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Mother

by Kamalakanta
(1769? - 1821?) Timeline

English version by
Rachel Fell McDermott

Original Language
Bengali

Yoga / Hindu : Shakta (Goddess-oriented)
18th Century

Mother,
You're always finding ways to amuse Yourself.

Syama, You stream of nectar,
through Your deluding power
You forge a horrible face
and adorn Yourself with a necklace of skulls.
The earth quakes under Your leaps and bounds.
You are frightful
     with that sword in Your hand.
At other times
You take a flirtatious pose,
and then, Mother,
even the God of Love is undone!

Your form is inconceivable and undecaying.
Narayani, Tripura, Tara --
You are beyond the three qualities
     yet composed of them.
You are terrifying,
You are black,
You are beautiful.

Thus assuming various forms,
You fulfill wishes of Your worshipers.
Sometimes You even dance
     Brahman, Eternal One
in the lotus heart of Kamalakanta.

 

 

-- from Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal, Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott

Amazon.com

 

Themes

  Heart
  Honey
  Lotus
  Lover and Beloved
  Water


Recommended Books


Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar, by Elizabeth U. Harding
Singing to the Goddess: Poems to Kali and Uma from Bengal, Translated by Rachel Fell McDermott

 

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Ivan M. Granger's original poetry, stories and commentaries are Copyright © 2002 - 2011 by Ivan M. Granger.
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