he Spirit and the Bride Say “Come!”
Continuing a Hindu-Christian Dialogue
Keywords:
Hindu-Christian Dialogue, Bhakti, Advaita, Andal, Krishna, Love, Non-duality, Srivaishnavism, Revelation, Mediator, Divine Love, Bridal MysticismAbstract
The article "THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY “COME!”: CONTINUING A HINDU-CHRISTIAN DIALOGUE" by Katherine K. Young extends Raymond Pannikar's interfaith dialogue on love and non-duality between Christianity and Hinduism. Young focuses on the 9th-century Hindu female saint Andal (Kotai) from the bhakti (devotional) movement associated with Lord Krishna in South India. The article explores Andal's fervent desire to be the Bride of Krishna, contrasting it with societal expectations and her father's concerns. Through analyzing Andal's poems, Young suggests that her intense devotion, possibly leading to a self-willed death, represents a profound spiritual journey and a divine invitation ("Come!") to authentic religious life, akin to the Christian biblical phrase. The article further compares Andal's role and status within Srivaishnavism to Christian figures like Jesus and Mary, discussing her potential as a mediator and a paradigm of divine love that transforms both individual and community.
