Lores of Love and Saint Gorakhnath by Nalin Verma

Comprising four folktales, Sorthi-Brijbhar, Bharthari-Pingla, Heer-Ranjha and Saranga-Sadabrij, the book is an anthology of stories influenced by the life, time and teachings of Yogi Gorakhnath—an eleventh-century saint—who propounded an inclusive religious philosophy that laid the foundation of the Sufi and Bhakti movement in India. Initially, the yogis (mystics) of the Gorakhnath sect would sing these ballads on the tune of the sarangi and move door to door for alms. Originally, these stories existed in the oral tradition passed down from generation to generation in the form of ballads. The ballads are full of fairies, genies, witches, magic healers, witch doctors and ghosts besides angels in the form of Peer Baba (hermits) and sages. Over the decades and centuries, these stories have inspired folklorists, theatre artists and nautch parties to perform in melas (community fairs), religious events and marriages.