When Sun Meets Moon: Gender, Eros, and Ecstasy in Urdu Poetry
Scott Kugle
Abstract
Two poets lived separate lives in the Deccan during the eighteenth century. Comparing them, this book illustrates the complexity of gender, sexuality, and religious practice in Islamic culture. Shah Siraj Awrangabadi (1715–1763), whose name means "Sun," was a Sunni Muslim who, after a youthful love affair, gave up sexual relationships to follow Sufi mysticism. Mah Laqa Bai Chanda (1768–1820), whose name means "Moon," was a Shi'i Muslim and courtesan who transferred her seduction of men to the pursuit of mystical love. Both were Urdu poets who specialized in the ghazal, often fusing a spiritual ... More
Two poets lived separate lives in the Deccan during the eighteenth century. Comparing them, this book illustrates the complexity of gender, sexuality, and religious practice in Islamic culture. Shah Siraj Awrangabadi (1715–1763), whose name means "Sun," was a Sunni Muslim who, after a youthful love affair, gave up sexual relationships to follow Sufi mysticism. Mah Laqa Bai Chanda (1768–1820), whose name means "Moon," was a Shi'i Muslim and courtesan who transferred her seduction of men to the pursuit of mystical love. Both were Urdu poets who specialized in the ghazal, often fusing a spiritual quest with erotic imagery. This book features translations of Urdu and Persian poetry previously unavailable in English. Shah Siraj and Mah Laqa Bai were exceptions to the gender norms common in their patriarchal society. Their poetry lets us understand the reach and the limitations of gender roles and erotic imagery in Islamic and Indian culture. This study shows how poetry, music, and dance are integral to Islamic devotional traditions.
Keywords:
Deccan,
Hyderabad,
Aurangabad,
Siraj Aurangabadi,
Mah Laqa Bai,
Chanda,
Urdu poetry,
Ghazal,
Sufism,
Shiism
Bibliographic Information
| Print publication date: 2016 |
Print ISBN-13: 9781469626772 |
| Published to North Carolina Scholarship Online: January 2017 |
DOI:10.5149/northcarolina/9781469626772.001.0001 |
