LEHMANN, Erich Arno. Kaitz near Dresden 23.5.1901 — Halle 21.4.1984. German Missionary and Indologist (Tamil Scholar). Professor in Halle. Son of an insurance official, lost his father when 4. After Lutheran missionary seminary in Leipzig, in 1926–34 worked as a missionary teacher of Leipzig Mission at Shirkali in Tamilnadu and was encouraged to begin the study of classical Tamil literature by Schomerus during a visit to India. In 1934–50 minister in Dresden. Dr.Theol. 1947 Leipzig. In 1950 succeeded Schomerus as Professor für Missionswissenschaft und Religionsgeschichte at Theological Faculty, Halle University, taught also Tamil language. In 1952–60 also Dean of Theological Faculty. Also taught at Leipzig and Jena. Retired in 1966. Hon. dr.theol. 1956 Jena. Married, four sons.
As Tamil scholar Lehmann worked mainly on religious Tamil poetry and history of Tamil and Dravidian studies. Another important field was history of mission in South India.
Publications: Translated: Hymnen des Tayumanavar. Texte zur Gottesmystik des Hinduismus. 15+270 p. Allgem. Missionsstudien 19. Gütersloh 1935.
– Diss. Die Sivaitische Frömmigkeit der tamulischen Erbauungsliteratur. Nach eigenen Quellenübersetzungen des Tāyumānavar und aus dem Tēvarām. Manuscript of 146 p. 1947, also publ. as a book, B. 1948.
– Gottes Volk in vielen Ländern. Ein missionarisches Lesebuch. 331 p. B. 1955; Die Kunst der Jungen Kirchen. 255 p. (mainly ill.) B. 1955.
– Es begann in Tranquebar. Die Geschichte der ersten evangelischen Kirche in Indien. 352 p. 22 fig. B. 1955, abridged English tr., Madras 1956.
– Edited: Alte Briefe aus Indien. Unveröffentlichte Briefe von Bartholomäus Ziegenbalg/1706–1719. 220 p. B. 1957.
– Die Welt des Hinduismus. 32 p. Bad Salzuflen 1961.
– Afroasiatische christliche Kunst. 286 p. 282 fig. B. 1967.
– Translated: Das Unbewegliche und das Bewegliche. Legenden und Preislieder aus dem alten Tamil überliefert von den drei grossen Heiligen des Śiva-Glaubens Sambandar, Appar und Sundarar. Die hymnen aus dem ‘Devaram’ (Tevaram). Weimar 1977.
– Articles in WZHalle, etc.
Sources: W. Klahre, WZHalle 35:1, 1986, 114-116; catalogus-professorum-halensis.de with photo; *bibliography in Theol. L.Z. 86, 1961, 547-552 & 91, 1966, 385-388 & 96, 1971, 628-630; briefly in D.B.E. 6, 1997, 292; German Wikipedia; photo in TITUS Galeria.
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