Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal
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...
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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.
Is my black mother Syama really black?\ People say Kali is black,\ but my heart doesn't agree.\ If She's black,\ how can She light up the world?\ Sometimes my Mother is white,\ sometimes yellow, blue, and red.\ I cannot fathom Her.\ My whole life has passed\ trying.\ She is Matter,\ then Spirit,\ then complete Void.\ It's easy to see\ how Kamalakanta\ thinking these things\ went crazy.\ Kamalakanta Bhattacharya\ \ Oh Mind, you don't know how to farm;\ your human field has fallen fallow.\ Cultivate it, and the crops you'll grow\ will gleam like gold. Fence it round with Kali's name\ so your harvest won't be harmed.\ The Wild-Haired One is strong;\ Death won't come near that fence.\ Don't you know? Your crops will never fail--\ not in a day, a year, or a century.\ So apply yourself, Mind;\ work to reap your harvest.\ The Teacher sowed the mantra;\ now water his seed with devotion's showers.\ And oh, if you can't do it alone, Mind, take Ramprasad along.
IntroductionPathways to the Sakta Poetry: Sources, Precedents, and Influences3Poets for the Goddess7Family Resemblances: Sakta Padavali as Bhakti Poetry11The Challenges and Choices in Designing an Anthology12Notes on Transliteration, Translation, and Word Definition14The PoemsKali among the Corpses: Poems of Battle19The Cosmic Goddess of Transformation38The Magician's Daughter and Her Playful Deceptions47"What Kind of Mother Are You?" Cries of Complaint52Petitioning the Compassionate66"Oh My Mind!": Instructing the Self76Prioritizing Paths: Tantra, Devotion, and Ritual92The Experience of Kundalini Yoga103In Defiance of Death118Adoring the Daughter: Agamani and Vijaya Poems for Uma123Notes153A Guide to Selected Names, Terms, and Texts173Discography181Index of Poems by Author and First Line (English)183Index of Poems by Author and First Line (Bengali)187
