Hymns to the Goddess by Arthur Avalon (John Woodroffe)

Description

‘Hymns to the Goddess’ is a book by Arthur Avalon (John Woodroffe), first published in 1913, that assembles a profound collection of English translations of Sanskrit hymns praising the feminine divine. Drawing from sources such as the Tantra, Purāṇas, the Mahābhārata, and works by figures like Śaṅkarācārya and Vālmīki, this volume presents a wide-ranging anthology that includes the Ānandalaharī (“Waves of Bliss”), Durgāśatanāma, Sarvaviśvajananī (“Mother of the Whole Universe”), and Devi Aparāda Kṣamāpana (“May the Devi Grant Me Pardon”). These hymns are accompanied by insightful footnotes and interpretive commentary. John Woodroffe, writing under the name Arthur Avalon, was a British scholar and judge who played a significant role in introducing Indian philosophical and spiritual traditions to a Western audience. His translations and writings opened a window into the world of Hindu Tantra at a time when it was little understood outside India. In Hymns to the Goddess, he highlights the Divine Feminine in her many forms—Durga as protector, Kali as destroyer of ignorance, Lakṣmī as bringer of abundance, and Sarasvatī as goddess of wisdom—revealing a theology that is both complex and profoundly devotional. Though the language and spiritual symbolism may be more familiar to readers with a background in Hindu philosophy or Sanskrit, the book remains a foundational work in the Western study of Tantra and Goddess worship. It is both a devotional offering and a scholarly achievement, inviting readers to explore the power and grace of the divine feminine principle at the heart of Indian spirituality.

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