Much has been written on Tamil Bhakti Movement and on its literature by scholars with divergent agendas. However, the present work tries to highlight the aspects of ‘beyond bhakti’, i.e. other than the so-called Bhakti sentiments and practices. It attempts to study the unique bhakti sentiment of folk people with the first hand knowledge and information to highlight its specific nature To our interest, the book questions certain aspects of age old socio-cultural conventions of South India, documented in the siva bhakti literature and earnestly exposes its flaws by citing the relevant facts and figures. It also analyses the common features of the Virasaiva Saranas of Karnataka and Siddhas of Tamil nadu in general and Basavesvara and Ramalinga Swami in particular. It extensively reviews the myth of one peculiar Saiva Dalit Nayanar called Nandanar to understand the past as well as the present socio-cultural issues of Tamil Nadu.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR G. Rajagopal
G. Rajagopal (b. 1960-) is a recipient of Doctoral Degree (1989) in Tamil from Sri Venkateswara University, Titrupati. Presently, he is a reader, teaching Tamil and Comparative Indian Literature in the Department of Modern Indian Languages and Literary Studies, university of Delhi. G. Rajagopal has participated in several national and International Conferences and seminars. His scholarly papers have been published by Universities and reputed Research Institutions. He has a special in interest in Bhakti Literature. His book titled Kaman Kadai-p-Padal –Or Ayvu (The ballad on kama –A Study) (1986) and over a dozen of articles on Bhakti theme have already been published. His forthcoming book (in collaboration with Mrs. V.N. Saraswathi) titled the Translation and Transliteration of Agananuru into Hindi (18000 Years Old Ancient Tamil Love Poems four Hundred into Hindi) is a stupen dous work, due for publication by the Tamil development department, Governments of Tamil nadu, Chennai.
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