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Writing from the inside : domesticity and transcendence in the works of Bahiņā Bāī (c. 1628-1700)

Bahiṇa Bai was a female poet-Saint whose participation in the Maharashtrian devotional movement known as the Varkari Panth transformed the image of female devotionalism in the region. A collection of her poetic writings, the Samta Bahiṇabaica Gatha, demonstrates her struggle to reconcile the demands of domesticity with those of devotionalism. Bahiṇa Bai simultaneously extols the roles of the pativrata, devoted wife, and the bhakta, the devotee, in her lyrical compositions, and resolves the tensions between domesticity and devotion by merging her husband's identity with that of Viṭhoba, a localized force of Viṣṇu. This thesis argues that Bahiṇa Bai's rebellion against a parochial vision of female spirituality integrates elements of Brahmanic orthodoxy, non-dual philosophy and bhakti practice.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.98569
Date January 2006
CreatorsParasharami, Preeti Ashok.
PublisherMcGill University
Source SetsLibrary and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeElectronic Thesis or Dissertation
Formatapplication/pdf
CoverageMaster of Arts (Faculty of Religious Studies.)
Rights© Preeti Ashok Parasharami, 2006
Relationalephsysno: 002335819, proquestno: AAIMR24907, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest.

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