Hymn to Kali

Hymn to Kali is a work first published in 1922, presenting Arthur Avalon’s English rendition of the Sanskrit Karpurādi Stotra, a traditional hymn addressed to the fierce yet liberating Goddess Kali.

The translation is accompanied by extensive scholarly commentary that explores the hymn’s tantric symbolism and esoteric meaning, offering insight that is both devotional and academic. John Woodroffe, writing under the name Arthur Avalon, was a pioneering British Orientalist and lawyer deeply trained in Sanskrit and Tantra, whose translations played a central role in introducing Hindu tantric thought to Western audiences.

The book has proved influential among scholars of Hinduism, students of Shaktism, tantric practitioners, and devotees of Kali, and is frequently cited for both its lyrical power and its precision in conveying complex symbolic material.