How The Bhagavad Gita Shaped William Blake's Artistic & Philosophical Vision

The term 'genius' is not one to be employed lightly. Nevertheless, I would contend that even if God Almighty were to descend from the heavens, I would argue with Him should He disagree with the assertion that a creative genius was indeed born on this date in the year 1767. Seeing as to how William Blake has often been loosely labelled as the Devil's Poet, I think God descending to debate me regarding this is a high possibility.

Nevertheless, when one explores his oeuvre expressed through the various mediums of poetry, paintings, and etchings over a period of six decades, one realizes that he is an artistic visionary, the kind of mind that is born once or maybe twice in a generation. There was a running joke I remember back from my university days that Blake is the greatest Romantic as he got to create for 70 long years compared to the other Romantic poets like Shelley and Keats, who died so young. I guess 'genius' has a lot to do with living long enough, as well.

On a more serious note, have you ever wondered, what could possibly be the connection between an 18th-century English Romantic poet and India? The answer lies in the hallowed pages of the Bhagavad Gita. The timeless wisdom of the Bhagavad Gita, often referred to as 'The Lord's Song' has resonated across centuries and continents, leaving an indelible mark on spiritual and artistic landscapes. Even though Blake never set foot in our country, Bake's visionary works were deeply influenced by the Bhagavad Gita, consequently creating a captivating interplay of Eastern spirituality and Western artistic expression.

This historical narrative of cross-cultural exchange and intellectual symbiosis can be traced back to Charles Wilkins, a founding member of The Asiatic Society. He played a major role in the translation of the Bhagavad Gita into English, marking a significant milestone in the dissemination of Indian philosophical and spiritual wisdom to the Western world.

Blake's acquaintance with Wilkins and his celebration of the Gita's publication in English through a now-lost artwork depicting Wilkins consulting Brahmins, underscores the profound impact of the Gita on Blake's creative and philosophical evolution. The Gita's teachings, which delve into the dynamics of the human and cosmic mind, played a pivotal role in the recovery of the English mystical tradition, offering a spiritual and philosophical counterbalance to the impact of the Reformation on Christianity.

The influence of the Gita permeates Blake's artistic and literary legacy, evident in the thematic and philosophical resonances that echo through his works. The very name of the holy book, 'The Lord's Song', serves as a poignant signifier of its enduring influence on Blake's creative vision. It is said that the Gita was the inspiration behind the title of Blake's magnum opus, 'Songs of Innocence and of Experience'.

The Gita's teachings, which delve into the nature of duty, righteousness, and the eternal self, found a profound resonance in Blake's exploration of the human and cosmic mind. The Gita's emphasis on the inner struggle for self-realization (Arjun realizing the necessity of war) and the eternal battle between good and evil, as embodied in the battle of Kurukshetra between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, reverberated through Blake's poetic and artistic endeavors, infusing his creations with a profound sense of spiritual depth and existential inquiry.

One of the most striking manifestations of this connection is evident in Blake's mythological figures, such as Urizen and Albion (originated from Vala) which bear the imprint of Hindu insights. The name 'Vala' or 'The Four Zoas' is a prominent figure in Blake's mythological pantheon, that draws inspiration from the Hindu concept of 'Maya'. Vala is a presence closely associated with the natural world who has the ability to veil human perception of divinity much like Maya which ushers in an illusion where human beings become ignorant of their true, divine nature.

Furthermore, the Gita's philosophical underpinnings, particularly its Vedantic worldview emphasizing the primacy of the mind over material existence, found a kindred spirit in Blake's own philosophical musings. His belief in the reality of mental phenomena over corporeal entities echoes the Vedantic notion of the world as primarily mind-like. It's a perspective that permeates a large proportion of his poetic and artistic expressions.

The impact of the Bhagavad Gita on Blake's creative oeuvre extends beyond philosophical alignment and broaches a thematic and spiritual resonances that echo through his works. The Gita's teachings on the nature of the self, the transient nature of the material world, and the eternal essence of being reverberate across Blake's poetic verses and visionary artwork, infusing them with a timeless quality that transcends cultural and temporal boundaries.

There is no dearth of history between England and India. When Rishi Sunak assumed the role of the UK's latest Prime Minister, his swearing-in as an MP with his hand placed upon the Bhagavad Gita, rather than the Bible, symbolized the profound and enduring connections between Indian and English culture, which have evolved over centuries. Furthermore, the recent ascension of King Charles, who has a deep connection to Hinduism through his spiritual director, poet Kathleen Raine, underscores the significant cross-cultural connections between the Indian subcontinent and the United Kingdom. With Blake as our shepherd, today we took a small glimpse into a strong tie that binds both nations as well as perhap, a cosmic order of things.

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