By Rasika Ramana Dasa
What kept an ancient civilization alive despite centuries of brutal invasion and subjugation? What gave its people the strength to remain chaste and faithful to their traditions even in a hostile and volatile political environment? And from the other side—how would their deep spiritual fervour appear to an invader from a foreign faith, curious yet unfamiliar with India’s spiritual pulse? Was there ever a possibility of dialogue between the two worlds?
These questions have often intrigued me about India’s civilizational endurance, and Himanshu Asnani’s The Forest of Love sheds light on many of them through the gripping tale of Madhavi and Shahid.
At its heart, The Forest of Love is a work of historical fiction that masterfully intertwines three captivating narratives. The first unfolds against the dramatic political canvas of 16th-century India, when Emperor Akbar was building his vast empire with the valorous Rajputs at his side. The second thread captures the spiritual renaissance of Vrindavan, the sacred heart of Bhakti culture and one of the richest crucibles of Indian art, architecture, and devotion. The third thread follows the inner journey of an ordinary man—searching for identity, meaning, and faith amidst the turbulence of his times.
Read more: https://iskconnews.org/book-review-the-forest-of-love-a-journey-of-awakening/
Comments