories narrated by her grandmother. Those early experiences, she noted, shaped her literary imagination and highlighted the importance of intergenerational storytelling. Drawing upon her background in business management and corporate communications, she observed that mythological narratives continue to offer timeless lessons on leadership, ethics, ambition, and conflict.
One of the most compelling segments focused on the concept of Shakti. Using vivid imagery, Kaintura explained, “If the universe had a skeleton on which it stood, that is Shiv. Life, movement, flesh, and energy are Shakti.” She described the divine feminine as the force underlying creation, preservation, and transformation.
