Description
Hampeya Harihara lived between the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries in Hampe (a.k.a. Hampi) and wrote in Kannada, a language of the south-Indian Dravidian family. With the aim of reaching large segments of the population, Harihara set out to develop a new style of narrative literature in Kannada, one that introduced straightforward plotting, quotidian characters, moderate use of literary ornamentation, simple prosody, and highly emotional expressivity. The work he composed in this style, the Shivasharanara Ragalegalu ("Stories of Shiva's Saints Written in the Ragale Meter") inaugurated a new era in Kannada literature. As the first English translation of eighteen stories from this work, this book serves as an invitation to contemporary readers to enjoy and appreciate a text that is rich with religious fervor, antinomian social agendas, raucous characters, and gripping drama-but also delicate poetry and significant historical importance.Stories of Shiva's Saints reveals Harihara's inclusive and flexible religious and social vision, according to which Shiva devotees from different backgrounds can share devotional practices and values while maintaining communal and personal commitments of different kinds. Harihara's work is of major historical significance as the first text to narrate the lives of important religious figures and vachana poets of the time, such as Allama Prabhu and Akka, and in particular Basava, the most well-known leader of the nascent tradition today identified with the Virashaivas/Lingayats.
Table of Contents
Stories of Shiva's Saints Acknowledgements PART I: AN INTRODUCTION Of Saints and Gods Shiva Devotion, South India, and the Kannada-Speaking Region Meter, Style, and Language About the Translation PART II: TRANSLATIONS The Divine Lord Basava: Leader, Saint, and Poet Chapter 1: In Shiva's Heavenly Realm Chapter 2: A Human Child Chapter 3: At Kappadi Chapter 4: Sent on a Mission Chapter 5: Arriving at Mangalavada Chapter 6: At Bijjala's Court Chapter 7: Serving the DevoteesChapter 8: A Charge of EmbezzlementChapter 9: Devotees and MiraclesChapter 10: Vaishnava Brahmins and a Newborn ChildChapter 11: The Onion FestivalChapter 12: Shiva's Trials for BasavaChapter 13: A Cobbled-together EpilogueRevered Mahadevi, Who Left Her Husband for ShivaChapter 1: In Shiva's Heavenly RealmChapter 2: Earthly Birth and ChildhoodChapter 3: King Kaushika Falls Head over Heels for MahadeviChapter 4: The WeddingChapter 5: Worshiping ShivaChapter 6: Walking Out on MarriageChapter 7: Srisailam the Holy MountainAllama the Master: Lover Turned AsceticLord Revanasiddha: Wild and Powerful ItinerantChapter 1: Birth from a LingaChapter 2: Vibhishana and Thirty Million Lingas in LankeChapter 3: King Bijjala, Gorakshaka, and a SwordChapter 4: A Water Reservoir and a Preterm BirthChapter 5: Rudramunideva, Kallayya, Chamaladevi, and Returning to KailasaChief Minister Keshiraja: Brahmin and DevoteeChapter 1: The Chief MinisterChapter 2: RenunciationChapter 3: Meeting Jommayya and Recovering the LingaJommayya: Hunter and ZealotChapter 1: The Killing of a Vaishnava StorytellerChapter 2: Jommayya Confronts King Permadi Chapter 3: Heaps of Flesh and a Brahmin's VisitKallayya, The Goldsmith Whose Dog Mastered the VedasBhoganna and the Lingas that Followed HimGundayya, the Pot Maker Who Made the Lord DanceNimbavve, Who Used Her Body to Serve Shiva Chavundaraya of Musute: Reviver of Bulls Bommatande of Bahuru: Devotee of Miraculous FeatsChapter 1: The Grain and the JainChapter 2: King Permadi and His ElephantChapter 3: The Temple Dancer and the BullChavundaraya of the Suragi Flower: Devotee of Murderous FaithShankara Dasimayya, Who Got a Fiery Eye from ShivaChapter 1: Govinda Acquires a Fiery EyeChapter 2: Teaching a Devotee and a King a LessonChapter 3: Becoming a LeaderBommatande of Kovuru, Who Sailed on a Wave of MutilationChapter 1: A Shaiva King among JainsChapter 2: Killing the Jains Chapter 3: Self SacrificeAdayya, Who Wreaked Vengeance on the JainsChapter 1: Adayya and Padmavati Take on Human BirthChapter 2: Marriage and the Incident with the AsceticsChapter 3: Shiva and the Temple Conversion at PuligereVaijakavve, Who Converted Her Jain HusbandRamayya the Recluse, Who Offered Shiva His Own HeadAPPENDIX I: SUMMARIESThe Divine Lord Basava: Leader, Saint, and PoetRevered Mahadevi, Who Left Her Husband for ShivaAllama the Master: Lover Turned AsceticLord Revanasiddha: Wild and Powerful Itinerant Chief Minister Keshiraja: Brahmin and DevoteeJommayya: Hunter and Zealot Kallayya, The Goldsmith Whose Dog Mastered the VedasBhoganna and the Lingas that Followed HimGundayya, the Pot Maker Who Made the Lord DanceNimbavve, Who Used Her Body to Serve ShivaChavundaraya of Musute: Reviver of BullsBommatande of Bahuru: Devotee of Miraculous FeatsChavundaraya of the Suragi Flower: Devotee of Murderous FaithShankara Dasimayya, Who Got a Fiery Eye from ShivaBommatande of Kovuru, Who Sailed on a Wave of MutilationAdayya, Who Wreaked Vengeance on the JainsVaijakavve, Who Converted Her Jain HusbandRamayya the Recluse, Who Offered Shiva His Own Head
