MRITYUNJAI-Some Love Stories Never Die MGff cmpltd - Page 16

excellent update...

4 u

Before starting the next part I want to answer something from previous part... the custom of 15day trip is not historical, I created this to show how corruption crept inside the temples and how Devdasi system became nothing but prostitution... its not a religious ritual

Pls read this update keeping it in mind that Chaitanya Dev or Mahapravu was considered as God... Avtar of Sri Krishna on that time

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Part 7: Amropali

Geetasri was recalling each and every word Maanendra has uttered. His sword fight, his sudden silence. She was going impatience thinking what make him so upset all of a sudden. He was not sad while talking about his past his lost kingdom, is there anything else? She couldn't concentrate in Evening arati. Even Madanmohan(Sri Krishna) deity was reminding him of his Maan. She tried to concentrate in dance but she missed the rhythm. She was unable to understand what's happening with her. She was so self obsessed before but now she hardly thinks about herself. It was Maanendra rather say her Maan who has taken over all her concerns.

She kept looking at Maan's hut for a long time. She wanted to go there but couldn't gather the courage. She was about to go inside her room she remembered someone' 'Thammi'(Grand mother).

Geet came down and went towards the darkest part of the temple. It was a little bit far from the main temple though inside of the temple parameter. It was the place where old devdasis used to stay. After a glamorous youth these devdasis were left to stay in this desolated area. Some of them who were a little younger used to serve younger devdasis or do some odd jobs. In Madanmohan Temple they used to get a place to stay and food for two times a day. In other temples they wouldn't get even the darkest corner of it. Before Devdutt Madanmohan temple was no different but Devdutt could do this little things for their sake.

Geet's thammi was not her real grand mother. She was one of the oldest Devdasis of this temple. She was the fore most devdasi of her time. She was thrown down from the temple after her time. Once Devdutt discovered her in a row of beggars and somehow recognized her. It was he who took her here again and gave her a place to live.

Geetasri peeped inside. She felt guilty for not coming here for a long time. She has almost forgot her.. chii. The very old woman was half lying inside and a lamp was trying its best to fight with the darkness of the room but failed. Geet entered the room silently.

"Natni(grand daughter)' so at last you have time to meet me."

"Thammi ap abhi tak soe nahi"

"Natni its spring time na?? Now a days I can't understand anything but this year I can feel spring is coming back' history is repeating itself." She mumbled in her mind.

"ap kya keh rahe ho' I can't get it. Thammi mujhe kuch thik nahi lag raha hai. I am feeling sad without any reason."

Old woman asked her to come near. Geetasri went and sat down in front of her small bed.

"Natni kahani sunegi?"

"That same old story of an apsara and a painter? No I will not. I know they separated at the end' sad ending."

Old woman smiled, "thik hai mat sunna' now tell me your story' tell me about your 'Kanha', about whom you are so anxious."

"Kanha nahi nahi wo to Maan hai."' She blabbered.

"So his name is Maan." Old woman teased her squeezing her cheek a little.

That night Geet discovered she is falling in love with Maan. She didn't has a logical mind or a complicated brain to debate over what is love what is not. Till now, she knew Love means Radha-Krishna, from that night she realized love means her Maan.

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Maanendra was all set to curve Amropali on the wall. Last night He got to know many things from Geet. But one question was still unanswered why Devdutt choose Rajlaxmi instead of Geetasri. A woman of forty or forty-five, adorned with gold jewellery entered in Radha-Madhav temple premises where he was waiting. It was Mandodari Devi, the former foremost devdasi of Madonmohan temple.

She asked in a rude voice, "Devdutt ji said you called me for being your model."

"I asked for Jeevak's mother to become my model." Maanendra looked straight at her eyes.

Rajlaxmi gritted her teeth. "Look I will give the posture I want and you have to'."

She was cut by Maanendra. "ap baith jaiye." His calm voice made her sit. "You know who Amropali was?" She nodded in negative. " I will tell you her story. Then you decide you want to be my model or not and what will be your posture."

He started Amropali's story.

"It was the time whan Goutam Buddha(preacher of Buddhism) was alive. Amropali is a historical character but we can't get history of her young age. Her history starts in her youth. One fine morning the people of Baishali discovered her in there garden. Baishali was one of the strongest kingdoms of those days. Amropali was beautiful, so beautiful that everybody desired her just after one glance. All the kings and richest men of Baishali and other cities and towns wanted to marry her. King thought it can be dangerous for his kingdom coz if he allow one to marry her, others will become his enemy. He asked for 'Gan'(City council of then)'s help. They advised as Amropali is desired by all she can't be any one's wife. Rather she will be a 'janapad-kalyani'(main prostitute of the city). They needed Amropali's permission for that.

