Texts, Traditions, and Sacredness: Cultural Translation in Kristapurana

A critical analysis of Kristapurāṇa, the first South Asian retelling of the Bible, by Thomas Stephens, a young Jesuit priest who arrived in Goa in 1579 with the aim of preaching Christianity. The book explores themes such as colonial machinery, religious encounters, textual traditions, and multilingualism, providing insight into Portuguese Goa of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It is a valuable resource for students and researchers of translation studies, comparative literature, religious studies, biblical studies, English literature, cultural studies, literary history, postcolonial studies, and South Asian studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 176 pages
Publication date: 13 January 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This captivating book delves into a critical analysis of Kristapurāṇa, the pioneering South Asian rendition of the Bible. In 1579, the young Jesuit priest Thomas Stephens arrived in Goa, driven by the mission to spread Christianity among the local inhabitants of the Portuguese colony. His remarkable work, Kristapurāṇa, emerged in 1616, comprising a staggering 10,962 verses and presented in the Marathi language. This extraordinary text, initially written in Roman script, holds the distinction of being one of the earliest printed works in the subcontinent.

Kristapurāṇa's significance lies in its pioneering role in translating the entire biblical narrative into Marathi, a century before the commencement of earnest Bible translation into South Asian languages in Protestant missions. By examining the genre, landscapes, and cultural translation within Kristapurāṇa, this book offers valuable insights into the practices of translation in South Asia during the early era of Catholic missions. It explores themes such as the complexities of colonial machinery, religious encounters, textual traditions, and multilingualism, shedding light on the Portuguese Goa of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

What sets this book apart is its groundbreaking nature. It makes significant contributions to the ongoing discourse on cultural translation and brings to the forefront a hitherto understudied text. It will serve as an invaluable resource for students and scholars engaged in the fields of translation studies, comparative literature, religious studies, biblical studies, English literature, cultural studies, literary history, postcolonial studies, and South Asian studies.

In conclusion, this captivating book offers a profound exploration of Kristapurāṇa, providing a critical lens through which to understand the complexities of religious encounters, textual traditions, and cultural translation in South Asia. It is a testament to the enduring power of literature and the significance of cultural heritage in shaping our understanding of the world.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367641580