Samapti Suprabhatam: Reflections on South Indian Bhakti Tradition in Literature and Art

Language: EnglishPages: 428 (140 B/W and 14 Color Illustrations)About the BookThe book is in two parts dealing with the sacred hymns of the Alvars and Nayanmar; rooted in the Vedas, the Itihasas, the Gita and the Sahasranamas of Visnu and Siva. The first part presents the Roman transcription and English translation of the holiest of the hymns, the Tiruppavai and Tiruvempavai. The second part is on “”Morphological Riddles and Mythological Setting”” of the Alvars hymns, and historical reflections on the ‘Divyadesas”” (Sacred Geography) of Visnuism in the Kaviri delta.The book includes an historical introduction on the bhakti cult. Rooted in the ‘Bhagavata’ or Vrsni-vira worship, the bhakti adumbrated by the Alvars and the Nayanmar (6th-9th century CE) had a tremendous impact over the course liturgical literature, temple building and the temple arts, sculpture and painting through the ages in South and Southeast Asia.Fourth and fifth chapters elaborately deal with the Tamil Veda, the ‘Nalayiram’ in the context of the ideas aired in second and third chapters. The annexures on Visnusahasranama and Sivasahasranama pinpoint their art historical relevance.About the AuthorDr R.K.K. Rajarajan is on the School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. The author’s publication in international journals is prolific (from Rome, Naples, Berlin, Reinbeck, Oslo, London). A chip has recently now come out, published by the Sapienza University of Rome; including the Acta Orientalia (Oslo) and Religions of South Asia (Sheffield, UK).Prof. R.K. Parthiban Parthiban Rajukalidos completed bachelor of architecture (B. Arch.), in the Regional Engineering College, Tiruccirappalli (now NIT Trichy). He is a registe —- ISBN: 9789383221158