Vatsun (, ) is a
Kashmiri literary form derived from
Sanskrit
Sanskrit (; stem form ; nominal singular , ,) is a classical language belonging to the Indo-Aryan languages, Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European languages. It arose in northwest South Asia after its predecessor languages had Trans-cultural ...
meaning "word/speech". This is because it has no particular pattern of versification or rhyme scheme. The metres and rhyme schemes of vatsun are varied, but generally each unit is a stanza of three lines followed by a refrain (). Vatsun bears a resemblance to
Urdu lyric. Vatsun is also similar to the
ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
s of the
Middle East
The Middle East (term originally coined in English language) is a geopolitical region encompassing the Arabian Peninsula, the Levant, Turkey, Egypt, Iran, and Iraq.
The term came into widespread usage by the United Kingdom and western Eur ...
and
iambic pentameter
Iambic pentameter ( ) is a type of metric line used in traditional English poetry and verse drama. The term describes the rhythm, or meter, established by the words in each line. Meter is measured in small groups of syllables called feet. "Iambi ...
of the Western world.
In poetry, it is a popular age-old folk-form dating back to the 14th century, when
Lal Ded
Lalleshwari, ( also commonly known as Lal Ded (), was a Kashmiri mystic of the Kashmir Shaivism school of Hindu philosophy. She was the creator of the style of mystic poetry called vatsun or ''Vakhs'', meaning "speech" (from Sanskrit ''vāc'' ...
and Sheikh-ul-Alam (alias
Nund Rishi
Nund Rishi ( c. 1377 – c. 1438; born Noor-ud-Din) was a Kashmiri Sufi saint, mystic, poet and Islamic preacher. Nund Rishi was among the founders of the Rishi order, a Sufi tradition of the region, and is also known by the titles ''Sheikh- ...
) wrote in the Kashmiri language the devotional poetry depicting their mystic experiences, love for God, love for others, and folk dancing.
[Koul, Omkar N. ''Kashmiri Language, Linguistics, and Culture.'' Central Institute of Indian Languages: Manasagangotri. 200.]
Notable Vatsun poets
*
Lal Ded
Lalleshwari, ( also commonly known as Lal Ded (), was a Kashmiri mystic of the Kashmir Shaivism school of Hindu philosophy. She was the creator of the style of mystic poetry called vatsun or ''Vakhs'', meaning "speech" (from Sanskrit ''vāc'' ...
(1320–1392)
*
Nund Rishi
Nund Rishi ( c. 1377 – c. 1438; born Noor-ud-Din) was a Kashmiri Sufi saint, mystic, poet and Islamic preacher. Nund Rishi was among the founders of the Rishi order, a Sufi tradition of the region, and is also known by the titles ''Sheikh- ...
(1377–1438)
*
Arnimal (1737-1778)
*
Dina Nath Nadim (1916–1988)
See also
*
ghazal
''Ghazal'' is a form of amatory poem or ode, originating in Arabic poetry that often deals with topics of spiritual and romantic love. It may be understood as a poetic expression of both the pain of loss, or separation from the beloved, and t ...
*
Iambic Pentameter
Iambic pentameter ( ) is a type of metric line used in traditional English poetry and verse drama. The term describes the rhythm, or meter, established by the words in each line. Meter is measured in small groups of syllables called feet. "Iambi ...
References
Kashmiri literature
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