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.
Translated by:
A. Ramanujan Imprint: Penguin Classics Country of Publication: United Kingdom Dimensions:
Height: 200mm,
Width: 133mm,
Spine: 12mm
Weight: 162g ISBN:9780140442700 ISBN 10: 0140442707 Pages: 208 Publication Date:29 June 2006 Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format:Paperback Publisher's Status: Active
Translated with an introduction by A. K. Ramanujan
