Abstract: The concept of self is central to all religious discourse. Quest for identity of the self in relation to the world and the universe as well as with the universal power is primary inquiry in religious discourse. Although every religion dwells on this issue, however, identity and self are complex social constructs as well. Poetry of the mystic women of medieval times embodies this journey of creation of a self and the complete annihilation of identity. The paper looks into the journey from Self to selfness and the paradox of identity evident in the Vakhs of Lal Ded. Lal Ded had to fight the patriarchy in order to first create a strong identity as a Mystic, only then is she able to merge her Identity into the supreme being and totally annihilate the self. The conversion of ‘I’ ‘self’ and ‘ego’ into a void is a complex process that passes through the intricacies of the social system of which the mystic too is an integral part.
Keywords: Lal Ded, Identity, Mystic, Self.
Title: Self to Selflessness: Paradox of Identity in the Mystical Vakhs of Lal Ded
Author: Dr. Ramnita Saini Sharda
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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