Jivan-Devata Poem Analysis

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Geetanjali Imagery and Symbolism Use of Concrete Sensuous Images Tagore’s poetry is a vehicle for the expression of his mystical philosophy, but his mysticism finds a concrete sensuous expression. In this sensuousness he differs from other mystics who also use symbols and images to increase the expressive range of their poetry and to convey highly abstract metaphysical truths. There is nothing original in his mysticism as such, for it is there in the Bible and other religious teachers of India; his originality lies in the combination of mysticism and sensuousness reflected in the image of the Jivan-Devata and in other images. The Jivan-Devata Image The concept of the Jivan-Devata is present in his poetry from beginning to the end. This Jivan-Devata, the Lord of the Poet’s life, is…show more content…
It has also richness of diction and imagery, and yet—this is his uniqueness—it has the open air atmosphere of a folk-song. Like the folk-song, there are constant references in it to common things of Nature and to common people—flowers, and fruits, rivers and ferries, clouds and rains, the sky and the stars, the boatmen and the beggars, travellers on the road and shepherds with their flutes. These common objects of nature provide Tagore with his imagery, they are also used symbolically and thus the physical universe is invested with a human significance. Common objects of nature symbolise human passions, longings and ideals. For example, (a) Objects of Nature symbolise the creative joy of the Eternal, and their beauty is the expression of His delight in the act of creation. Flowers are beautiful, and their beauty has no utility. They symbolise His freedom from bondage to the useful and the practical, joy and beauty results from such freedom. (b) Nature objects are eternal; they have continued since time immemorial and in their eternity, they symbolise the eternity and the Infinitude of God
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