Encountering Kali: In the Margins, at the Center, in the West

This collection of scholarly essays is an easy and enjoyable read for scholars and laypersons alike. What's so great about it is how many perspectives it gives on, as another reviewer noted, "the Kali phenomenon." McDermott and others tear away notions Westerners have of Kali, and present a much broader picture of her mythology, worship and cultural significance. McDermott's concluding essay spearheads the Western fascination with Kali, and dispels many myths along the way - including common etymological mistakes made frequently by feminist scholars and writers on Kali. Western devotees of Kali should especially consider reading this volume - it will give necessary depth and breadth to your understanding of this complex Goddess, and is exceptionally readable. As this book was primarily written by and for scholars who are familiar with Sanskrit, those unfamiliar with transliteration diacritics will want to refer to online sources. Devotees who have Swami Satyananda Saraswati's excellent Kali Puja book will find a transliteration pronunciation guide in the back, which would be useful in this context.

This book is more than an academic study. It provides an experience of Kali devotions at the deepest levels. It also presents a variety of perceptions heretofore unavailable in a single volume. An outstanding contribution. Ron Frost, R.N., M.A.

This is a really valuable resource for anyone interested in getting multiple perspectives on Kali. Ranging from mythological origins to cultural practices to the influence of colonialism, it offers some excellent and diverse perspectives on this complex Goddess.

great product! product as stated and fast shipping! A+

I went into this book knowing next to nothing about Kali. This book is a wonderful collection of essays on different aspects of Kali and her worshippers. It is schoarly yet easy to read. It held my attention and launched my imagination. A really great resource for anyone that wishes to learn more about Kali. This book helped deepen my connection with Ma.

On getting this book and looking throught it.Then seeing who was the editor who wrote another book called kalis child.I ripped it in half.Spiritualy dead scholars should stick to things non spiritual.How can a scholar know anything real about real spirituality?

Kali! The word is small, rather soft, as if it would melt away in the wind if you are not paying attention. But the reality is very-very diferent. For a devout, that word contains unimaginable power. With images full of black and red, stirring up emotions from the very depth of conscious and subconscious, the word can move mountains and stir a slob into frenzied action. Because it's not just a word. It's not just a name given to a Goddess. The word, the name, the Goddess is special. Why? Now that's a mystery that truly intrigues Western scholars. This well-curated collection tries to find out the answer. To do so, it relies upon the following essays~ * Introducing Kali Studies— Introductory essay from the editors trying to explain the 'Kali' conundrum. Part I— Kali in the Texts and Contexts of South Asia 1. "Kali" by David R. Kinsley; 2. "Kali the Terrific and Her Tests: the Sakta Devotionalism of Mahabhagvata Purana" by Patricia Dold; 3. "The Domestication of a Goddess: Carana-tirtha Kalighat, the Mahapitha of Kali" by Sanjukta Gupta; 4. "Dominating Kali: Hindu Family Values and Tantric Power" by Usha Menon and Richard A. Shweder; 5. "Kali in a Context of Terror: The Tasks of a Goddess in Sri Lanka's Civil War" by Patricia Lawrence; 6. "Kali Mayi: Myth and Reality in a Banaras Ghetto" by Roxanne Kamayani Gupta; Part II— Kali in Western Settings, Western Discourses 7. "Wrestling with Kali: South Asian and British Constructions of the Dark Goddess" by Cynthia Amm Humes; 8. "'India's Darkest Heart': Kali in the Colonial Imagination" by Hugh B. Urban; 9. "Why the Tantrika is a Hero: Kali in the Psychoanalytic Tradition" by Jeffrey J. Kripal; 10. "Doing the Mother's Caribbean Work: On Shakti and Society in Contemporary Trinidad" by Keith E. McNeal; 11. "Margins at the Center: Tracing Kali through Time, Space, and Culture" by Sarah Caldwell; 12. "Kali's New Frontiers: A Hindu Goddess on the Internet" by Rachel Fell McDermott. * Appendix— "Documentary Film and Video Resources for Teaching on Kali and Fierce Goddesses" by Sarah Caldwell * Bibliography The essays are very lucid and compact. Unfortunately the book has been dragged down by very-very poor production values of this Indian edition, where miniscule font-size against the yellow paper had made reading a real pain. Also, in terms of cultural impact of Kali and the reimagination of her with newer aspirations and ambitions, Hugh B. Urban does a vastly superior job in his book 'Tantra: Sex, Secrecy, Politics, and Power in the Study of Religion'. Essays in that book allows for a more focussed study of the phenomenon that is 'Kali', instead of getting mired in politics. Nevertheless, this is a very good book full of nuanced essays that try to understand and describe 'Kali' to the readers in the West. Can it fully capture the 'essence' of Kali? That would be an impossible task. But it definitely does a valiant effort. Recommended.