Spring 2009

ANS 372 • Devotion in South India - W

Course Description

Devotion is not just a spiritual term in South India, it means many things - everyday life, ethics, politics, and social movement etc., for several centuries, devotional traditions from South India experimented with the very notion of 'God' and 'Spirituality.' These two terms are connected absolutely to their emotional life. They tell stories, recite verses and follow a ritual pattern that reveals their personal attachment with gods and goddesses. It's a tradition closely connected to person, family and community too. In this course, we study various aspects of devotion in everyday life in South India. Also, we make an effort to understand how various universally known religions of Hinduism, Islam and Christianity transfer into a local tradition.

Grading Policy

Weekly Responses (single page) -25% Presentation 25% Final paper (12 pages) 50%

Texts

Annamayya, The God on the Hill (tr. Narayana Rao) Mines, Diana P. Fierce Gods Flueckiger Joyce, In Amma's Healing Room Richman Paula, Extraordinary Child Prasad Leela, Poetics of Conduct

back