About the Book The ritual of all the greater gods and goddesses of modem Hinduism is the result of syncretism Visnu, in his avatars as Rama and Krishna, and Siva divide the allegiance Sakras, Worshippers of the Female energy. Sakti of these deities. Their worship is an expression of the age long Hindu recognition of a dual practice in nature, pursha (Male) and Prakriti (Female). Sikhism may be regarded as the worship of Durga or Kali, Siva, consort. Sakta hymns contains many references tu both the philosophy and practice of the cult. Some references will be found in hymns of Ramaprasada Sen in this. The present book contains English translation of lyrics from the Sakta literature. The poets included here are are Ramaprasada Sen. Kamalakanta Bhattacharya, Maharaja of Nator, Ray, Saryed Jafar, Nilkanta Mukhopadhyaya, Ramachandra Dasta Dwihadasa, Navakishor Modak and some anonymous lyrics. The book also contains an introduction, tracing the development of Sikhism and of the literature it has produced.
About the Author Edward John Thompson (1886-1946) was a British scholar, novelist, historian and translator. He is remembered for his translations from Bengali into English and his association with Rabindranath Tagore, on whom he wrote two books including a critical biography. He was sent to India in 1910 to teach English literature at the Wesleyan College in Bankura, Bengal and he went on to serve there as Vice Principal of the college and Principal of the mission's school located on campus In Bengal, he began learning the language and came to know Rabindranath Tagore Thompson was with Tagore at Santiniketan when news of his being awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature broke. Thompson translated many of Tagore's writings, including Megh Raudra, and wrote two books: Rabindranath Tagore. His Life & Work in 1921 and Rabindranath Tagore, Poet and Dramatist in 1926. Thompson returned to Oxford in 1923, where he joined the Indian Institute, teaching Bengali to ICS probationers. It was in England that he published Rabindranath Tagore Poet and Dramatist that so displeased Tagore, but earned him a PhD from the University of London. He continued translating from Bengali to English and was involved with the India Society. Thompson was a prolific author who wrote several works of verse and prose, fiction and non-fiction. ARTHUR MARSHMAN SPENCER: (1886-1943) WM missionary in India, born in Calcutta, the son of William Marshman Spencer. He was educated at Kingwood School and Headingly College and shone as an athlete. His ministry at Sarenga 1911-32 and then in Calcutta was marked by his special concern for the poor and for Indian national aspiration. His strong leadership was in evidence in the crisis summer of 1942, especially in the support he gave to Burma and China missionaries at that time. He died in Calcutta on 14 April 1943.
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