Bhagavad-Gita and Indian Devotional Lyrics Essay Example

forced into marriage with a potent king. However, she ultimately renounced her married life and opted to journey throughout the nation.

These myths have some roots in the exquisite and fiery verses of this mystical female poet. When discussing love, she can't differentiate between the love of a man and a woman, and the love for our maker. As she penned in one of her verses: embracing _a body, bones _should crunch and disintegrate; blend, _the blending must disappear. Love is then our higher being's love (Mahadeviyakka, 6 -11). Another mystical poetess named Govindadasa, who existed in the fifteenth century, devoted her poems to Krishna and his pupil Radha: When your flute's melody hits my ears, it forces me to abandon my abode, my companions, it lures me into the obscurity towards you (Govindadasa, 7-12).

Govindadasa's poetry portrays the journey of human exploration, spiritual quest, devotion and ultimate unification with the divine. She offers a unique interpretation of Krishna and Radha's tale in her verses. They are depicted as a couple experiencing relational issues due to Krishna's infatuation with another woman who represents all of humanity. Unable to forgive his unfaithfulness, Radha is left feeling hollow and shattered. As she reclines in his embrace in the kunja grove, she suddenly speaks his name.

She wept, as if consumed by the flames of separation (Govindadasa, 1-5). As Lawall interprets in his critique on Govindadasa's poetry, “this piece transcends just delineating the dynamic of a man, a woman, and his infidelity. Radha grapples with her feelings of jealousy. Krishna, embodying the love of all women (and by extension, all humankind), can't be possessed

solely by her. This poem symbolizes the division and subsequent reunion of individuals with their deity” (Lawall 2391). Govindadasa employs the narrative of two lovers to convey the journey of spiritual enlightenment and religious pursuit.

Prominent Bengali Vaisnava poets, also known as Bengali Saints, penned lyrical tributes to Krishna using a medieval dialect of the same name. Two notable figures among them were Vidyapati and Chandidasa. These poets focused heavily on the bond between Krishna and his devoted follower, Radha. The narrative offered by these Vaisnava saints about Radha and Krishna's relationship is unique in its interpretation. Even though the story remains the same, they concentrate on themes of unfaithfulness, metaphorically representing it as the connection between God and mankind's soul.

Radha's recurrent declarations of abandoning Krishna, analogous to the purity and spontaneity embodied in her love willing to forsake everything, are noted several times (Lawall 2391). Mirabai has made a name for herself as one of the most renowned Medieval bhakti poetesses, largely remembered for her Krishna-centric lyrics. Much of Mirabai's verse explores female devotee narratives, with numerous songs brought into existence strictly for women. Mirabai attracted people's disapprobation when she refused suttee, a self-sacrifice following her husband's demise.

A follower of the Bhakti tradition, Mirabai penned the bhajans, a type of poem. She crafted most of her literary pieces in her mother tongue, Braibhasa, a Hindu dialect. Her compositions earned widespread acclaim and were translated into multiple languages subsequently. Krishna was the focal point of Mirabai's life and literary efforts. Her verses predominantly express divine affection for Krishna, as exemplified by these lines: "Life after life he's true - painted

with the hues of my Lord" (Mirabai 11-13). In her written oeuvre, she frequently refers to Krishna as the "Mountain lifter", highlighting her steadfast devotion: "How can I forsake the love I cherished in life after life?"

Mirabai perceives her deity as the Mountain Lifter, questioning the necessity of other's participation (Mirabai, 13-14). A contemporary Indian poet, Sri Chinmoy, depicts Mirabia as an extraordinarily pious devotee whose devotion outshines all other Indian saints. Her remarkable contributions to bhajans - religious songs glorifying God – reveal her resolve, aspiration and unwavering commitment (Chinmoy, 69). Hinduism significantly impacts every aspect of Indian art. The Bhagavad-Gita is notably prominent among Hindu scriptures due to its renown.

Renowned as the "Song of the Lord", The Bhagavad-Gita has held a pivotal role in shaping Indian culture over numerous centuries and continues to uphold the basic principles of Hindu teachings. This piece, showcasing a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, emerged in India between the first century BC and second century AD. Experts propose that its primary purpose was to fortify Hinduism's position at a time when Buddhism was quickly advancing in India, causing both faiths to compete for societal relevance.

Many followers of the Bhagavad-Gita recognize its divine importance, comparing it to a "Hindu Bible". The scripture sheds light on various aspects of classic Hindu doctrines and introduces unique features that were not present prior to the Gita's arrival. Lord Krishna, who is considered a living incarnation of Vishnu - one of the three main gods in Hinduism, delivers an extensive philosophical discourse in the Gita covering nearly all facets of existence.

The infamous Kurukshetra war is

the setting in which Lord Krishna imparts essential life teachings, encompassing right actions, wisdom, and dedication to Arjuna, a brave warrior. The purpose of Krishna's instructions is to guide Arjuna through his personal struggles and suffering. It's during a critical juncture in the war when Arjuna meets Krishna while being tormented by despair over his duty to participate in battle, take lives and cause disorder and destruction; this contradicts the basic tenets of Hinduism. Faced with a complex dilemma wherein abstaining from fighting and committing slaughter would violate his dharma or life mission, Arjuna finds himself in a quandary.

The Bhagavad-Gita emphasizes the importance of spiritual commitment, underscoring a person's supreme responsibility to carry out their religious duty, also known as dharma. Its central doctrine is that liberation can be achieved through unwavering adherence to one's dharma and fulfilling duties without expecting any results, thus cultivating deep trust in divine grace. Occasionally, tasks may seem difficult and uncertain minds might create multiple reasons to avoid them, but these are simply barriers preventing individuals from starting their true spiritual journeys.

Devoting all actions and thoughts to God and mankind helps one to become detached from outcomes, which is a key step towards mastering one's thoughts and emotions. The spiritual journey and exploration of life's purpose are central motifs in classic and medieval Indian literature. The profound philosophical and religious themes in the ancient and medieval literary predictions from India greatly impacted the intellectual consciousness of that era, and still retain their significance today.

The principal doctrine of the Gita embodies emancipation and relief from the agonies that engulf individuals. The narrative's characters and

occurrences are heavily allegorical, with myriad meanings to be gleaned from its relatively brief text. Over the centuries, people continuously uncover fresh symbols and metaphors in this monumental narrative. The devotional verse of medieval India, termed bhakti, is primarily centered on the theme of adoration towards prominent Indian gods. Bhakti poetry is predominantly composed by saintly authors, who having achieved liberation themselves, express gratitude to their creator and transmit their wisdom to others.