Voice of Women: Gargi to Gangasati

This volume comprises articles that examine the contribution of women saints from India and abroad as well. The articles discuss the origin of bhakti, the Bhakti Movement, and bhakti/saint poetesses like Rishika Gargi, theris, Andal, Lal Ded, Akka Mahadevi, Mirabai, Gangasati, Tarigonda Vengamamba, Janabai, Bahinabai, Madhabi Dasi, Hildegard of Bingen, and Julian of Norwich from different regions and religions. Their contribution constitutes a rich tradition of devotional discourse in terms of form as well as content and has survived till now in folk and learned traditions. The articles discuss their voices, visions and sufferings — physical and psychological — and also the way they transcended them and voiced them in their compositions. Their uniqueness lies in their existence at multiple levels — social, poetic, religious and spiritual — among others. The volume would interest literary, cultural historians and religious scholars as well as general readers.