About the Book
In tracing the evolution of Radha from that of a gopi to a goddess one traverses not only a span of several centuries, but travels through cultural divides, political dynastics and philosophical debates. She occupies a space which moves from the aesthetics of shringara Bhakti, from the madhurya of Pushtimarg Vaishnavism to the prema of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, taking in its stride the philosophies of Advaita and Dvaita, the traditions of Shakti and Shakta, she takes us from the devotional poetry of Bhaktikal to the courtly poetry of Ritikal and even beyond to the modern poetry of Adhunikkal.
Radha is both kamini and ramani, desirable and beautiful and through her persona we understand the role of kama or desire in the working of the human mind and especially in the aesthetics of shringara, she is both a gopi and a nayika and through her we feel the presence of Krishna in Vrindavana and the opulence of the vaishnava Rajput courts, she is a even a kalankini or the defiled one and through her we are privy to the folk literature of Bengal and modern middle class psychology of the bhadralok.
Radha: From Gopi to Goddess portrays in poetry and painting, dance and drama, sculpture and icon, strong and stories how Radha occupies a special place in sociology and psychology, aesthetics and theology.
About the Author
Harsha V. Dehejia has a double doctorate, one in medicine and the other in Ancient Indian Culture, both from Mumbai University. He is a practising Physician and professor of Indian Studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, ON, Canada. His main interest is in Indian Aesthetics.
A widely respected aesthete and art collector, he has written extensively on Indian art and culture and has seventeen publications to his name including Akriti to Sanskriti: The Journey of Indian Form (Niyogi Books, 2009).
Harsha V. Dehejia leads a group of scholars who present a heart worming picture of Radha in her myriad manifestations.
Contents
Prathama: As We Begin
Harsha V Dehejia
9
Looking for Her in Vrindavana
Harsba V Dehejia
15
Meeting Her in Narsinh Mehta's Poetry
Jawahar Baxi
23
Chitravali From Gujarat: An Early Gita Govinda
Ratan Parimoo
27
Her Footsteps in the Gita Govinda
37
As Mirror to My Hand: The Poems of Vidyapati
45
An Absent Presence: In Vrindavana
Cynthia Packert
51
Her Presence in Mewar Paintings of Sursagar
Rita Sodha
59
The Nathadwara Kalam
Sonika Soni
69
The Courtly Nayika of Ritikavya
75
Enjoying God: The Divine Paramour
Makarand R. Paranjape
The Doe-eyed Nayika of Kishangarh
105
Echoes in the Mountains
Vijay Sharma
111
Come to the Forest Where the Flowers Are Fragrant
117
What Truths Are Hidden in This Dream
H.S. Shiva Prakash
123
Gavlan: Footprints in Marathi Literature
129
Her Voice in Medieval Odiya Songs
Sunil Kothari
135
Her Resonance in Tantra
Rebecca J. Manring
141
Impressions in Terracotta Rasamandala in Bishnupur
Pika Ghosh
149
Tagore's Bhanusingher Padavali
Reba Som
157
Even Today the Same Flute Plays in Vrindavana
Sumanta Banerjee
163
The Heartthrob of Chaitanya
171
Sensuously Southern
Stephen Inglis
177
Her Footprints in Tamil Nadu
Nanditha Krishna
181
From Vrindavana to Bollywood
Heidi Pauioels
189
Hearing Her in Khayal Bandish
Snehal N. Muzoomdar
199
Celebrating Her in Thumri
Vidya Rao
205
Her Fragrance in Hindi Poetry
Narmada Prasad Upadhyaya
211
The Pot Bearer Panghat Lila
Bandeep Singh
217
In Homes and Havelis
221
Ityadi Etc.
233
Vidai
245
Our Authors
249
Index
257
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