Kali, the Radiant Goddess

Bruce Suddreth?s book is not a learned treatise informing you about the Hindu goddess Kali in a scholarly way. This is not a book for anyone who is looking for information about Kali for the first time. It is too disjointed and presumes the reader is familiar with various physical depictions of the goddess and Hindu concepts.Yet, as the author wanders through Greek and Hindu mythology, he makes an interesting attempt to relate the two as he proposes a history for this non-Western Hindu goddess. Suddreth tells of a male child, Purusha, who grew up without a mother?s influence. This child journeys to the Himalayas where he trains a young girl telepathically, imparting to her his language and from her is heard the first sound of OM. She is given the name of Kali and her task, Purusha tells her, is to bring the new language into the world, which will usher in a new age for humans. Suddreth then goes on to relate different tales about Kali?s life, in particular her relationship with Shiva. The language of the text is often awkward and not easy for Western readers to follow, though parts can be surprisingly lyrical. Suddreth writes in stream of consciousness fashion; his devotion to Mother Kali is obvious but expressed in a manner foreign to Western ears. There is plenty to be learned about Kali in this volume from a mythological point of view if the reader is willing to work for it. ? Paperback, 149 pages. Dromedia Publishers, 2000. Suddreth attempts to describe Kali?s mythological origins and history. Intensely mythological with strong reference to visuals not provided.