Abhangs & Bhajans of the Greatest Indian Poet-Saints Translations & Introductions Paul Smith From the 13th to the 17th century India gave birth to a number of great Poet-Saints whose lives and poetry is loved today as much as it was when they lived their lives of selfless devotion and praise of the Divine Beloved. They composed their poems in abhangs & bhajans that are here in the correct form and meaning, with biographies and bibliographies. Janabai (1263-1350) was born from the lowest caste. Her poetry reveals her love for God. Namdev (1270-1350) moved to Pandharpur where the temple of Lord Vithoba (Krishna as a boy) is located. He composed 2500 abhangs. Mukta Bai (b.1279) was the younger sister of Saint Dnyaneshwar but is a profound Poet-Saint in her own right. She wrote forty-one abhangs. Nanak (1469-1539) preached God as Supreme, Universal, All-powerful and truthful. He upheld the cause of women, downtrodden and poor. He wrote 947 poems. Surdas (1478-1581) praised Lord Krishna. It is said that he was born in Braj. He is known for his greatest work ... the Sur Sagar. Mira Bai (1498-1563) was a Rajput princess. Her powerful, beautiful bhajans are collected in her Padavali. Eknath (1533-1599) was a saint, scholar and poet. He is a bridge between Dnyaneshwar, Namdev, Tukaram and Ramdas. Dadu (1544-1603) was a Poet/Saint from Gujarat. 'Dadu' means brother, and 'the compassionate one'. Tukaram (1608-1654) was a great Poet-Saint during the Bhakti movement in India and is still much loved. Ramdas (1627-1682) was a Marathi Poet-Saint and a devotee of Lord Rama. Bahina Bai (1628-1700) was a disciple of Tukaram. She wrote a unique autobiography and abhangs that deal with various subjects. Pages 214.COMMENTS ON PAUL SMITH'S TRANSLATION OF HAFIZ'S 'DIVAN'."It is not a joke... the English version of ALL the ghazals of Hafiz is a great feat and of paramount importance. I am astonished. " Dr. Mir Mohammad Taghavi (Dr. of Literature) Tehran."Superb translations. 99% Hafiz 1% Paul Smith." Ali Akbar Shapurzman, translator from English into Persian, knower of Hafiz's Divan off by heart.Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of many books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and more than a dozen screenplays. amazon.com/author/smithpa Published by New Humanity Books
Paul Smith is a poet, author and translator of over 130 books of Sufi poets of the Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Pashtu and other languages... including Hafiz, Sadi, Nizami, Rumi, 'Attar, Sana'i, Jahan Khatun, Obeyd Zakani, Mu'in, Amir Khusrau, Nesimi, Kabir, Anvari, Ansari, Jami, Omar Khayyam, Rudaki, Yunus Emre, and many others, as well as his own poetry, fiction, plays, biographies, children's books and more than a dozen screenplays.
