Mary Angelon Young

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Krishnas heretic lovers - the story of chandidas & rami -- a novel

Krishna's Heretic Lovers is an historical romance that blends fiction and fact, love and sex, action and spiritual teachings, politics, and true characters with the authentic poetry written by the revered poet, Chandidas, the "Father of Bengali poetry." The synthesis of these elements, together with rare insight into the practices of a genuine tantric sect, creates an unforgettable alchemy for readers. The book recounts the passionate story of Chandidas and Rami, 14th century Bengalis. He is a young Brahmin priest who renounces his caste status to become a heretical poet-musician wandering the byways of India with a small band of mystics and bards. She (Rami) is a beautiful 20 year-old widow, of low caste, living with her two children. To survive, she washes the clothes of local villagers. An overwhelming magnetism of love and fate compels them to come together against prevailing religious and social customs. Rami leaves all of her familiar world behind to travel, sing and praise the Divine along the dusty roads of Bengal. Vivid descriptions of cultural and natural environments along with richly detailed characters capture the religion, politics, and lifestyle of the late 14th /early 15th century of remote Bengali villages. The reader is transported into an era when Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim or Sufi sects blended on a daily basis; when the basic human freedom to create, love, and worship based on one's natural impulse had to be carved from the stone of rigid hierarchical, even feudal, societal and religious structures. The tale darkens when Rami is captured and enslaved by a cruel feudal lord. The lovers, separated by circumstances beyond their control must confront inexorable realities harsher than caste prejudice. Now, it is a matter of life and death. Their desperate wish to be reunited and their subsequent struggle is interwoven with the poetry of Chandidas and the rich oral tradition that surrounds his life. Ultimately, this is a story of passion, heartbreak, transformation, and commitment to a powerful vision. This historical novel should draw the attention of students of comparative religion or anyone fascinated with Eastern traditions, especially those yearning for a love story that includes spiritual teachings (dharma) and scholarship.