Description: Bhai Gurdas Bhalla (d. 1636 CE) is widely considered the most important non-canonical poet in Sikh history, having shaped the theology and ethics of the tradition for centuries. Not only are his beautiful poems considered an authoritative illustration of Sikh life, they also defined Sikh identity during a tumultuous period of upheaval in the early seventeenth century. In Drinking from Love's Cup Rahuldeep Gill brings together for the first time a collection of the revered poet's early work, masterfully translated it into English, along with the original Punjabi text.
Review Quotes: "Gill deserves praise for reviewing the problems surrounding Bhāī Gurdās and for this English rendering of a selection of his vārs, which triggers reflection on the craft of translation well beyond this particular oeuvre." -- Monika Horstmann, Orientalistische Literaturzeitung
"Gill s book still stands out as a departure from the traditional studies of Bhai Gurdas. It is written in an engaging style. It is likely to generate lively debate among Sikh scholars. I strongly recommend it to specialists and lay readers alike."--Journal of the American Academy of Religion"Rahuldeep Singh Gill has written a very important book. By providing new translations of the major compositions of Bhai Gurdas, a pivotal figure in Sikh history, and complementing these with powerful and convincing interpretations of their message in the full context of the time in which they were written, Gill gives us new insights into the evolution of the Sikh community and its faith. His work will change Sikh Studies." --Nirvikar Singh, Professor of Economics and Sarbjit Singh Aurora Chair in Sikh and Punjabi Studies, University of California, Santa Cruz"Gill's exquisite translations and lucid commentary bring to life the work of Bhai Gurdas - a writer often considered second only to the Gurus in the formation of Sikh tradition. Challenging current scholarship while elucidating Gurdas's beautifully precise yet allusive language, Drinking from Love's Cup is an essential read not only for those interested in Sikhism, but also for anyone drawn to the poetry of redemptive suffering and divine justice." --Anna Bigelow, author of Sharing the Sacred: Practicing Pluralism in Muslim North India (Oxford, 2010)
"The heroic, spiritual, and romantic ingredients of Love's Cup offer a taste of the rich poetic legacy of the Sikh tradition. Here Gill brings attention to Bhai Gurdas, a vital poet and theologian, whose hand recorded the Sikh sacred text, and yet who remains woefully neglected in the academy. This accessible and provocative introduction to the life and works of Bhai Gurdas is sure to inspire exciting debates and discussions." --Nikky-Guninder Kaur Singh, Crawford Family Professor of Religious Studies, Colby College
"Drinking from Love s Cup by Rahuldeep Singh Gill is therefore particularly welcomed both for its challenge to many of the existing understandings of Bhai Gurdas, and for its attractive presentation through carefully annotated translations of fourteen of the forty vars...Gill s translations can profitably be read as stand-alones which should help contemporary readers of English engage directly with a major early Sikh poet whose original significance has too often become obscured."--Reading Religion