| Extraordinary Child: Poems from a South Indian Devotional Genre Contributor(s): Richman, Paula (Author) |
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ISBN: 0824810635 ISBN-13: 9780824810634 Publisher: University of Hawaii Press OUR PRICE: $27.55 Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats Published: October 1997 |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Poetry | Subjects & Themes - Inspirational & Religious - History | Asia - India & South Asia - Religion | Comparative Religion |
| Dewey: 894.811 |
| LCCN: 96-40072 |
| Series: Shaps Library of Translations |
| Physical Information: 0.78" H x 6.12" W x 9.25" (0.95 lbs) 312 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Indian |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: For hundreds of years Tamil poets have been composing devotional texts in which they adopt the voice of a mother and address praises to an extraordinary child. The poems, called pillaittamil (literally Tamil for a child), form a major genre of Tamil literature. Since the twelfth century, when the first known pillaittamil was written in honor of a Chola king, many of these poems have been composed in praise of Murugan and South Indian goddesses, as well as saints and venerated monastic abbots. In recent times pillaittamils have been dedicated to the Prophet Muhammad, the Virgin Mary, and Baby Jesus, as well as notable political figures and moviestars. Extraordinary Child provides a sampler of translations from, and analysis of, seven pillaittamils of particular religious, aesthetic, or political significance. |
