Archive · 11 Dec 2025
Book Reveals India's Syncretic Folklore Through Saint Gorakhnath
A new book by Nalin Verma and Lalu Prasad tells the story of Saint Gorakhnath, who lived a long time ago.
The book talks about old tales from India that show how people of different religions and castes lived together peacefully.
It includes famous love stories like Heer-Ranjha, where a Muslim man becomes a follower of Gorakhnath.
The book also mentions how Gorakhnath's teachings were inclusive, with many Muslim yogis following him.
The authors want to remind people of India's rich, diverse history and how important it is to remember these stories today.
Nalin Verma and Lalu Prasad's book 'Lores of Love & Saint Gorakhnath' explores India's syncretic folklore.
The book highlights inclusive narratives from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar's folktales.
Saint Gorakhnath's legends were misappropriated for political purposes after the 1930s.
The book retells popular folktales, including love stories like Heer-Ranjha and Saranga-Sadabrij.
The 1921 Census counted 31,158 Muslim yogis, reflecting religious syncreticism in Gorakhnath's teachings.
- Who
- Authors Nalin Verma and Lalu Prasad
- What
- A book revealing India's syncretic folklore through the life of Saint Gorakhnath
- When
- Saint Gorakhnath believed to have lived in the 11th century
- Where
- Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
- Why
- To rediscover lost narratives of inclusivity and syncretism in Indian folklore
- Authors
- Nalin Verma and Lalu Prasad
- Book Title
- Lores of Love & Saint Gorakhnath
- Saint Gorakhnath
- Believed to have lived in the 11th century
- Muslim Yogis
- 31,158 counted in the 1921 Census
- Key Love Stories
- Heer-Ranjha, Sorthi-Brijabhar, Bhartrihari-Pingla, Saranga-Sadabrij