Of Sacred and Secular Desire: An Anthology of Lyrical Writings from the PunjabThe fertile land of the five rivers (punj+ab in Persian) has persistently stirred the imagination of its peoples. Its story is the story of invasion. In 326 BCE Alexander the Great marched through the Hindu Kush, conquered the verdant plains now divided between India and Pakistan, and stamped Greek cultural and linguistic influence on the region. Over the centuries the lure of the Punjab attracted further waves of outsiders: Scythians, Sassanians, Huns, Afghans, Turks, Mughals and - closer to our own times - the British. Many savage battles were fought. But at the same time, as different ethnic and religious groups came together and melded, the collective psyche of the Punjab was coloured by vibrant new patterns, new worldviews and new languages. Punjabi poetry is the dynamic result of these cross-cultural encounters. In her rich and diverse anthology, Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh makes a major contribution to interfaith dialogue and comparative literary studies. Covering the entire spectrum of writers, from the artistic patterns of the first Punjabi poet (Baba Farid, 1173-1265) to feminist author Amrita Pritam (d. 2005), the volume serves as an ideal introduction to the three faiths of Sikhism, Islam and Hinduism. Whether focusing on Sikh gurus or Sufi saints, it boldly illuminates the area's unique character, linguistic rhythms and celebrations, and will have strong appeal to undergraduate students of religion, literature and South Asian studies, as well as general readers. |
Other editions - View all
Of Sacred and Secular Desire: An Anthology of Lyrical Writings from the Punjab Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh No preview available - 2012 |
Of Sacred and Secular Desire: An Anthology of Lyrical Writings from the Punjab Nikky-Guninder Kaur Kaur Singh No preview available - 2012 |
Common terms and phrases
Allah beauty became become beginning belong beloved Blessed body born bring Bullhe Shah century Chatrik colors comes Countless cultural dance daughter death desire devotion Divine earth English express eyes face faith father feet female figure flow flowers flute gift give Guru Granth Guru Nanak’s hand hear heart Heer Heer’s Hindu honor human Indian infinite Islam Krishna land language light lips literary literature live lost lover magic male meet mind mother Muslim Namdev Name Nanak night offer original Persian plays poem poetry poets political popular praise Pritam Punjabi Ranjha readers reality religion religious river sacred saints Says script Sharaf Sheikh Farid Sikh Sikh Gurus sing Singh skies social song speak spiritual Sufi Today touch tradition translated true Truth turn University verse Waris Shah women worship writing