Eating God: A Book of Bhakti Poetry

Eating God presents a curated collection of bhakti poetry from various Indian religious traditions, translated into English. The anthology spans works from the 6th to 18th centuries, featuring devotional verses from both well-known and lesser-known poet-saints across regions and languages. The book includes poems from bhakti figures like Kabir, Mirabai, Tukaram, and Andal, along with contextual notes about their lives and historical significance. Arundhathi Subramaniam provides translations that maintain the raw intensity and musical qualities of the original works. The collection captures the essence of the bhakti movement - its rejection of religious orthodoxy, embrace of direct spiritual experience, and radical approach to divine love. Through these poems, readers encounter themes of spiritual longing, divine union, and the complex relationship between devotee and deity.

There are not enough internet reviews to create a summary of this book. Instead, here is a summary of reviews of Arundhati Subramaniam's overall work: Poetry readers appreciate Subramaniam's precise language and exploration of spirituality grounded in everyday experiences. Her work resonates with readers seeking contemporary perspectives on Indian mysticism and feminine identity. What readers liked: - Clear, accessible writing style that makes complex spiritual concepts relatable - Balance of personal and universal themes - Fresh take on traditional Indian spiritual concepts - Strong feminist viewpoint while discussing mysticism What readers disliked: - Some find her poetry collections uneven in quality - Occasional criticism of dense academic language in prose works - Select readers note her spiritual writings can feel detached Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: - When God is a Traveller: 4.1/5 (200+ ratings) - Love Without a Story: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) - More Than a Life: 4.4/5 (500+ ratings) Amazon: - When God is a Traveller: 4.2/5 - More Than a Life: 4.6/5 One reader noted: "She brings mysticism down to earth without losing its essence." Another commented: "Her poetry finds the sacred in ordinary moments."

Songs of Kabir by Arvind Krishna Mehrotra This collection of translations captures the raw devotional poetry of the 15th-century mystic who challenged religious orthodoxy through his verses about divine love.

In Praise of the Goddess by Devadatta Kali The text presents translations of the Devi Mahatmya with commentaries that explore feminine divine power through Sanskrit hymns and devotional verses.

Thirst by Rumi and Coleman Barks These translations of Rumi's poetry focus on the Sufi concept of divine longing and spiritual passion through metaphors of love and intoxication.

Speaking of Siva by A.K. Ramanujan The book presents translations of Kannada vacanas (free-verse lyrics) by four major saints of the bhakti movement who dedicated their work to Shiva.

Love Poems from God by Daniel Ladinsky This collection brings together mystical poetry from twelve spiritual voices across traditions, including Rumi, Kabir, St. Francis of Assisi, and Mirabai.

🕉️ Arundhathi Subramaniam curated this collection while traveling across India, gathering bhakti poems from various regions and languages spanning eight centuries. 🎵 Bhakti poetry often emerged as songs performed in public spaces, allowing people of all castes and social backgrounds to participate in spiritual expression, breaking traditional religious hierarchies. 💫 Many prominent bhakti poets, like Mirabai and Kabir, challenged social norms of their time - they wrote in local languages rather than Sanskrit and rejected conventional religious authority. 📝 The anthology includes works from poets who wrote in multiple Indian languages including Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, and Bengali, all carefully translated to maintain their emotional resonance. 👩 Several female bhakti poets featured in the book, such as Andal and Akka Mahadevi, wrote boldly about their spiritual love, often using intimate and sensual metaphors in their devotional verses.