Kali : The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar by Elizabeth U. Harding

Kali : The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar
by Elizabeth U. Harding

352 pages
Published by Nicolas Hays
Publication date: September 1, 1993
ISBN: 0892540257

Reviews:

Dr. Bakul Patil, 12/3/2001 excellent book wonderful work, but one discrepancy

authoress must really be chosen person for this work by none other than Mother Kali Herself.But Agam Vagish Ramaprasad's guru seems to be not Krishnanand Agam Vagish,author of tantrasara,He belongs to 16th century{ref:shakti & shakta:Jonh Wodroff:Ganesh & co. Madras publication,page 162;10th edition 1994};whereas sadhak Ramaprasad belongs to 18th century-this goes as point of discrepancy-a point mentioned in this book on page 217

DEVASIS CHOWDHURY, 9/28/2001 A BOOK WRITTEN WITH DEVOTION

THIS IS A BOOK SATURATED WITH LOVE DEVOTION AND RESPECT FOR THE UNIVERSAL MOTHER.MA KALI AT DAKSHINESHWAR CALCUTTA ATTRACTS HER BHAKTAS(DEVOTEES) AND MANY LIKE HARDING ARE ATTRACTED ENOGH TO WRITE ABOUT HER.ONLY MOTHER KALI'S DIVINE GRACE FOR HER BELOVED BHAKTAS MAKES SOMEBODY RESEARCH AND WRITE SO SIMPLY YET DEVOTEDLY TO DESCRIBE THE WONDERS OF DEVI WORSHIP. ONE MARVELS AT THE EASE WITH WHICH SHE DESCRIBES THE SURROUNDINGS, THEPRIESTS AND RITUALS SO SIMPLY AND WITH THE WESTERN EYE FOR LOGICAL TRUTHS. A MUST FOR ANYONE WHO WOULD SAVOUR THE DELIGHTS OF THE MYSTIC MOTHERS BLESSINGS. MAY MA KALI EENDOW MORE STRENGTH TO HER WONDROUS PEN!

I.G. 7/2/97 An intelligent, reverent introduction to Kali

Most Westerners interested in mystical traditions spend a fair amount of time delving into the traditions of yoga and Hinduism. But we often stumble when we encounter the Hindu goddess Kali. What are we to make of this naked Wild Woman who slaughters in ecstacy and wears a garland of heads around her neck? Any devout Hindu will tell you that Kali is all-loving, the Eternal Mother. And many Hindu saints and sages have worshipped at Kali's feet, Ramakrishna perhaps being the best known.

Elisabeth Harding has done a beautiful job of gathering together Kali lore and presenting it to a primarily Western audience, while remaining reverent toward Kali and traditions of Kali worship. She discusses the traditional symbolism of Kali and the shocking, violent images associated with Her. Kali emerges in the reader's mind as the loving destroyer of illusion, ecstatic slayer of demonic qualities.

Table of Contents:

Jai Kali, Jai Ma Bhavatarini
God, the Mother: The Evolution of Mother Worship in India
1. The Dakshineswar Kali Temple: Approaching the Dakshineswar Kali Temple; Approaching the Mother: Bhavatarini Kali
2. Kali, the Black Goddess of Dakshineswar: Worship of the Terrible Mother; Kali's Symbols; Kali, the Black Goddess of Yore; Kali, the Goddess of Tantra; Kali's Mantra and Yantra; Kali Within the Human Body; Kali's Boon
3. Worship of Ma Kali: The Nature of Worship; Daily Worship at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple; Service to the Deity; Durga Puja; Kali Puja
4. Temple History and Surroundings: The Temple; God, the Father; Rani Rasmani; Sri Ramakrishina's Room; Sri Ramakrishna's Tantric Sadhana
5. Ma Kali's God-Intoxicated Mystics: The Quest for Bliss; Ramprasad, the Minstrel of Kali; Kamalakanta; Sri Ramakrishna; Bamakhepa; Sri Sarada Devi; Swami Vivekananda
In Summary
Glossary
Bibliography

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