Singing to the goddess : poems to Kālī and Umā from Bengal

This collection presents 164 brief Bengali lyric poems dedicated to the Hindu goddesses Kali and Uma by thirty-seven representative poets. These poems--many of which are presented here for the first time in English translation--were written from the early eighteenth century up to the contemporary period. Included are forty-eight poems by the most famous of all Sakta poets, Ramprasad Sen (c.1718-1775) and ten lyrics by the renowned 20th-century poet Kaji Najrul Islam. The book begins with an introduction that places these works in their historical context and shows how images of the goddesses evolved over the centuries. These poems evoke the passion and devotion of the followers of Kali and Uma and shed light on the history and practice of goddess worship. About the Author: Rachel Fell McDermott is Assistant Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures at Barnard College. CONTENTS 10 Introduction 14 Pathways to the Śākta Poetry: Sources, Precedents, and Influences 14 Poets for the Goddess 18 Family Resemblances: Śākta Padāvalī as Bhakti Poetry 22 The Challenges and Choices in Designing an Anthology 23 Notes on Transliteration,Translation, and Word Definition 25 The Poems 28 Kālī among the Corpses: Poems of Battle 30 The Cosmic Goddess of Transformation 49 The Magician's Daughter and Her Playful Deceptions 64 "What Kind of Mother Are You?" Cries of Complaint 69 Petitioning the Compassionate 83 "Oh My Mind!": Instructing the Self 93 Prioritizing Paths: Tantra, Devotion, and Ritual 109 The Experience of Kundalinī Yoga 120 In Defiance of Death 135 Adoring the Daughter: Āgamanī and Vijayā Poems for Umā 140 NOTES 170 A GUIDE TO SELECTED NAMES, TERMS, AND TEXTS 190 DISCOGRAPHY 198 INDEX OF POEMS BY AUTHOR AND FIRST LINE (ENGLISH) 200 A 200 B 200 C 201 D 201 G 201 I 201 M 201 N 202 P 202 R 202 S 202 T 203 W 203 INDEX OF POEMS BY AUTHOR AND FIRST LINE (BENGALI) 204 A 204 B 204 C 205 D 205 G 205 I 205 M 205 N 205 P 205 R 205 S 205 Photographs 58 "This collection presents 145 brief Bengali lyric poems dedicated to the Hindu goddesses Kali and Uma. These poems - many of which are presented here for the first time in English translation - were written from the early eighteenth century up to the contemporary period. They represent the unique Bengali tradition of goddess worship (Saktism) as it developed over this period. Included are forty poems by the most famous of all Sakta poets, Ramprasad Sen (c. 1718-1775) and ten lyrics by the renowned 20th-century poet Kaji Nazrul Islam. McDermott's lucid introduction places these works in their historical context and shows how images of the goddesses evolved over the centuries. Her lively translations of these poetic lyrics evoke the passion and devotion of the followers of Kali and Uma and shed light on the history and practice of goddess worship."--Jacket This vibrant collection presents 145 brief Bengali lyric poems dedicated to the Hindu goddesses Kali and Uma. These poems--many of which are presented here for the first time in English translation--were written from the early eighteenth century up to the contemporary period. They represent the unique Bengali tradition of goddess worship (Saktism) as it developed over this period. Included are forty poems by the most famous of all Sakta poets, Ramprasad Sen (c.1718-1775) and ten lyrics by the renowned 20th-century poet Kaji Najrul Islam. McDermott's lucid introduction places these works in their historical context and shows how images of the goddesses evolved over the centuries. Her lively translations of these poetic lyrics evoke the passion and devotion of the followers of Kali and Uma and shed light on the history and practice of goddess worship. This collection presents 145 brief Bengali lyric poems dedicated to the Hindu goddesses Kali and Uma. These poems were written from the early-18th century up to the contemporary period. They represent the Bengali tradition of goddess worship (Saktism) as it developed over this period.