Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair

by Ramprasad Sen, Leonard Nathan (Translator), Clinton Seely (Translator)

A collection of poems by Ramprasand Sen, written in Bengal in the 18th century. The works express his passionate devotion for the Great Mother Goddess, primarily in her manifestation as Kali, the dark goddess and guardian of the cycles of birth and death.

Genres: Poetry, Goddess, Hinduism

73 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1999

Reviews

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

love this. my dad had a copy of it in the 80s and I was looking for it on and off but couldn't remember the title. so glad I found it again.

the original poetry in bengali was passed down orally so it's amazing this even exists. the original poetry also rhymed and would have often had musical accompaniment - which makes the power in these poems all the more extraordinary to have come through so many filters. andrew schelling's forward alone is worth it to me - "they have glimpsed a terrible secret. it is that the Great Mother of all beings in one of her truest moods is a shameless, naked, wilderness goddess, companioned by jackals, stoned out of her senses on blood or ganja, who performs a slow orgiastic dance while her children die."

the poems are very much about devotion to the indifferent divine. he comes from a bhakti - devotional - tradition, which was in rebellion against orthodox hinduism where there were brahman priests as intercessors. and maybe in the end, that's the difference between "spiritual" and "religious" - wanting that direct relationship with the divine, without controlling intermediaries. I'm about it.

[Judinyova Stanislava · Rating 5 out of 5]

What She truly is ? This is the question great poet Rámprasád Sen asks in one of his poems in honour of the Divine Mother in the form of Máa Kálí. However, do not expect to find flowery poetic eulogies of the Divine. The poet has made us feel Mother´s presence so real and down-to-Earth. He does not avoid the reality of Death, decay or depressive feelings. Mother is cruel and loving at the same time. Rendition to modern English language thanks to the efforts of Mr. Leonard Nathan and Mr. Clinton Seely make us feel Mother so approachable and close to our day-to-day lives as well.

[Alif · Rating 1 out of 5]

who translated this shit

[Téa Nicolae · Rating 5 out of 5]

wondrous, ecstatic!!

🕊 Durga's ambrosial name liberates.
Repeat it without ceasing;
drench your tongue in nectar. 🕊

[Nate · Rating 5 out of 5]

powerful and moving, though given some of the comments on here might like to try them in a different translation

[Ivan Granger · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not always my favorite source of translations, to be honest -- these versions don't soar, revel, tease, and trouble with the full spirit of Ramprasad's songs to the Goddess. But it still remains one of the more complete collections I've found in English, and I find myself returning to it nonetheless. Recommended if you have a love for the imagery of the Bengali Goddess Kali and Her devotees, like Ramakrishna.

[Shug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the goddess Kali as I have been drawn to her for a year now. She is a bad-ass goddess. I think that these poems transition really nicely as in the beginning there was a lack of self-acceptance in the narrator. Later, he surrenders and that is exactly what this goddess does. I truly wish I could read these poems in the native tongue, but alas, I cannot.Kali destroys your ego. Jai Maha Kali! I salute the goddess!

[Megan]

Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair : Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess by Ramaprasada Sena (1999)

[Mills College Library]

891.4413 R1658g 1982