In this Book
- Śiva's Demon Devotee: Karaikkal Ammaiyar
- Book
- 2010
- Published by: State University of New York Press
summary
An exploration and translation of the work of Hindu poet-saint, Karaikkal Ammaiyar. The Hindu poet-saint Karaikkal Ammaiyar describes herself as a demon, accompanying the god Siva as he dances in the cremation grounds. She is believed to be the first to write devotional poetry to Siva in the Tamil language and is considered the first of the 63 Tamil poet-saints. Written in the 6th or 7th century, her beautiful poetry presents the path of love and service that brings liberation. In Siva’s Demon Devotee, Elaine Craddock provides a historical, literary, and ethnographic exploration of Karaikkal Ammaiyar and her work. An annotated translation of the poet-saint’s 143 verses is included along with an introduction to the Tamil literary tradition. Craddock’s analysis of this poetry in its ancient context and of the narrative tradition that developed around the life of the Karaikkal Ammaiyar centuries later reveals cultural tensions concerning women’s roles and the devotional path. A consideration of the two temples that celebrate this poet-saint in contemporary India illuminate both ancient traditions and contemporary transformations.
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Siva’s Demon Devotee
- pp. -
- Illustrations
- pp. ix-
- Acknowledgments
- pp. xi-xii
- Introduction
- pp. 1-6
- 4. The Temples and Their Festivals
- pp. 91-113
- 5. The Poems
- pp. 115-144
- Works Cited
- pp. 175-186
Additional Information
ISBN
9781438430898
DOI
MARC Record
OCLC
794925142
Pages
205
Launched on MUSE
2012-01-01
Language
English
Open Access
No