By The Spiritual Explorer | Published 10 October, 2015
If you speak to a devotee of the Hindu Goddess Kali, you understand that to experience her in an in-depth manner, you must love her experientially with passion and extraordinary devotion. One assumes by the many words and commentaries on Kali that the authors below had to have been touched in a similarly profound manner.
How else does one account for the inordinate perseverance and devotion to this ephemeral and fierce goddess that has resulted in prodigious and scholarly tomes to one whom people have called frightening, ugly and awe-ful? What did these authors see in her that would make them want to entertain the idea of great explorations about this Hindu Goddess Kali?
Our Hindu Goddess Kali is not an easy goddess to make overtures to. It seems that any one of these authors must have gone beyond their own fear and trepidation, clinging to their own curiosity, while attempting to translate Kali’s scariness into remarkable works that attract scholars and devotees. My presumption is that they must have experienced the Hindu Goddess Kali not only in a mental, cerebral way but in a way that perhaps transformed them through their study of her. Here are four in-depth views.
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by McDermott and Kripal Here we see a novel approach to studying their Hindu Goddess Kali. She is interpreted in both her recent western settings as well as her indigenous South Asian origins. These authors draw from a broad spectrum of historical, psychoanalytic and feminist criticism as well as their own autobiographical reflections. Hindu Goddess Kali is associated with tantra, blood, power and sexuality in her historical home of India. However when viewed through the lens of a western perspective, we see her differently. This book presents a fascinating comparison of how different ideologies not only depict Kali in a scholarly fashion, but also actually influence the way in which she is experienced. One then asks, what is the true face of this Hindu Goddess Kali? |
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by Ramprasad Sen These are wonderful poems from the esteemed Indian poet, Ram Prasad. Hindu Goddess Kali is shown in the most dynamic way with vitality, earthy sensuality and ferocity. When these poems were first written, they were considered heretical by the Indian Brahmins. Today they are thought of as classical and timely. It is ancient poetry that calls for a visceral, emotional and spiritual response. |
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by Elizabeth Harding Miss Harding is truly both a devotee and scholar of her Hindu Goddess Kali. Her exploration of Kali is intricate; you are drawn into an in depth and very personal view of Kali as seen through the eyes and experiences of her absolute devotee. Here you see Kali as the perfect goddess for the current upheaval in the world. She is blacker than your blackest ego, and while carrying skulls, destroys everything that is ego-created within you. Ms. Harding describes the Hindu Goddess Kali’s love as the greatest love one can experience; her blackness draws you down to your essential self, stripped bare of all pretenses. In that bareness you see at last her beauty and the divinity of yourself. If you have even the slightest inclination to know this Hindu Goddess Kali, you will find it hard to put this book down. Meet Kali the Black Goddess of Dakshineswar in a very personal way! |
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by Ajit Mookerjee The distinguished author Ajit Mookerjee uses paintings and sculptures to enhance his insightful writing about the meaning of the divine feminine as he explores the nature of the Hindu goddess Kali in her diverse aspects. Again you are treated to a fair and thoughtful view of Kali as both compassionate mother and divine destroyer of ego. He sees Kali as the divine Shakti of the universe defending her power, force and feminine energy that are the primal creative force in our universe. A remarkable thing it is that India has actually worshipped the divine feminine continuously in their religious works. This is a very readable and contemporarily written book that brings Kali right into this current moment in time. You see her not only as an ancient force but one that must be reckoned and dealt with at this time. You also begin to witness in his hymns to the Hindu Goddess Kali the experience of a true bhakta. |
She is a phenomenal goddess, this Hindu Goddess Kali, to whom we must offer all the chaos this age presents to us now.
Om Sri Kali Ki Jai!
If you have a question about “the Hindu Goddess Kali,” or anything else, you can write me at Ask The Spiritual Explorer.
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