Devotional Elements in the Poetry of Tukaram and Ralph Waldo Emerson- A Comparative Study (ePub)

Comparative study of literature is an important discipline, which has opened several avenues of studying cultures of different religions, and countries. The world of literature offers opportunities to acquaint ourselves with literature and the genius working at different times and places. Many a time, it so happens that though two minds are separated by time and spaces think alike. This is particularly so in the case of poets and prophet. Tukaram belong to 17^th century from India, state of Maharashtra who wrote devotional poetry in Marathi whereas Ralph Waldo Emerson belongs to 19^th century of America. Generally two cases looks so unlike each other, separated by time and religion representing two different cultures. However, the creative urges that inspired two have much in common. The 17^th century, India was a politically disturbed country and inherent paradoxes in the caste structure made the life of an individual like Tukaram a sage of suffering. 19^th century America was equally hostile to independent thinkers and theologian like Emerson whose transcendental philosophy was a deviation from prevalent puritan thought. Emerson led the life of a saint who swam naked in the Walden and preached in the street of Boston. A Divinely gifted orator project him as an exponent of a new religious philosophy. Tukaram's religion belief value every individual as representative of the Almighty made him a poet of divine concerns.

This book project concentrates the elements in the works of the two poets. This book will be worked out through the following Chapter.

Chapter I deals with comparative study of literature as a theory and separate discipline. It concentrates upon theoretic aspects and drawing references from various thinkers and comparitists whose contribution to the developing genre is remarkable. These include names like Rane Wellek, Matthew Arnold, Remak, German poet Goethe whose concept of Literature. This theoretical study offers suitable background to comparative study of the devotional elements in the poetry of Tukaram the 17^th century saint poet of Maharashtra and Ralph Waldo Emerson, the 19^th century American poet.

Chapter II. This chapter concentrates the life and work of Tukaram. It also deals with the times in which Tukaram lived and wrote this bringing out prominent of socio-cultural climate of 17^th century Maharashtra. The saint poet suffered a great deal because of his caste as caste discrimination prevailed everywhere during those days. He composed Abhangas against all odds, and produced remarkable poetry which is a source of inspiration to all Maharashtra. Tukaram sought inspiration from God himself. That made his poetry replete with divine elements.

Chapter III deals with the life and works of Emerson, the socio-cultural climate prevalent in 19^th century and literary trends which helped develop his own style. Emerson was deeply influenced by the romantic atmosphere in England, and developed transcendental tendencies which found expression in his essays. He became associated with Church and became a saintly figure and influential literary critic of the time.