Vinaya Patrika (Letter of petition[1]) is a devotional poem composed by the 16th-century Indian poet, Goswami Tulsidas (c. 1532 – c. 1623), containing hymns to different Hindu deities, especially to Rama.[2]
The language of the text is Braj Bhasha.[1]
Vinaya Patrika is an important work of medieval Hindi Literature and Bhakti movement.
Legend
editAccording to Swami Yatiswarananda, when Kala—the embodiment of evil—threatened to devour Tulsidas, he prayed to Hanuman who appeared to him in a dream. Hanuman advised him to file a petition to Rama to remedy the evil, and that was the origin of the Vinaya-Patrika.”[3]
Structure
editVinaya Patrika has been written as a petition against the six passions (Lust, Wrath, Greed, Inebriation, Attachments, Ego) and nine vices (Violence, Falsehood, Pride, Envy, Strife, Suspicion, Jealousy, Rivalry and Covetousness) of Kali Yuga, the plaintiff is Tulsidas himself, though he represents all of humanity. The judges addressed are Rama, Sita, Lakshmana, Bharata, and Shatrughna.[4]
It also comprises popular devotional hymns (stutis) to various Hindu deities, like Ganesha, Surya, Devi, Ganga, Hanuman, Sita, Rama, and also the city of Kashi.[5] The book has now been translated into many languages, including English.
Popular hymns from Vinaya Patrika
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Lochtefeld 2002, p. 754.
- ^ "The Poet Saint Tulsidas Upendra Chandra Dutta". Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ "Tulsidas by Swami Yatiswarananda". Archived from the original on 2007-08-11. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ "GENESIS OF THE PLAINT". Archived from the original on 2008-08-07. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ "Stuti Vinay Patrika". Archived from the original on 2006-11-28. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
- ^ "Vinay Patrika website, Kashi Hindu Vishwavidhyalaya". Archived from the original on 2006-11-28. Retrieved 2007-10-25.
Sources
edit- Lochtefeld, James G. (2002). The illustrated encyclopedia of Hinduism (1st ed.). New York: Rosen. ISBN 9780823922871.
External links
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