Antal and Her Path of Love-Poems of a Women Saint from South India

DETAILS : 

• Author : Vidya Dehejia 
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sri Satguru Publications
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 4 May 1992
  
• Edition ‏ : ‎ New
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 191 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8170303133
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8170303138
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 318 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

Antal and Her Path of Love: Poems of a Woman Saint from South India is a deeply evocative and scholarly exploration of the life, poetry, and mystic legacy of Andal (Antal), the only female saint among the twelve legendary Alvars of Tamil Nadu. Written by the distinguished art historian Dr. Vidya Dehejia, this book beautifully bridges the gap between meticulous academic research and the sublime, passionate poetry of divine love (Bhakti).

Live, vibrant, and fiercely non-conformist, Andal refused human marriage, declaring herself the bride of Lord Ranganatha (Vishnu). Dr. Dehejia's book offers a comprehensive look into her world through:

• Exquisite Translations: Vibrant English translations of Andal’s two structural masterpieces—the Tiruppavai (a 30-stanza awakening hymn) and the Nacciyar Tirumoli (The Sacred Sayings of the Goddess), which explicitly details her intense, erotic, and spiritual longing for the Divine.
• The Bridal Mysticism Framework: An analytical look at Madhura Bhava (the path of love), exploring how Andal uses the physical metaphors of human romance, bridal anticipation, and the pain of separation (Viraha) to express the soul's yearning for cosmic union.
• Cultural and Architectural Context: Tracing how a 9th-century poet-saint evolved into an enshrined deity, complete with a study of the magnificent Srivilliputhur temple complex dedicated to her.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dr. Vidya Dehejia (b. 1942) is an internationally acclaimed historian of South Asian Art and the Barbara Stoler Miller Professor of Indian and South Asian Art at Columbia University. She was honored with the prestigious Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2012 for her monumental contributions to art, culture, and education.

Dr. Dehejia is globally recognized for her ability to weave together literature, religious history, and visual arts into cohesive narratives. Her pioneering scholarship often highlights the roles of women, sensuality, and sacred spaces in ancient India. Her vast body of work includes landmark books like Slaves of the Lord: The Path of the Tamil Saints, The Body Adorned, and Indian Art. In Antal and Her Path of Love, her dual expertise as a Sanskrit/Tamil textual scholar and an art historian allows her to present Andal not just as a historical figure, but as an enduring cultural phenomenon whose verses still echo through South Indian music, dance, and daily ritual.