The Creation of Braj in the Poetry of Surdas

Abstract

John Stratton Hawley’s essay, “The Creation of Braj in the Poetry of Surdas,” explores how the 16th-century poet Surdas constructs the divine landscape of Braj through his poetry. Rather than depicting a preexisting setting, each poem actively reimagines Braj as a living, sacred world suffused with Krishna’s presence. Drawing from a core of authentic Surdas verses, Hawley analyzes the poet's use of symmetry, metaphor, and subtle framing to present Braj as dynamically responsive to divine action. The essay also reflects on Surdas’s evolving legacy and the interpretive challenges of translating his work while contributing to Braj’s ongoing cultural creation.