For the Lord of the Animals: Poems from the Telugu offers an insightful translation of The Kalahastisvara Satakamu by the 16th-century poet Dhurjati, a prominent figure in the devotional poetry tradition of Andhra Pradesh. Set in the sacred temple town of Kalahasti, dedicated to the god Shiva, the work showcases Dhurjati’s emotional devotion to Srikajahastisvara, the Lord of Kalahasti. Drawing from rich Shaivite legends, including the stories of a spider, snake, and elephant each offering their unique devotion to Shiva, the poems reveal deep philosophical reflections, personal meditations on life, sensuality, death, and divine intervention. The poet’s raw emotions, social commentary, and critique of authority, particularly kings and gurus, make the Satakamu a significant piece of Telugu literature that transcends mere religious worship and becomes a reflection of human struggle and self-examination.
The translation captures the essence of these devotional poems, often written in ornate, classical meters, by focusing on the meaning and emotional flow rather than rigid adherence to formal metrical patterns. By balancing Sanskrit and Telugu elements, the poems convey an interplay of elevated spiritual language and colloquial expressions, giving them a layered depth. Through these carefully crafted verses, Dhurjati’s poems not only offer praise to the god of Kalahasti but also engage in profound reflections on existence, societal structures, and the relationship between man and divinity. With this work, the reader is introduced to a unique blend of personal lyricism and devotional fervor, inviting both spiritual insight and a deeper understanding of the human condition.
This title is part of UC Press’s Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1987.
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