Juan Mascaró facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Juan Mascaró
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| Born | 8 December 1897 Santa Margarita, Majorca, Spain
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| Died | 19 March 1987 (aged 89) |
| Nationality | Spanish |
| Occupation | Translator |
| Known for | Translations of classic books from Sanskrit to English, Spanish and Catalan |
| Spouse(s) | Kathleen Ellis (1951) |
| Children | Martí Mascaró Ellis, Maria Coloma Mascaró Ellis |
Juan Mascaró (born December 8, 1897 – died March 19, 1987) was a Spanish translator. He is well-known for translating important ancient books from languages like Sanskrit and Pali into English. He used the name "Juan" because "Joan," his original Catalan name, sounds like a girl's name in English.
About Juan Mascaró
Juan Mascaró was born in Santa Margalida, a town on the island of Majorca in Spain. His family were farmers. From a young age, around 13, he became very interested in spiritual ideas.
Mascaró is famous for his English translations of several important ancient texts. These include the Bhagavad Gita (published in 1962), which is a key Hindu scripture. He also translated some of the main Upanishads (in 1965), which are also Hindu texts. From the Pali language, he translated a significant Buddhist text called Dhammapada (in 1973).
His first book, Lamps of Fire (1958), was a collection of wise sayings from different religions and spiritual traditions around the world. A small part of this book even inspired the famous Beatles song "The Inner Light" (1968). Even though his first language was Catalan, he chose to translate these important works into English.
His Spiritual Journey
Mascaró's interest in religion began when he was 13 and read a book about occultism. He later found this book misleading. Instead, he discovered an older English translation of the Bhagavad Gita. This book deeply inspired him. Because the available translation wasn't very good, he decided to learn Sanskrit himself. This way, he could understand the original text much better.
Education and Teaching
Juan Mascaró studied modern and oriental languages at Cambridge University in England. For a while, he gave lectures about Spanish mystics (people who have deep spiritual experiences).
Later, he traveled to Ceylon (which is now called Sri Lanka). There, he worked as the Vice-Principal of Parameshwara College in Jaffna. After that, he became a Professor of English at the Autonomous University of Barcelona in Spain.
Life in England
After the Spanish Civil War, Mascaró settled in England. It was there that he completed his well-known translations of the Bhagavad Gita and the Upanishads. He also returned to Cambridge University. At Cambridge, he worked as a supervisor for English students and gave lectures on the spiritual value of the King James Bible.
The University of the Balearic Islands honored him by making him a doctor honoris causa. This is a special degree given to someone to recognize their great achievements.
Juan Mascaró married Kathleen Ellis in 1951. They had a twin son and daughter. He passed away in 1987 at his home in Comberton, Cambridge.
See also
In Spanish: Joan Mascaró Fornés para niños
