The Songs of Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore
The Songs of Kabir, Rabindranath Tagore
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The Songs of Kabir

Author: Rabindranath Tagore

Narrator: Matthew Schmitz

Unabridged: 1 hr 26 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/16/2023


Synopsis

This audiobook is narrated in a calm meditative manner that fits the subject matter of these poems.Songs of Kabir is a book from 1915 consisting of 100 poems of Kabir, the 15th century Indian poet and mystic, translated to English by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.A weaver by trade and a mystic by nature, the 15th century poet Kabir created timeless works of enlightenment that combine the philosophies of Sufism, Hinduism, and the Kabbala. Expressed in imagery drawn from common life and the universal experience, Kabir's poems possess an appealing simplicity. This collection of 100 songs reflects nearly every aspect of the mystic's thought and emotions: ecstasy and despair, tranquil beatitude and fervid illumination, and moments of intimate love. A fluid, luminous setting of a beloved prayer by Kabir, offering praise to a holy presence both universal and intimate, both of and beyond this world.The Indian poet Kabir (1440-1518) grew up amidst Hinduism and Islam, and was deeply influenced by both. He had little use for the rites and trappings of any religion, and openly despised the pious quoting of scriptures from any religion. His poetry invoked the divine using both Hindu and Muslim names–“Allah” and “Brahma”–but in all cases, Kabir engaged with the divine in a way that was deep and immediate. Today, Kabir is revered by Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs alike, and his songs are loved by people of all faiths.

About Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore (1861–1941) was a Bengali polymath who reshaped the art of his culture. His novels, stories, songs, dance-dramas, and essays spoke to topics political and personal. His verse, short stories, and novels were acclaimed—or panned—for their lyricism, colloquialism, naturalism, and unnatural contemplation. His compositions were chosen by two nations as national anthems: India’s “Jana Gana Mana” and Bangladesh’s “Amar Shonar Bangla.” Tagore was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 and knighted by the British Crown in 1915, though he later renounced this honor after the 1919 Amritsar massacre.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Pramod on September 02, 2015

DANCE, my heart! dance to-day with joy. The strains of love fill the days and the nights with music, and the world is listening to its melodies: Mad with joy, life and death dance to the rhythm of this music. The hills and the sea and the earth dance. The world of man dances in laughter and tears.......more

Goodreads review by Jon on July 07, 2022

One of the purest distillations of divinity I have ever read - inspired me to look deeper into the true meaning of happiness. Such wonderful and meditative poems; the divine seen through the mist of ideology. There is no other agenda here than to connect with the divine - such a simple concept - yet......more

Goodreads review by Sanjay on August 02, 2014

ultimate translation in english i have ever read.......more

Goodreads review by Alina on December 17, 2019

Rating: 4.5 Kabir’s poems are truly fascinating because they form an interesting combination between Sufism and Hinduism. In this poetry collection you will find the well-known mystic metaphors depicting the transcendental bond between the mystic and God (the guru and the disciple, the Bridegroom and......more

Goodreads review by Judy on June 09, 2012

I downloaded this free Kindle edition with some trepidation, expecting what I paid...nothing. Instead, as I became fascinated with Evelyn Underhill’s erudite and detailed introduction to this edition, translated by the Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore, I realised I’d stumbled on a gem. The introduc......more