The Heritage of India Series (6): Hymns of the Tamil Saivite Saints

This book is a compilation of hymns derived from the Tamil hymn collections known as Devaram and Tiruvachagam. Among Tamil Saivites, the former is considered canonical. With a total of 136 stanzas, this book also includes brief biographical notes about the poets preceding their hymns. It’s important to note that this edition is a reprint of the 1921 version. The authors express a desire to modify the commentary on stanza 17 (page 27), previously interpreted as intercession for others. Upon further analysis and comparison with similar hymns in Tamil religious poetry, they argue that the ‘she’ in the hymn refers to the devotee, drawing a parallel with a lovesick woman in stanza 19. These hymns offer valuable insights into the spirit of Hinduism and can be just as enlightening for non-Hindus as Christian hymns are for understanding Christianity. Given their widespread use in Tamil temples and households, reaching over eighteen million Tamil speakers, these hymns are deserving of exploration. Additionally, the book includes a few noteworthy illustrations.