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 Kazi 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.

About the Author
Rachel Fell McDermott is Assistant Professor of Asian and Middle Eastern Cultures at Barnard College.

Reviews
Offers a much-needed contribution to the field of South Asia studies and to the history of religions as a whole ... McDermott's volume is unquestionably the most complete, meticulous, and readable collection of Sakta devotional poetry ever published ... McDermott has succeeded in one of the most difficult tasks of translation - that of remaining true to the literal text while still presenting the poems in a fluid and provocative style that really captures the powerful emotion of the Bengali songs. As such this collection should appeal to a wide audience - not just to South Asian scholars, but to a more general nonacademic audience, as well as to students in graduate and undergraduate classrooms. * History of Religions *



Book Information
ISBN 9780195134339
Author Rachel Fell McDermott
Format Hardback
Page Count 208
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 459g
Dimensions(mm) 132mm * 201mm * 20mm