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Mirabai: Ecstatic Poems
by
Robert Bly ,
Jane Hirshfield (Goodreads Author)
Mirabai is a literary and spiritual figure of legendary proportions. Born a princess in the region of Rajasthan in 1498, Mira (as she is more commonly known) fought tradition and celebrated a woman's right to an independent life in her ecstatic poems. Her royal family arranged an early marriage for her, but she felt a marriage to Krishna was more important. As a result, he...more
Hardcover, 120 pages
Published
November 19th 2004
by Beacon Press
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Mirabai lived from 1498-1547 and all of her poems are dedicated to her love, Krishna.
She forfeited a life of arranged marriage in a royal Brahmin family (They loathed her, it's said her mother-in-law tried to poison her) to a life as a wandering seer/poetess/devotional singer.
Her poems are vivid, delirious even, warm and sometimes blatantly sexual.
Her love for her God certainly translated itself into her physical existence and she was utterly unscrupulous about showing it.
Robert Bly and Jane Hir...more
She forfeited a life of arranged marriage in a royal Brahmin family (They loathed her, it's said her mother-in-law tried to poison her) to a life as a wandering seer/poetess/devotional singer.
Her poems are vivid, delirious even, warm and sometimes blatantly sexual.
Her love for her God certainly translated itself into her physical existence and she was utterly unscrupulous about showing it.
Robert Bly and Jane Hir...more
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This book so perfectly combines all the things I love most in literature (a strong female voice; a female character who assertively takes her sexuality into her own hands and actively plays the role of initiator/seeker in her love relationships; an unstintingly vivid, sometimes-hyperbolic depiction of the painful realities of eros and longing; sexuality as a metaphor for spirituality; overtones of Eastern religion and its call to the renunciation of materialism) that it can't possibly be good fo...more
Mira has the stamina to withstand poisonous snakes, the wrath of murderous in-laws, and the shattering love of the Dark One. This book stands as a testament of the potency of well wrought wisdom and devotional poems over merely lyrical types. Bly and Hirshfield bring Mira to life fully, as if she lives inside your ear and heart. Those who love Hafiz, Kabir, and Rumi will rejoice to discover these gems of fire.
Although Mirabai's poems were composed to honor Krishna, there is so much similarity to a lot of Sufi poetry. Also the expressions of love, longing, and missing the Divine are beautiful. The book includes a historical look at the legend of Mirabai, her life, her spirituality and how she remains beloved and honored thruout India.
Wonderful translations of Mirabai's poetry. The translation really stresses the nihilistic/rebellious side of her work rather than the religious, which I liked a lot but might turn off a more devout reader.
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Robert Bly (born December 23, 1926) is an American poet, author, activist and leader of the Mythopoetic Men's Movement.
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