A study of selected poems of Hindi literature regarding the notion of the husband or the lover as a god

Abstract

Literary historians divide the history of Hindi literature into four eras. They are, namely, “Aadi Kaal”, “Bhakthi Kaal”, “Reethi Kaal” and “Aadhunik Kaal”. Out of these four eras, “Bakthi Kaal” is considered the golden era of the history of Hindi literature. “Aadi Kaal” was the 7 th century, “Bhakthi Kaal” the14 th century, “Reethi Kaal” the 17 th century and “Aadhunik Kaal” was the period after the 19 th century. The devotional demur which took place at the end of “Aadi Kaal” was able to make ample changes in Hindi literature. The literature of a country is the mirror of its society. Thus, after the Muslim invasions which took place during “Aadi Kaal”, the people who were frustrated of war concentrated on other different subjects. Some rejected the war and some thought the war should be ceased by war. Therefore, the people who warded off the war expected some spiritual reconciliation by following religious paths. To obtain the spiritual peace, they followed different religious paths which were able to breed a religious demur in the country at that time. As a result, while following different religious paths, several religions emerged with the emphasis of devotional feelings. Even the literature of that time was based on the different religions which involved devotion. Devotional literature was born as a result of this situation. The devotional literature has two devotional sectors called “Nirgun” and “Sagun”. The people who followed the “Nirgun” path believed that God does not have any specific form or figure and the people who followed “Sagun” path believed that god has a specific form or figure. Nirgun devotees believed the god can be reached through intelligence and love whereas Sagun devotees believed in the gods like Ram and Krishna. The devotees who followed all these religious paths believed that their god is superior to all and sang poems and couplets by assigning different pictures to their gods. It is one of the distinguished characteristics of Hindi literature that the devotees sang poems and couplets for their husbands or lovers considering them as their god even while worshipping their unseen god. Kabirdas, Surdas and Mirbai can be identified as the most famous and outstanding poets of “Bakthi era” who wrote poetry on devotion. They formed a beautiful and an immense devotion by presenting the husband or the lover as ones’ god which finally created phenomenal literary works.