Singing to the Goddess Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal

by McDermott, Rachel Fell

• ISBN13: 9780195134346
• ISBN10: 0195134346
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-03-01
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

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.

Author Biography

Rachel McDermott is Assistant Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures at Barnard College.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Pathways to the Sakta Poetry: Sources, Precedents, and Influences	3	(4)
Poets for the Goddess	7	(4)
Family Resemblances: Sakta Padavali as Bhakti Poetry	11	(1)
The Challenges and Choices in Designing an Anthology	12	(2)
Notes on Transliteration, Translation, and Word Definition	14	(5)
The Poems
Kali among the Corpses: Poems of Battle	19	(19)
The Cosmic Goddess of Transformation	38	(9)
The Magician's Daughter and Her Playful Deceptions	47	(5)
``What Kind of Mother Are You?'' Cries of Complaint	52	(14)
Petitioning the Compassionate	66	(10)
``Oh My Mind!'': Instructing the Self	76	(16)
Prioritizing Paths: Tantra, Devotion, and Ritual	92	(11)
The Experience of Kundalini Yoga	103	(15)
In Defiance of Death	118	(5)
Adoring the Daughter: Agamani and Vijaya Poems for Uma	123	(30)
Notes	153	(20)
A Guide to Selected Names, Terms, and Texts	173	(8)
Discography	181	(2)
Index of Poems by Author and First Line (English)	183	(4)
Index of Poems by Author and First Line (Bengali)	187