The subject of this group is the words of Lalleshvari, also known as Lal Dèd, Lal Möj, Lalla, Lala, and Lali (the last two are the names she used for herself). In English she is usually called Lalla, so I'll use that name here. Lalla lived in the fourteenth century, in Kashmir. She wrote in an old form of the Kashmiri language. Lalla was a fine poet, a liberated woman, and one of the greatest mystics who ever lived. She taught in the language of the people, and the people of Kashmir have never forgotten her. Now it is time to share her wonderful work with the world.

Lalla's work is mostly in four-line poems called "vakhs." The first document to go into the Files section of this group was an edited text of 138 of these vakhs. They are in the Kashmiri that has come down to us, accurately romanized using a special transliteration system. Later, I'll add edited texts of ten or twenty more poems that I think are probably authentic. Little by little, translations are being added.

Membership in this group is open, but all messages posted to the group must be approved. I will not allow the group to be used as a forum for any political or religious agenda.

I would like to thank the following people, without whose help this work would not be where it is: First, my friend Shana Mattoo, who has been supportive from the beginning; Jaishree Kak Odin, who sent me some hard-to-find source material; and Virendra Qazi, who made available to me a labor of his love.

The edited and transliterated Kashmiri text, produced by Donald C. Traxler, is hereby put into the public domain and may be reproduced at will without its editor and transliterator surrendering any rights to its use. The English translations are copyright © 1996-2005 by Donald C. Traxler, and selected translations may be reproduced provided that credit is given to the translator, Donald C. Traxler.