The paper presents an analysis of the selected stanzas of Siva Satakam （One Hundred Verses on Siva）--the most important hymn devoted to Siva composed in Malayalam by Narayana Guru. The analysis shows that there is a...The paper presents an analysis of the selected stanzas of Siva Satakam （One Hundred Verses on Siva）--the most important hymn devoted to Siva composed in Malayalam by Narayana Guru. The analysis shows that there is a tendency in the hymn to emphasise the equal status of Sanskrit and Dravidian literary tradition. Several stanzas are constructed on the basis of Sanskrit stories or myths; however, this ＂classical＂ scheme is filled with Tamil or Malayalam concepts, ideas, and key words. What is more, Narayana Guru employs so called twilight language used by authors of Tamil philosophical works in order to provide a receiver of the poem with the opportunity to interpret some stanzas in accordance with Sanskrit as well as Dravidian tradition. The introduction of a person belonging to lower caste of South India as the one who is able to attain liberation, as well as presentation of the welt-known philosophical concepts as equal or even subordinated to the Dravidian ideas could become a significant contribution to the social activity of Guru comprising among others the concern for spiritual and social uplift of the lower caste people of Kerala.展开更多
文摘The paper presents an analysis of the selected stanzas of Siva Satakam （One Hundred Verses on Siva）--the most important hymn devoted to Siva composed in Malayalam by Narayana Guru. The analysis shows that there is a tendency in the hymn to emphasise the equal status of Sanskrit and Dravidian literary tradition. Several stanzas are constructed on the basis of Sanskrit stories or myths; however, this ＂classical＂ scheme is filled with Tamil or Malayalam concepts, ideas, and key words. What is more, Narayana Guru employs so called twilight language used by authors of Tamil philosophical works in order to provide a receiver of the poem with the opportunity to interpret some stanzas in accordance with Sanskrit as well as Dravidian tradition. The introduction of a person belonging to lower caste of South India as the one who is able to attain liberation, as well as presentation of the welt-known philosophical concepts as equal or even subordinated to the Dravidian ideas could become a significant contribution to the social activity of Guru comprising among others the concern for spiritual and social uplift of the lower caste people of Kerala.
