Poetry as Theology
This chapter delves into the complexity of poetry as theology. Focusing largely on the most influential period of theological composition in Kashmir, from the ninth century to the twelfth, it reevaluates poetry by some of the most well-known Śaiva authors from the region, including Utpaladeva, Abhinavagupta, and Kṣemarāja. It charts multiple ways that Sanskrit hymns can do theological work, and specifically how the poetic features of many hymns help to constitute their theological content. Some hymns show pedagogical concerns and serve as models for human audiences to emulate, both in their interpretations of specific positions and in their implementation of those positions in practice. The chapter argues, in particular, that the stotra form was appealing for non-dualistic authors seeking to reinterpret various practices and features of worship that might otherwise be seen as dualistic, including praise, prayer, and devotion.