Speaking of Siva - Softcover

Anonymous

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140442707 ISBN 13: 9780140442700

Publisher: Penguin Classics, 1973

Synopsis

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.

For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

About this title

About the Author:

Translated with an introduction by A. K. Ramanujan.

Language Notes:

Text: English (translation)

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin Classics
• Publication date: 1973
• ISBN 10: 0140442707
• ISBN 13: 9780140442700
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208