Sahaj Prakash

by Sahajo Bai and Herry Aveling and Sudha Joshi

This book is intended to introduce the work of the now relatively unknown Hindi devotional poet Sahajo Bai to readers of Indian literature and those interested in Hinduism through the provision of a contemporary translation of her major work Sahaj Prakash. The original text is also given for comparative purposes.It is hoped that this book will enable the work of this devotional woman poet to be better known and appreciated within India and abroad, and that readers will use the book in many different ways, academic and creative, as seems most appropriate to them.ABOUT THE AUTHORS:SAHAJO BAI was a disciple of the great Delhi teacher, Charandas. Her poetry is marked by a natural style and direct emotional expression. Its major themes are human experience, service of the guru, and the company of the holy ones.MRS. SUDHA JOSHI has recently retired as Head of the Hindi Program, La Trobe University, Australia. HARRY AVELING Ph.D. (National University of Singapore), also of La Trobe University, served as Visiting Associate Professor of English in Creative Writing at the University of Maryland.REVIEWS: "The editors and translators deserve every praise for maintaining the simplicity, grace and luster of the original text. This volume is a rare contribution to Indian culture and civilization as it aims at spreading and popularizing their eternal human values among the non-Hindu knowing masses. The editors and translators have rightly concluded that Sahajo`s words are like the kohinoor. Their beauty is unparalleled and ofcourse, it is the beauty of simplicity. Sahaja Prakasa deals with the subject pertaining more to heart than to head. These verses are more to be lived than to be read or critically appreciated." -- Praci-Jyoti, Digest of Indological Studies"Original work in Devanagri text is given on the left side and its English translation is given on the right side and so this book is useful for both Hindi & English readers. The subject matter of this book is very interesting as it is related to different aspects of human life and spiritual traditions of India." --Journal of Religious Studies Vol:34, No 1&2, spring-Autumn 2003 "Original work in Devnagri text is given on the left side and its English translation is given on the right side an thus this book is useful for both Hindi & English readers. The subject matter of this book is very interesting and it is related to different aspects of human life and spiritual traditions of India." ________Jr. Of Religious Studies Vol. 34 no., 1&2 Spring-Autumn 2003