Siva's Warriors: The Basava Purana of Palkuriki Somanatha (Princeton Library of Asian Translations, 79) - Softcover

Rao, Velcheru Narayana

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0691604878 ISBN 13: 9780691604879

Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2014

Synopsis

Here is the first translation into English of the Basava Purana, a fascinating collection of tales that sums up and characterizes one of the most important and most radical religious groups of South India. The ideas of the Virasaivas, or militant Saivas, are represented in those tales by an intriguing mix of outrageous excess and traditional conservatism. Written in Telugu in the thirteenth century, the Basava Purana is an anthology of legends of Virasaivas saints and a hagiography of Basavesvara, the twelfth-century Virasaiva leader. This translation makes accessible a completely new perspective on this significant religious group. Although Telugu is one of the major cultural traditions of India, with a classical literature reaching back to the eleventh century, until now there has been no translation or exposition of any of the Telugu Virasaiva works in English. The introduction orients the reader to the text and helps in an understanding of the poet's point of view. The author of the Basava Purana, Palkuriki Somanatha, is revered as a saint by Virasaivas in Andhra and Karnataka. His books are regarded as sacred texts, and he is also considered to be a major poet in Telugu and Kannada.

Originally published in 1990.

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About this title

About the Author:

Velcheru Narayana Rao is Krishan Devaraya Professor of Languages and Cultures of Asia at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. David Shulman is Professor of Indian Studies and Comparative Literature at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)

About this edition

• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Publication date: 2014
• ISBN 10: 0691604878
• ISBN 13: 9780691604879
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 340