Tagore’s Gitanjali as a work in the Bhakti Tradition
Posted on December 3, 2005 by Phoenix
“The soul of music slumbers in the shell
Till waked and kindled by the master’s spell
And feeling hearts – touch them but rightly- pour
A thousand melodies unfelt before.”
Rabindranath Tagore’s “Gitanjali” or “Song Offerings” written and translated into English by the poet himself, earned him world-wide acclaim. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1913. This essay analyzes how his poems from “Gitanjali” are reminiscent of a great Indian tradition called the Bhakti tradition.
In the 7th century A.D., the Bhakti cult propagated worship accompanied by music and dance. The Bhakti poets believed in surrender to the Godhead and in praising the name of the Lord in order to attain ‘Mukthi’ or salvation. The Bhakti yoga had two aspects to it – The Nirguna Bhakti and the Saguna Bhakti.
In Nirguna Bhakti, God or the Supreme power was a formless energy or force that had to be deeply felt and realized. These poets spoke of everyday activities as a service to God. They believed in love, surrender and in a universal religion.
The Saguna Bhakti tradition believed in a God who had a human form and personality endowed with supernatural qualities. These poets worshipped Vishnu or Siva as a God with a concrete form, abode and identity. They sang of pilgrim centres or temples where their God resided and stressed on total surrender of body, mind and soul to this Supreme Personality of Godhead.
“Gitanjali”, written in 1912 is a string of devotional poems. Love is a major theme that connects all the verses in “Gitanjali” The God in “Gitanjali” has no name or abode and cannot be identified with any specific Indian God. He has His own form and personality. He is referred to as “You”, “Thou” or “Thee” At times He is shown as a loving father who cares for His children and at times as a Lover who is waiting for reciprocation from His own creation.
The title “Gitanjali” or “Song...