Composed by three poet saints between the sixth and eighth centuries A.D., the Tevaram hymns are the primary scripture of Tamil Saivism, one of the first popular large-scale devotional movements within Hinduism. Indira Peterson eloquently renders into English a substantial portion of these hymns, which provide vivid and moving portraits of the images, myths, rites, and adoration of Siva and which continue to be loved and sung by the millions of followers of the tamil Saiva tradition. Her introduction and annotations illuminate the work`s literary, religious, and cultural contexts, making this anthology a rich source book for the studyof the South Indian popular religion. Indira Peterson highlights the Tevaram as a seminal text in Tamil cultural history, a synthesis of pan-Indian and Tamil civilization, as well as a distinctly Tamil expression of the love of song, sacred landscape, and ceremonial religion. Her discussion of this work draws on her pioneering research into the performance of the hymns and their relation to the art and ritual of the South Indian temple.

Composed by three poet-saints between the sixth and eighth centuries A.D., the Tevaram hymns are the primary scripture of the Tamil Saivism, one of the first popular large-scale devotional movements within Hinduism. Indira Peterson eloquently renders into English a substantial portion of these hymns, which provide vivid and moving portraits of the images, myths, rites, and adoration of Siva and which continue to be loved and sung by the millions of followers of the Tamil Saiva tradition. Her introduction and annotations illuminate the work's literary, religious, and cultural contexts, making this anthology a rich sourcebook for the study of South Indian popular religion. Indira Peterson highlights the Tevaram as a seminal text in Tamil cultural history, a synthesis of pan-Indian and Tamil civilization, as well as a distinctly Tamil expression of the love of song, sacred landscape, and ceremonial religion. Her discussion of this work draws on her pioneering research into the performance of the hymns and their relation to the art and ritual of the South Indian temple. Originally published in 1989. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Sivapuranam occupies an important place in the Shaivaite tradition as a simple yet powerful description of unconditional, humble devotion and love of Shiva. With his lucid explanations, careful and interpretations and scholarly analysis, Dr. Raman has performed an admirable and welcome service to help all appreciate its religious significance and literary beauty. In his own inimitable, delightful style, Dr. Raman brings together ideas and thoughts from different works to emphasize the commonality of principles and philosophies. This book will be read and reread as a significant reference to Sivapuranam.

Speaking of Siva is a selection of vacanas or free-verse sayings from the Virasaiva religious movement, dedicated to Siva as the supreme god. Written by four major saints, the greatest exponents of this poetic form, between the tenth and twelfth centuries, they are passionate lyrical expressions of the search for an unpredictable and spontaneous spiritual vision of 'now'. Here, yogic and tantric symbols, riddles and enigmas subvert the language of ordinary experience, as references to night and day, sex and family relationships take on new mystical meanings. These intense poems of personal devotion to a single deity also question traditional belief systems, customs, superstitions, image worship and even moral strictures, in verse that speaks to all men and women regardless of class and caste.

The Book Brings Together For The First Time In English Translation Some Of The Best Poems Of K. Siva Reddy, One Of The Most Powerful Poets In Telugu Today. Rural Agricultural Life And Nature In All Its Variety, Childhood, Women, Immense Faith In Man And Life, Oppression, Exploitation And Revolution, Power Of The Collective Strength And The Power Of The Word Are Some Of The Recurrent Subjects In His Oeuvre That Spans More Than Decades Of His Life.