Gitanjali Song Offerings is a collection of poems by Rabindranath Tagore. As the title suggests, the poems are “offerings,” or devotionals, to the Creator. Tagore was a spiritual individual, and his devotion to the spiritual life is prominent in many of his major works. However, Tagore spoke from a universal perspective. Although his spiritual roots stem from Hinduism, his song offerings can be adapted by people of other faiths or those with no religion at all.

This universality is perhaps what helped Gitanjali Song Offerings receive critical acclaim worldwide, and it would eventually win Tagore a Nobel Prize for literature. The devotionals are visionary in nature, and the collection illustrates how humans try to connect with the supreme cosmic being. Because the poems are praises to the supreme being, many of the poems are ecstatic in nature; they are expressive and emphasize the role of the mortal on Earth in relation to the Creator.

In terms of technical aspects and themes, Tagore’s writing style was inspired by the past works of Vyasa atavistic mystics. Tagore read these works as a young student, and they influenced both his writings and his spiritual development. The lyricism of the collection is somewhat similar to the rhythm of the Upanishads and the major works of other mystics. The lyricism is also influenced by the ballads of the past, which are an integral part of the Bengali culture which Tagore came from. There is a musicality to the poems, which is not surprising, considering the verses are framed as devotionals.

The collection of verses focuses on the spirituality of the individual—what lies within oneself—rather than the complex and political nature of organized religion. Tagore wanted to focus on the inward journey towards the divinity every human being possesses inside them rather than the supreme being described by out-of-touch theologians. This makes the collection transcendentalist in nature with a touch of rebellion, and it is partially why it became universally lauded.