Trishanku in limbo [doha]

Hovering in his limbo
bordering earth and heaven
pity Trishanku's gamble
irony's sorry haven



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The tale of King Trishanku (found amid the Ramayana) presents a rich image offering many lines of interpreation. His desire to translate his earthly body to the heaven-world seems to carry a different meaning and resonance from, say, that of the Christian myth of the bodily ascent of the Savior (although ostensibly presenting a kindred idea). On the other hand, the Christian doctrine of transubstantiation seems in many respects usefully comparable to concepts associated with the Hindu custom of prasād.

Comparative religion is ultimately inexact as science but heuristic as art. ;-)