During this better half quantity to Singing the physique of God (Oxford 2002), Steven P. Hopkins has translated into modern American English verse poems written via the South Indian Srivaisnava thinker and saint-poet Venkatesa (c. 1268-1369). those poems, in 3 various languages - Sanskrit, Tamil, and Maharastri Prakrit -- composed for one specific Hindu god, Vishnu Devanayaka, the "Lord of Gods" at Tiruvahindrapuram, shape a microcosm of the saint-poet's paintings. They surround significant subject matters of Venkatesa's devotional poetics, from the play of divine absence and presence on the earth of non secular feelings; the "telescoping" of time prior and destiny within the everlasting "present" of the poem; love, human vulnerability and the impassible perfected physique of god; to the devotional adventure of a "beauty that saves" and to what Hopkins phrases the paradoxical coexistence of asymmetry and intimacy of lover and liked on the middle of the divine-human come upon. additionally, those poems shape not just a thematic microcosm, yet a linguistic one embracing all 3 of the poet's operating languages. just like the remembered international of Proust's Combray within the style of madeleine dipped in tea, or Blake's international in a Grain of Sand, we style and spot, during this one specific position, and during this one specific kind of Vishnu, a variety of protean varieties and powers of the divine, and hint a veritable summa of theological, philosophical, and literary designs.
every one translated poem kinds a bankruptcy in itself, has its personal person brief Afterword, in addition to distinct linguistic and thematic notes and observation. the amount concludes, for comparative purposes, with a translation of Tirumankaiyalvar's luminous cycle of verses for Devanayaka from the Periyatirumoli.
As a lot an issue as an anthology, this booklet can be of curiosity to scholars and students of South Asian reports, comparative faith, and Indian literatures.
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Extra resources for An Ornament for Jewels: Love Poems For The Lord of Gods, by Vedantadesika
Peculiarly, this physique is ˜ canam (lamp-black) or the deep blue ka¯ya¯ blos‘‘beautiful,’’ blue-black as an som. Ven˙katesa’s god is a super-aesthetic god; a god who seems as ‘‘beauty’’ _ itself (alaku), a purified, impassible attractiveness that saves. As Ven˙katesa says in _ verse 6 of the Navamanima¯lai, these ‘‘who don't forget’’ the ‘‘beauty’’ of that ˙ physique ‘‘will no longer be born back. ’’27 sooner than finishing with a verse that maybe first encouraged the tale of Ven˙˜ cı¯puram, and his katesa’s stumble upon with Lord Devanayaka at the street to Kan _ systematic composition of praises for Devanayaka in all 3 of his operating languages, his ‘‘Veda’’ couched in ‘‘his personal words’’ (vali moli), we now have in verse nine a proper, ritual quit (ataikkalam) to the Lord. even though the poet turns out to put declare to helplessness the following, and is witness to an absence that could by no means be resolved, love’s wound which could by no means be healed, his passionate attract grace/mercy/power-potential of ‘‘presence’’ (arul) is itself an act of will (self˙ attempt) that's concept to attract the eye of Vishnu, who now has an appropriate the navaman ima¯ lai ˙ forty five ‘‘pretext’’ (vya¯ja) to avoid wasting the poet from worldly passions that burn us like fire (porulum alalum). 28 ˙ during this manner the poem inscribes doubtless antithetical truths on the center of Ven˙katesa’s theology of devotion: divine-human asymmetry and the _ intimacy of specific love. This web page deliberately left clean 4 Fifty Verses for the Lord of Gods: The Devana¯yakapan˜ca¯sat 1 His lotus toes are sopping wet via sticky nectar dropped via garlands of manda¯ra1 blossoms that circle the tall crowns of gods who prostrate earlier than him;2 worshiped through Siva, Lord of Beasts, and Brahma, the writer, he's Lord of the city of the serpent king, his eyes lengthy and huge as lotus petals— could Devanatha, the Lord of Gods, shield me. 2 I bow all the way down to the lengthy line of our academics, protectors of worlds: within the beginning,3 Devanatha, the Lord; Kamala, His consort; and Prtanesa, commander of heaven. four _ within the shining heart, Natha and Vakulabhusana,5 _ _ and enhancing the crown, Ramanuja and the others. forty eight an decoration for jewels three They indicate to us these sacred fords alongside the seashores of the Lord of Gods’ holy sea of mercy,6 a safe haven for the 3 worlds: time and again I do homage to these historical poets7 starting with Valmı¯kı¯8 whose phrases communicate fact, candy to the ear, just like the Veda. nine four O mom who dwells within the Lotus10 I make of you this small humble request— supply me this favor:11 that this Lord of Gods, your loved one, may well hearken to my phrases as you are going to the prodigious prattling of a bit baby. 12 five O Lord of Gods definitely i'm proficient adequate to compliment you whose glory is discerned by means of the Veda’s such a lot exalted revelation:13 could the herds of mom cows who drink the candy waters of the Milk Ocean allow their calves feed on grass? 6 these corresponding to Ananta and Garuda _ can't fathom the entire volume of your being;14 even these steeped in yogic trance15 ˜ ca¯ sat the devana¯ yakapan can see just a small fragment of your glory:16 I lengthy to compliment you, you who provide us our heart’s inner most wants— come, earn that identify of yours: ‘‘Lord of fact to His Servants.