What do you think?
Rate this book
The Devī Gītā: The Song of the Goddess: A Translation, Annotation, and Commentary
This translation and commentary on an important Hindu text on the Great Goddess envisions a universe created and protected by a compassionate female deity.
This book provides a translation, with introduction, commentary, and annotation, of the medieval Hindu Sanskrit text the Devi Gita (Song of the Goddess). It is an important but not well-known text from the rich SAakta (Goddess) tradition of India. The Devi Gita was composed about the fifteenth century C.E., in partial imitation of the famous Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord), composed some fifteen centuries earlier.
Around the sixth century C.E., following the rise of several male deities to prominence, a new theistic movement began in which the supreme being was envisioned as female, known as the Great Goddess (Maha-Devi). Appearing first as a violent and blood-loving deity, this Goddess gradually evolved into a more benign figure, a compassionate World-Mother and bestower of salvific wisdom. It is in this beneficent mode that the Goddess appears in the Devi Gita .
This work makes available an up-to-date translation of the Devi Gita , along with a historical and theological analysis of the text. The book is divided into sections of verses, and each section is followed by a comment explaining key terms, concepts, ritual procedures, and mythic themes. The comments also offer comparisons with related schools of thought, indicate parallel texts and textual sources of verses in the Devi Gita , and briefly elucidate the historical and religious background, supplementing the remarks of the introduction.
This book provides a translation, with introduction, commentary, and annotation, of the medieval Hindu Sanskrit text the Devi Gita (Song of the Goddess). It is an important but not well-known text from the rich SAakta (Goddess) tradition of India. The Devi Gita was composed about the fifteenth century C.E., in partial imitation of the famous Bhagavad Gita (Song of the Lord), composed some fifteen centuries earlier.
Around the sixth century C.E., following the rise of several male deities to prominence, a new theistic movement began in which the supreme being was envisioned as female, known as the Great Goddess (Maha-Devi). Appearing first as a violent and blood-loving deity, this Goddess gradually evolved into a more benign figure, a compassionate World-Mother and bestower of salvific wisdom. It is in this beneficent mode that the Goddess appears in the Devi Gita .
This work makes available an up-to-date translation of the Devi Gita , along with a historical and theological analysis of the text. The book is divided into sections of verses, and each section is followed by a comment explaining key terms, concepts, ritual procedures, and mythic themes. The comments also offer comparisons with related schools of thought, indicate parallel texts and textual sources of verses in the Devi Gita , and briefly elucidate the historical and religious background, supplementing the remarks of the introduction.
404 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1998
12 people are currently reading
96 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
March 13, 2024
A beautiful 'song' about Devi Gita and the feminine nature of creation. A wonderful book for everyone, but I think women will (in particular) be very interested in the counsel this book offers. I think that so many people have 'forgotten' the role of the goddess in our collective history; I have several friends who are trying to reconnect with this aspect of divinity - they suggested this book to me.
February 9, 2013
Real good.
Surfaced around the middle ages. Probably has multiple authors.
Good introduction and glossary.
Similar principles to the Bhagavad Gita but where the supreme being is the Mother.
Elements and methods of Kriya Yoga are described. Also covers Bhakti.
Surfaced around the middle ages. Probably has multiple authors.
Good introduction and glossary.
Similar principles to the Bhagavad Gita but where the supreme being is the Mother.
Elements and methods of Kriya Yoga are described. Also covers Bhakti.
May 19, 2025
this rating and review apply to brown's commentary and notes, not the actual content of the gita itself, which is beyond rating on any scale and immeasurably profound in numerous ways. brown is an excellent and thorough commentator that provides an easy understanding to a very complex subject but also provides numerous indepth notes for the aspirant looking to dig deeply. my only complaint is that the sanskrit section does not contain a latin transliteration, so any mantra chanting would have to be done by practioners who can read sanskrit - which at this time does not include me. it's a minor barrier, but would have been a "nice to have"
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews