Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair : Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess

If you are unfamiliar with the ecstatic religious poetry tradition - Rumi, Mirabai, ... this is not the volume to start on; read Mirabai's For Love of the Dark One first. However, if you have some familarity with the tradition, you'll find this book fascinating - this is more recent (18th century) and closer to the tribal origins of the worship of Kali/Uma/Pavarti/Gauri/Tara. These poems are popular in the sense that they have been kept alive through oral transmission rather than written manuscripts. One poem with a surprising rural flavor stands out: ".../My body is Tara's field/ in which the God of Gods/ like a good farmer / sows his seed with a great mantra. / Around this body, faith / is set like a fence / with patience for posts ..."

I get being titillating, but to lead off describing this very important Indian goddess as stoned out of her mind, bloodthirsty, and dancing at the death of her children is a gross mis-characterization of this widely beloved goddess. The introduction to this book makes it sound as though worship with Kali Durga is some dark underground thing. She is worshiped by millions openly in temples and homes, celebrated in art, and considered the kindest most loving mother.Addressing her repeatedly by a four-letter name is outrageously disrespectful. It shows no cultural sensitivity, and ignorance.Her menacing aspects are all a manifestation of her protective maternal nature, defending her children from demons, including the internal ones, the habits and attachments that make human life miserable.That said, the poetry is worth immersing oneself in. But only if you are fully cognizant that the author, RamPrasad Sen devoted his entire life to this goddess, madly in love with her, and because of his devotion, widely respected and financially supported by his community as a holy man. And he exaggerates the misery of life, to accentuate the desire to die, specifically the ego or sense of self, and be one with mother.So — completely take the author’s skewed non- native interpretation of this goddess with a barrel of salt, and read these poems (though darkly interpreted) as the expression of a mystic soul yearning for Beloved Sri Ma Kalikaye.

Different Deities than Rumi (Hindi, I believe, as opposed to Sufi), but all hearts seem to call on God for the same humble things. Ramprasad is a similar clear writer. He tends to focus on the the Mother Kali's seemingly callous, destructive side, but his laments are very real and current time, despite centuries having passed. And also humorous, because unfortunately there is often humor in tragedy.

Ohm Krim Kali Ma!

The translation is not as uplifting as translations made by Indians who have learned English. This is a street translation alright, the other versions of Ramprasad’s work speak to Mother Kali in “Thy” and “Thou,” so respectful of our Mother; it evokes divine emotion and love and uplifts. This translation seems almost sacrilegious. There’s a verse saying he will ask Shiva to spank the Mother. I cannot imagine he would have actually written such a thing.

Beautiful and inspiring

Ramprasad Sen's true devotion to the Mother and his playful sense of devotion, bakhti, an almost playful adventure in colloquial language is beautifully captured in this translation.

the book is too costly. the content is not up to mark.