Intimate Relations: Psalms and Bhakti Poetry

precis:

Even a casual reading of the biblical Psalms and the poetry of bhakti (devotion) reveals stunning similarity in style, modes, content, and focus. The fact that the two traditions share a very similar literature is worthy of acknowledgement and comment. In this essay, we will follow two principle modes of exploration: After a historical introduction to both the Psalms and bhakti poetry, we first use the Book of Psalms to establish categories by which to examine the bhakti literature; second, we adopt the reverse tactic, looking into characteristics indigenous to Hindu devotionalism in order to ponder the Psalms anew. In conclusion, we summarize the similarities and differences between the two genres and attempt to account for them historically and phenomenologically.