Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal

📘 Book Details

• Author: McDermott, Rachel Fell

• Publisher: Oxford University Press

• Language: English

• Edition: —

• ISBN: 9780195134346

• Pages: 208

• Cover: Paperback

• Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.0 x 0.5 inches

📝 About the Book

This vibrant and evocative volume, edited and translated by Rachel Fell McDermott, brings to light 145 short Bengali lyric poems that celebrate and revere the powerful Hindu goddesses Kali and Uma. Drawn from centuries of devotional traditions, these poems—many appearing in English for the first time—offer an intimate glimpse into the spiritual, emotional, and cultural expressions of goddess worship in Bengal.

Each lyric in the collection is steeped in the rich poetic heritage of Bengal, revealing a spectrum of human devotion ranging from awe and reverence to love, longing, and even despair. Through these verses, readers are introduced to the powerful dualities of the divine feminine—Kali’s fearsome energy and Uma’s nurturing grace—central to Hindu Shakta traditions.

Rachel Fell McDermott’s scholarly insight and sensitive translations provide not only linguistic clarity but also cultural context, allowing modern readers to appreciate the spiritual intensity and literary beauty of these poems. Ideal for students of South Asian religion, literature, and culture, this book also appeals to anyone interested in goddess traditions and devotional poetry.