Another opportunity to post yet another picture of a Krishna Chura tree. It's not only a Dhaka phenomenon, this I took in Manikgonj on a field trip yesterday. One of the doctors traveling with me pointed out these two trees, but the view were blocked by a toilet, so we had to move the car to take this picture. Much better now, don't you think?Radha Chura, the fiery red version of the tree is less common, but in full bloom now too around the parliament building. I'll get to taking some pictures soon.
In Hindu mythology, the Radha-Krishna affair is seen as the ultimate embodiment of unrequited love. Somehow in my mind, it's the ultimate male fantasy where the woman is left with the short end of the stick. Radha, the gopi, or cow-girl was Krishna's aunt, and they had a love affair. They wanted to be together forever, but duty called and he had to leave to "safeguard the virtues of truth". He promised that he would be back. She waited. He vanquished the enemies, became the king and came to be worshipped as a lord of universe. She still waited. He married Rukhmini and Satyabhama, raised a family, fought the great war of Ayodha. She kept waiting. After many years, they get back together and enters into a "gandarva" or spiritual wedding.
Drum roll, or rather eye roll please. Let us count the ways.
1. Have irresponsible carefree affair with a married woman. Check.
2. Create some mumbo jumbo about worldly duties. Check.
3. Tell her that you will return. Check.
4. Ask her to wait for you. Check.
5. Go out and conquer the world and become the king of the universe while she waits. Check.
6.Since she is a cow-girl (and married), marry two beautiful princesses and raise a family. Check.
7. Do not tell her about all this development and keep her hanging on in futile hope. Check.
8. Have a fulfilling life with wives and kids, and one day, in old age run into her. Check.
9. Convince her that you still love her. Check
10. Since you are married with kids, and she is a widow, convince her to enter into a "spiritual" wedding so that she receives none of the usual legal entitlement from the king of the universe. Check.
11. Convince the whole world that your love is pure and spiritual. Check.
In my version of the story, Radha would emancipate herself, leave her husband, conquer the world to become the queen of the universe, have a bunch of hot blooded men around her to show off to Krishna, and keep Krishna locked in a dungeon for her private parties. Whenever she'd feel like him, she'll pay him a visit.
Think how cute it'll be to have a blue colored god chained in your dungeon. Now that's a good party conversation topic.
