THE INFLUENCE OF THE BHAGAVADGITA ON AMERICAN LITERATURE

Abstract

Present paper focuses on the study of American literary writers who have been influenced by the teachings of the Bhagvadgita. Wilkinss translation of theBhagvadgita gave a new direction of thinking to the literary writers in the world. Emerson, Thoreau, Walt Whitman and Robert Frost in American literature expressed their acquaintance with the Gita, the Upanishads and Oriental philosophy. These Transcendental writers interested in the concept of selfhood found in Hindu scriptures a well elaborated doctrine of self. Hindu scriptures tell us that the central core of ones self (antaratman) is identifiable with the cosmic whole (Brahma).