Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar

This illustrated study turns to Kali, the Hindu goddess often called the Black Goddess, and to the ways she has been pictured and worshipped. Its focus is the temple at Dakshineswar, on the Ganges outside Kolkata, where Kali is the central deity and where the nineteenth-century mystic Ramakrishna spent much of his life in devotion. Through artwork and written reflection, the book aims to bring the goddess vividly to life for readers who may know her only from a distance. It considers her fierce and nurturing sides, the tantric currents that shape her worship, and the personal devotion that has kept her image alive for generations. Suited to readers interested in religion, art and Hindu tradition, it offers a close look at one of the most powerful figures in Indian spiritual life.