This Maaneet FF is a period piece based on 16th century India, dealing with a tradition of medieval age called 'Devdasi Pratha'. Back ground of this story is an Imaginary place and temple situated beside Bramhani river, Orisa, India. Though the MAANEET story is a complete fiction but this FF will include some Historical characters, place, rituals and events. So here is a short introduction of some important persona and place, You can through them...its for your understanding.
Devdasi Pratha: In Hinduism, the devadasi tradition ("servant of god") is a religious tradition in which girls are dicated to a deity (deva or devi) or to a temple and includes performance aspects such as those that take place in the temple. Originally, in addition to this and taking care of the temple and performing rituals, these women learned and practiced classical dance like Odissi, Bharat Natyam, Kathhak and other classical Indian artistic traditions and enjoyed a high social status. But in medieval age this tradition became ugly as corruption crept in the temples and Devdasi Tradition gives birth a different kind of prostitution, as Devdasis were used to entertain the sexual hunger of priests or king or some powerful men of society.
Unlike other parts of India the devadasis of the Jagannath temple complex in the eastern state of Orissa have never practiced prostitution, and have been expected to remain celibrate from the time they became devadasis.
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486-1534) was a Vaishnava (devotee of Sri Krishna) saint and social reformer in eastern India(specifically present-day Bangladesh and states of West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Manipur, Assam, and Orissa of India) in the 16th century, believed by followers of Gaudiya(Gaur was the capital of Bengal then) Vaishnavism to be the full incarnation of Lord Krishna.
Specifically he worshipped the forms of Radha and Krishna and popularized the chanting of the Hare Krishna maha mantra.
He was the greatest scholar of his time having a great knowledge on Veda n Vedanta.
His line of followers, known as Gaudiya Vaishnavas, revere him as an Avatar of Krishna in the mood of Radharani who was prophesised to appear in the later verses of the Bhagavata Purana.
Ala-ud-din Husain Shah (reign 1493-1519) was an independent late medieval Sultan of Bengal, who founded the Hussain Shahi dynasty. Popularly known as Husain Shah and is called 'Akbar of Bengal'.
The reign of Husain Shah is also known for religious tolerance towards his Hindu subjects of Bengal. Husain Shah, when came to know about Chaitanya Mahaprabhu's huge following amongst his subjects, he ordered his men not to injure him in any way and allow him to go wherever he liked.
Gaur: Capital of Bengal then(now Maldah district of West Bengal).
Bhubaneswar: Capital of Orissa.
Puri Temple: Jagannath Temple is one of the most renowned as well as the biggest temples of Orissa. Established in the 12th century, the temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath (Lord Krishna), Lord of the Universe.
Konarak Temple: This world famous Sun temple of Konark also spelled as 'Konarak' is situated on a lonely sea shore of the Bay of Bengal in Orisa. This marvelous temple deserves the title "a poem in stone." Gorgeously conceived as a colossal chariot drawn on twelve pairs of exquisite wheels by a team of seven richly-caparisoned horses in spirited gallops and symbolizing the Sun-god himself as if emerging from the depth of the blue expanse.
The temple was built in the middle of the 13th century.
Odissi Dance: is one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It originates from the state of Odisha(Orisa), in eastern India. It is the oldest surviving dance form of India on the basis of archaeological evidences.
Kathak Dance: is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from Uttar Pradesh,India. Its form today contains traces of temple and ritual dances, and the influence of the bhakti movement(the movement of Hindu reformers for betterment of their religion and society.).
As it's difficult to find out some facts specially the exact timing of the events of that time there can be some anachronism... pls do excuse it.
And in this FF as it is based on ancient time I m doing a slight change in their name like... MAANENDRA(MAAN), GEETASRI(GEET) and DEVDUTT(DEV)... hope you are ok with it.
Ps: pls let me know if you like it the Banner pic of this FF.. as I had to put a lot of effort to edit it😊
[copy-right of this story is reserved by me (Sayanee Gupta) only... if it is copied in some-where else I'l take legal action against him or her]
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