Kali in Bengali Lives: Narratives of Religious Experience

by Suchitra Samanta, Susan McKinnon (Foreword)

In Kali in Bengali Lives, Suchitra Samanta examines Bengalis’ personal narratives of Kali devotion in the Bhakti tradition. These personal experiences, including miraculous encounters, reflect on broader understandings of divine power. Where the revelatory experience has long been validated in Indian epistemology, the devotees’ own interpretive framework provides continuity within a paradigm of devotion and of the miraculous experience as intuitive insight (anubhuti) into a larger truth. Through these unique insights, the miraculous experience is felt in its emotional power, remembered, and reflected upon. The narratives speak to how the meaning of a religious figure, Kali, becomes personally significant and ultimately transformative of the devotee’s self.

Genres: Hinduism

161 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2021

Reviews

[Prateek GOYAL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Jai Maa Kali

The book is a jargon-heavy research work about a group of people sharing their miracle experiences linked with Maa Kali. The book inspired me to reflect on my own understanding of Maa Kali. I liked the second half of the book which has personal accounts of people's experience with the goddess. It reminded me of Anuradha Paudwal's interview where she opens up about similar magical experiences.

However, the first half of the book is too technical. The author tries to transform their thesis into a book, but falls short. She struggles to find footing between academic and personal narrative. The approach feels more like a foreigner's interpretation of Indian culture.

Moreover, despite its recent publication, the book has outdated research and anecdotes, which put me off. The research was done in the mid-20th century.

The subject is interesting but the way information was provided could've been more creative.