INL - Poetry Lesson

Poetry

India has many genres of poetry throughout literary history. Kavya (epic poetry) is a type of Sanskrit literature containing elaborate figures of speech, such as similes, metaphors and hyperboles. Bhakti poetry describes passionate love for the Divine and is often written by women. On the other hand, Vaishnava poetry expresses the longing for the union with a beloved. Similarly, Kissa and Var poetry are love ballads and heroic poetry in Punjabi, which is a region of India and Pakistan. Before reading the poetry for this module, review the poetry analysis process below.

Bhakti Poetry

Bhakti supporters were not content with the expanding Islam religion and the caste system in the country. The caste system places people in certain social classes, and people had difficulty breaking free of the social class they were born in to. Bhakti supporters encouraged people to break free from the caste system and seek a personal relationship with the divine. The love in Bhakti poetry is the kind of intense love felt with devotion in worship of the divine.

About the Author

Sri Chaitanya was a saint in eastern India who was a notable supporter of Bhakti. He was born into a Hindu family and was a scholar in his life. He also wrote Bhakti poetry and became a monk. Read the poems by Sri Chaitanya and notice the deep love for the divine.Click here to read the Bhakti poems by Sri Chaitanya. Links to an external site. As you read, be sure to practice the poetry analysis technique in order to prepare for the module test.

Vaishnava Poetry

Vaishnava poetry is a form of Bhakti poetry in which the poet expresses a longing for the union with a beloved. Some of these poems detail the love of Rhadna (a goddess) and Krishna (a god). The feeling of love between these two is not just an earthly love—the love is a divine love, which gives more meaning to the relationship and the poetry. 

About the Author

Mirabai is a famous poet of India and was deeply devoted to the god Krishna. Her poems reveal the passionate, divine love she feels for Krishna and how she longs to be united with him. Click here to read Vaishnava Poetry. Links to an external site.As you read, note the tone of Mirabai as she writes about uniting with her love.

Poetry Interactivity

Now, you will practice understanding the differences in the figurative language and the themes of the love poetry. Also, note how the poems promote the module theme of Inner Peace and Social Awareness.