Qoheleth, a 3rd cent. BCE Hebrew wisdom writer, and Pattinathar, a 14th cent. CE Tamil ascetic poet, who look at the ambiguity, ephemerality, fragility, obscurity, uncertainty, and vulnerability of human life in the world, exhort their contemporary readers to rejoice constantly and to remember the Creator. For, they contend that the realisation of the divine-human symphony, which is the beginning and the end of life, makes humans find meaning amidst meaninglessness, faith amidst fears, and surrender amidst entitlement. The present book studies their two legendary poems employing the methods of narrative analysis, comparative literature, and cross-cultural studies.

                                                                   Contents

A Bouquet of Thanks
Abbreviations and Notes
A Note on Transliteration
Hebrew Transliteration Guide (Lambdin Method)
Prologue

1. First Things First
2. Analysis of Ecclesiastes 11:4-12:8
3. Analysis of Pattinattar's Utalkurruvannam
4. Poems and Poets in Dialogue
5. The Hermeneutical Are
6. Divine-Human Symphony

Epilogue
Literature

Yesu Karunanidhi, born of a Saivite Father and a Roman Catholic Mother, at South Nathampatty, is a Roman Catholic Priest of the Archdiocese of Madurai, Tamil Nadu. Having done MBA (HRM) at Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, LSS at Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, and PhD (Biblical Theology) at Jnana-Deepa Vidyapeeth, he is currently a facilitator cum-tutor at Saint Paul’s Seminary, Tiruchirappalli. His circle of influence comprises of human development, education, management, biblical cross-cultural studies, LGBT readings, and linguistics.