Singing Krishna: Sound Becomes Sight in Paramanand's Poetry - Softcover

Sanford, A. Whitney

9780791473962: Singing Krishna: Sound Becomes Sight in Paramanand's Poetry

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0791473961 ISBN 13: 9780791473962

Publisher: State University of New York Press, 2009

Introduces Paramānand, one of India’s poet-saints, his work, and this work’s use in ritual.

Singing Krishna introduces Paramānand, one of north India’s greatest medieval poet-saints, whose poetry has been sung from the sixteenth century to the present in ritual service to the Hindu deity Krishna. A. Whitney Sanford examines how hearing Paramānand’s poetry in ritual context serves as a threshold for devotees between this world and Krishna’s divine world. To “see Krishna” is a primary goal of the devotee, and Paramānand deftly constructs a vision through words. Sanford employs the dual strategies of interpreting Paramānand’s poems―which sing the cycles of Krishna’s activities―and illustrating the importance of their ritual contexts. This approach offers insight into the nature of the devotional experience that is not accessible by simply studying the poetry or rituals in isolation. Sanford shows that the significance of Paramānand’s poetry lies not only in its beauty and historical importance but finally in its capacity to permit the devotee to see through the ephemeral world into Krishna’s world.

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From the Back Cover:

Singing Krishna introduces Param�nand, one of north India's greatest medieval poet-saints, whose poetry has been sung from the sixteenth century to the present in ritual service to the Hindu deity Krishna. A. Whitney Sanford examines how hearing Param�nand's poetry in ritual context serves as a threshold for devotees between this world and Krishna's divine world. To "see Krishna" is a primary goal of the devotee, and Param�nand deftly constructs a vision through words. Sanford employs the dual strategies of interpreting Param�nand's poems--which sing the cycles of Krishna's activities--and illustrating the importance of their ritual contexts. This approach offers insight into the nature of the devotional experience that is not accessible by simply studying the poetry or rituals in isolation. Sanford shows that the significance of Param�nand's poetry lies not only in its beauty and historical importance but finally in its capacity to permit the devotee to see through the ephemeral world into Krishna's world.

"The beautiful lyrics of Param�nand's poetry are a welcome addition to the growing body of Indic poetry in translation. Sanford's excellent book guides us through the poetry and takes us right to its sources." -- Constantina Rhodes Bailly, author of Shaiva Devotional Songs of Kashmir: A Translation and Study of Utpaladeva's Shivastotravali

About the Author:

A. Whitney Sanford is Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Florida.

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