Beyond Bhakti : Steps Ahead

Contents: Foreword. Preface. Author's point. 1. The Jattirai festival of Purariyamman: the Visiting Goddess of Tiruttani. 2. A study of Kaman Kadaippadal: the Ballad on the Cupid reduced to ashes in the 'netragni' of Siva. 3. Tamil Siddhas and Virasaiva Saranas: Souls searching for ultimate reality and heavenly bliss. 4. Basavesvara and Ramalinga Swami: more than just mystics. 5. Re-organisation of Bhakti Movement in Tamil Nadu: the cult of 'Vallalar' Ramalinga Swami. 6. Nandanar: a Dalit merged in the effulgence of Siva. Bibliography. Index.

"Much has been written on Tamil Bhakti Movement and on its literature by scholars with divergent agendas. However, the present work tries to highlight the aspects of 'Beyond Bhakti', i.e. other than the so-called Bhakti sentiments and practices. It attempts to study the unique Bhakti sentiment of folk people with the first hand knowledge and information to highlight its specific nature.

The book questions certain aspects of age old socio-cultural conventions of South India, documented in the Saiva Bhakti Literature and earnestly exposes its flaws by citing the relevant facts and figures. It also analyses the common features of the Virasaiva Saranas of Karnataka and Siddhas of Tamil Nadu in general and Basavesvara and Ramalinga Swami in particular. It extensively reviews the myth of one peculiar Saiva Dalit Nayanar called Nandanar to understand the past as well as the present socio-cultural issues of Tamil Nadu." (jacket)