Singing the Gods: Devotional Poetry in Tamil Temples

The medieval bronze sculptures of Hindu gods, commissioned mainly as processional images for South Indian temples, are masterpieces of Chola art. They are deeply imbued with the spirit of the Tamil hymns of earlier Pallava-era poet-saints, which express their devotion to Shiva and Vishnu and are recited and sung in personal and temple worship to this day. The celebrated scholar of South Asian studies, Indira Viswanathan Peterson, Emeritus Professor of Asian Studies, Mount Holyoke College, will sing the saints’ hymns, addressed to the icons in The Met's Chola gallery. With translations and commentary, the performance illuminates the worshiper’s encounter with their chosen deity, mediated through the enduring traditions of devotional poetry and song.