Hymn to Kali

What It's About

The Karpuradi Stotra is a twenty-two verse Sanskrit hymn traditionally addressed to Dakshina Kalika, presenting the fierce yet liberating Goddess Kali as a manifestation of ultimate reality. This edition presents Arthur Avalon's English rendition of the hymn together with a detailed verse-by-verse commentary, explaining the ritual, mantra, and meditative significance of each stanza within the Shakta Tantric tradition.

Key Concepts

The commentary unpacks the bija (seed-syllable) mantras encoded within the verses, along with the meditative visualisation (dhyana) and ritual worship (puja) prescribed for the practitioner. Several verses also address Latasadhana, a form of Kaula ritual practice, situating the hymn within the wider framework of Tantric Shakta doctrine.

About the Author

Arthur Avalon was the pseudonym of Sir John Woodroffe, a British judge who served on the Calcutta High Court, eventually rising to Chief Justice, while pursuing a parallel career as a scholar of Sanskrit and Hindu philosophy. His work did much to bring Tantric texts to a Western readership.

About This Edition

This is a 1922 translation by Arthur Avalon (John Woodroffe).