Amropali agreed but gave three conditions. 1^st, she will have her own palace as big and as beautiful as king's, 2^nd, every guest has to pay five hundred gold coin for spending one night with her and the 3^rd one, inside her palace she will have her own guards and maids and her own law. No law of Baishali will work inside her palace.

'Gan' was ok with first two conditions but 3^rd one made him to think. What if they need to do any investigation inside her palace? She answered yes they can but she has to inform first. They can investigate only after seven days she has been informed. Gan has no other option but accept her conditions.

Tales of Amropali's beauty spread all over India. She became one of the richest persons of Baishali. King of Magadh(most powerful state of then), Bimbisar was the greatest king and bravest man in India. He came to know about Amropali. Baishali and Magadh' two states were enemy from ages. But that couldn't stop Bimbisar to reach Amropali. But the news of Bimbisar's staying inside Amropali's palace wasn't a secret. Soldiers of Baishali surrounded her palace and asked her to open the door for investigation. She firmly answered door will be opened after seven days. Soldiers waited outside of the palace and inside these two extra ordinary man and woman get united, loved and made love ignoring everything else. After seven days Bimbisar escaped successfully, soldiers couldn't get any one inside. Amropali gave birth of Bimbisar's son and named him Jeebak. She was abandoned by all for giving birth of enemy's son. But she was happy coz she didn't want any one else after she met Bimbisar. Bimbisar left her but she found him in everything. But it was some one else in whom she found her everything.

Time passed. Once she heard Goutam Buddha was coming to Baishali. HE was not only a preacher of Buddhism people used to worship him as God. People was excited, thrilled to see their God. The king and the head of the Gan, both wanted that Lord Buddha would stay in his place. Amropali heard about HIS arrival and went there with her son, stood in a corner far from the crowd only to have one glace of HIM. King and Gan both wanted to request Lord Buddha but before they could say anything HE spoke, "Amropali will you allow me to stay in your pious place today." Everybody stood stunned. HE called a loathed brothel a pious place? Amropali didn't utter a single word, she cried and cried. Lord Buddha stayed in her palace for one night and next day when HE left Baishali, the city dweller saw Amropali with her son in the attire of Buddhist nun. She has cut down her hair, left her expensive ornaments and dresses. With a beggar's bowl in her hand she with her son was chanting the eternal words,

"Buddhang smaranag gacchami

Sangham smaranag gacchami

Dharmang smaranag gacchami"

Amropali's brothel became a monastery and she became 'mother Amropali' in history."

Maanendra ended the story. Mandodari was in tears. Maanendra was about to leave the place for give her some time when she spoke "Amropali got her salvation' Lord Buddha rescued her and her son what about me...what about my Jeebak Maanendra? Will I get the same? Who will save me?"

"Get ready didi .. he is coming here' you people call him God ' avatar of Lord Sri Krishna, Chaitanya Dev ' I am sure he will give you a new life."

Looking at Maanendra's eyes Mandodari believed his each and every word. His eyes couldn't lie. She smiled, her eyes glowed in joy. It seems gloomy cloud of years was cleared by a ray of hope. "Maanendra I will be your model, I will be your Amropali my brother. Tomorrow I will come here wait for me."

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Next day Maanendra was waiting for her. Mandodari came inside with holding Jeebak in her arms. She was wearing a simple saffron sari and no ornaments. She was not the same temple dancer Maanendra saw before; she was "Mother Amropali' of his imagination.

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Maan was sleeping in his hut. His loyal guard was sleeping outside of it in the disguise of the begger. Maan had to work hard for some days to curve Amropali in the wall of Radha-Madhav temple. He needed a sound sleep but wasn't able to have it. He woke up with a strange feeling. He had a strange dream. All the fictional women he has ever liked, desired, loved, respected, dreamed ' they all appeared in his dream. At first there existence was like either but at the end they all were taking a shape'shape of a familiar woman. He looked at them carefully. They all were curved in different postures like his sculptures. He could recognize them, Shakuntala, Draupadi, Radha and so on but what shocked him they all have same eyes, same face, same body, same person. It was Geet, yes he didn't fail to recognize her, and it was Geet. But what is the meaning of such dream. Maan thought. He can't deny from the first meeting he liked her. He was attracted towards her, addicted with her company. In this busy days he couldn't gave her time but he knew Geet came and saw him working from a distance. Her silent presence was so desired by him. He knew why suddenly in these days, taste of his food changed. Coz it was not made by his guard but Geet. Her caring touch was so needed by him. He loved her beauty, he loved her innocence, he loved her stupid questions, her dance, her arrogance, simplicity but does he loved her.

'Do I love her?' He thought. Unlike Geet he has a logical sense and a complicated mind. He couldn't find his answer so easily but found Geet in everything and there was Geet who found her everything in Maan.

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