PaulisMine
May 22, 2009, 10:30 AM
Some of you may know I am pursuing a degree in Religious Studies...I have two classes to go! I have been out of school though, for about a year, with my broken ankle, Bob's death, etc. so I thought I might finish up this fall. I go to check out the classes and get registered and was sortof waiting for a sign that this was the right choice, at the right time. Well, this class is certainly a sign, I think! :) It is called "My Sweet Lord"!!
Here's the description of the class:
This course will look at the various manifestations of devotional religion underlying north Indian culture. Our main focus will be on Hindu bhakti traditions which we will study by reading translations of devotional poetry in its historical and cultural context. The core of the syllabus will be the Vaishnava verse of such poets as Mirabai, Tulsidas and Surdas; traditions such as Sufism, Sikhism and the Sant movement will also be explored. Most of our sources will be selected from the pre-modern literatures of languages such as Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali, but our search for the roots of these literary traditions will also lead us back to Sanskrit texts such as the Bhagavata Purana and the Gitagovinda, and we will also look at seminal Alvar poetry from the Tamil culture of southern India. Major themes and issues will include: verse structure and poetics; literary genres; poetry & painting; hagiography; textual transmission & historicity; the translator's lens; "literature", literacy & orality; music, performance & recital styles; the sectarian milieu; and temple worship. We will also examine the three postulates of the course title: “MY” - the personal connection inherent in devotionalism; “SWEET” – the role of aesthetics and sentiment in devotional attitudes; and “LORD” – perceptions of divine majesty. Students with some knowledge of the religious and cultural “map” of India will be best positioned to benefit from this course. The essential prerequisite, however, is an energetic interest in the subject and a desire to study a wide range of primary literature.
and the books:
Edwin F. Bryant, trans. Krishna: the beautiful legend of God (Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Book X). Harmondsworth: Penguin, 2004. J.S. Hawley, Three bhakti voices: Mirabai, Surdas, and Kabir in their time and ours. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Kabir The weaver's songs, trans. Vinay Dharwadker. Delhi: Penguin Books, 2003.
Karine Schomer & W.H. McLeod, eds, The sants: studies in a devotional tradition of India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1987.
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Hopefully all will work out and I'll be back in school in late Aug. - if anyone is interested (I AM LOOKING AT YOU HC) I'm happy to discuss what we discuss in class (haha I am sure I'll end up asking you HC for help! :D)
Here's the description of the class:
This course will look at the various manifestations of devotional religion underlying north Indian culture. Our main focus will be on Hindu bhakti traditions which we will study by reading translations of devotional poetry in its historical and cultural context. The core of the syllabus will be the Vaishnava verse of such poets as Mirabai, Tulsidas and Surdas; traditions such as Sufism, Sikhism and the Sant movement will also be explored. Most of our sources will be selected from the pre-modern literatures of languages such as Hindi, Punjabi and Bengali, but our search for the roots of these literary traditions will also lead us back to Sanskrit texts such as the Bhagavata Purana and the Gitagovinda, and we will also look at seminal Alvar poetry from the Tamil culture of southern India. Major themes and issues will include: verse structure and poetics; literary genres; poetry & painting; hagiography; textual transmission & historicity; the translator's lens; "literature", literacy & orality; music, performance & recital styles; the sectarian milieu; and temple worship. We will also examine the three postulates of the course title: “MY” - the personal connection inherent in devotionalism; “SWEET” – the role of aesthetics and sentiment in devotional attitudes; and “LORD” – perceptions of divine majesty. Students with some knowledge of the religious and cultural “map” of India will be best positioned to benefit from this course. The essential prerequisite, however, is an energetic interest in the subject and a desire to study a wide range of primary literature.
and the books:
Edwin F. Bryant, trans. Krishna: the beautiful legend of God (Srimad Bhagavata Purana, Book X). Harmondsworth: Penguin, 2004. J.S. Hawley, Three bhakti voices: Mirabai, Surdas, and Kabir in their time and ours. Delhi: Oxford University Press, 2005.
Kabir The weaver's songs, trans. Vinay Dharwadker. Delhi: Penguin Books, 2003.
Karine Schomer & W.H. McLeod, eds, The sants: studies in a devotional tradition of India. Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1987.
*******
Hopefully all will work out and I'll be back in school in late Aug. - if anyone is interested (I AM LOOKING AT YOU HC) I'm happy to discuss what we discuss in class (haha I am sure I'll end up asking you HC for help! :D)