Dev, l’artisan-poète du 18ème siècle et la « nayika » dans le « Rasavilasa »

This volume looks at the riti poet Dev’s works and career through the study of the socio-historical context of the first half of the 18th century and the analysis of the Rasavilasa, a text dedicated to the description of the feminine literary figure of the nayika. The poet’s biography is examined with a new perspective and several patrons who offered their support are identified, giving a better view of Dev’s career. His status of itinerant poet is read in conjunction with the historical context and as an opportunity to make his works circulate in various circles. This compels the poet to write many texts and to recycle part of his repertoire through various processes which are examined. Assimilating the poet with a craftsman – "artisan-poète" – underlines this practical aspect to be considered for itinerant poets. At the same time and through the translation and the study of a good number of poems from the Rasavilasa translated for the first time, the book also shows the evolution of the nayikabheda genre and the important influence exerted by other literary traditions such as Sanskrit kamasastras and Indo-Persian shahrashob.