The Devotional Poetry of Svami Haridas

The 16th-century North Indian religious devotee, poet and musician, Svami Haridas, composed lyrics in Braj Bhasa, dedicated to the divine couple Radha and Krsna. 128 of them were later compiled in two anthologies : the didactic Astadas siddhadnta and the rapturous Kelimal and became the theological basis of the Haridas sampradaya, a sect which still flourishes in Vrindaban, U.P. Neither of these important works has hitherto been edited, properly translated or studied academically. The focus of this book is the text of Haridas’s poetry : its transmission, edition and interpretation. Sixteen 18th-19th century manuscripts are collated for the edition and classified with the help of computer programmes originally employed in taxonomy. The apparatus criticus is followed by an annotated English translation in which readings are assessed and points of linguistic interest discussed. The language of Haridas’s text is thoroughly examined, and a comprehensive etymological glossary is included to enhance our knowledge of Braj. Going beyond textual criticism, the book sets Haridas’s verses in a broader context. The introductory chapter discusses the theological views of the Haridas tradition against the background of bhakti, analyses the sources of information about Haridas, and attempts to reconstruct his life. Since Haridas’s lyrics were composed to be sung some of their musical features are analysed. The text of the Kelimal is also examined through the sectarian concerns of its main commentaries. This study will be an important source of information to all scholars of Braj language and Krsna devotionalism.