The Sword and the Flute--Kali and Krsna: Dark Visions of the Terrible and the Sublime in Hindu Mythology

Hermeneutics: Studies in the History of Religions

by David R. Kinsley

Krsna and Kali are two of Hinduism’s most popular deities, representing dramatically different truths about the nature of the sacred. The cruel and terrible Kali is thought to be born of wild, aboriginal roots. She is the goddess of thieves and often associated with human blood sacrifice. Krsna, in contrast, is the divine lover and inimitable prankster who plays a bewitching flute to draw all to him. But Kali and Krsna have much more in common than their contrasting personalities suggest. Kinsley shows that Krsna’s flute can be interchangeable with Kali’s sword, revealing important perceptions of the divine in the Hindu tradition.

Genres: Religion, Hinduism, India, Nonfiction, Mythology, Spirituality

175 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[didi]

To accept one’s mortality is to be able to act superfluously, to let go, to be able to sing, dance, and shout. To win Kali’s boon is to become childlike, to be flexible, open, and naive like a child. It is to act and be like Ramakrishna, who delighted in the world as Kali’s play, who acted without calculation and behaved like a fool or a child.

[Lisa]

It's quite a beautiful look at Krishna + Kali in the context of the Hindu Goddesses and Gods. It touches upon them as powers and qualities within us, but indirectly. I recommend it and found it to be quite enjoyable. A testament to the pursuit of the Divine Consciousness being a going against the flow of ordered human existence (civilization).

[Nancy McQueen]

An interesting read on the similarities between Krishna and Kali. Is a great book to start out with if you are wanting to research the harmonies and duality between the terms sacred and profane. If you are new to all of the gray areas that Eastern philosophies and Hinduism can cover this book may shock you, but it will lead you to more.

[Riia Järvenpää]

I read this book for the first time a decade ago during my linguistics studies. Having read it again, I can say it’s simply brilliant.

[mwr]

The Kali chapters are more interesting than the Krishna chapters. I haven't read many straight religious study texts before, so I do not have much to set a standard by. There was some interesting information there that will help inform some of my other readings. There were some guesses made about the meanings of various things, and some disagreements with guesses that other people have made. Nothing terribly outlandish.

[Carolyn Heinz]

This is an important work in the canon of Hinduism and studies of Kali. I read this years ago, and it has had a strong influence on my understanding of Hinduism and Indian culture. Kinsley is a foremost scholar in this field. I'd recommend this book as a prime source. Compelling reading.

[Alex Blance]

this is great book when one is interested to know about krsna and gopi amorous love affair..one will begin to discover the secret of krsna devotees highest goal...radha controled the cowherd boy krsna. instead of a god who is always in control...learn the secret of krsna flute.