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Hinduism - Who Was Lal, And Lalleshvari? What Is The Lallavakyani?


Lal, is another name for Lalleshvari(14th c.), a devotional (bhakti) poet-saint who is one of Kashmir's most prominent poets.

"Lalla's Sayings" is Lallavakyani. Lalleshvari, a Shiva devotee (bhakta), is credited with this corpus of poetry.

The poems in this book hint to her early life's harsh conditions, as well as the domestic issues that drove her to leave her husband's house.

They also speak of her all-encompassing devotion to Shiva, whom she considers to be the sole genuine source of bliss.


Lalleshvari was a bhakta (devotee) of Shiva, and her songs are about her devotion to him.

She, like many other female religious exemplars, struggled to reconcile her marriage with her devotion to her chosen god.

Her mother-in-law, according to legend, abused her horribly.

Her husband was characterized as a cold guy who did not protest to the beating or console his wife.

She left home after around twelve years of hardship to roam as a religious seeker.

Lalleshvari walked naked to symbolize her rejection of all attachments and worldly ideals, especially feminine modesty.

She created and sung Shiva devotional songs throughout her wanderings, which are still famous today.



These poems have been translated into English, although all of the editions are fairly old: see Sir George Grierson and Lionel D. Barnett, Lalla Vakyani, 1920; and R. C. Temple, Lalla, the Prophetess, 1924.



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