The Sword & the Flute - Kali & Krsna - Dark Visions of the Terrible & Sublime in Hindu Mythology : Kali and Krsna

Preface to the Second Edition vii Preface to the Original Edition ix Introduction 1(8) PART I. THE FLUTE: KRSNA'S CARNIVAL OF JOY Chapter I 9(47) Krsna and the ``Krsnas'' 9(3) The Divine Child: The Spontaneous and Tumultuous Nature of God 12(7) Krsna's Sport with Demons: Combat as Play 19(4) The Embodiment of Beauty and Grace 23(9) The Call of Krsna's Flute 32(9) The Divine Lover 41(15) Chapter II 56(25) Introduction 56(1) Bhakti: From Lord to Lover 57(9) Ananda: The Inherent Bliss of the Divine 66(7) Lila: The Divine Player 73(8) PART II. THE SWORD: KALI, MISTRESS OF DEATH Chapter III 81(46) Introduction 81(5) The Prehistory of Kali 86(2) Kali in the Mahabharata 88(2) Kali in the Devi-mahatmya 90(3) The Early History of Kali in Puranic and Dramatic Literature 93(3) Kali's Regional Distribution 96(5) Kali's Association with Siva 101(8) Kali and the Tantric Hero 109(5) Kali and Bengali Devotionalism 114(11) Summary 125(2) Chapter IV 127(24) Introduction 127(6) Kali as Mahamaya 133(4) Kali as Prakrti and Duhkha 137(2) Kali as Time 139(2) Confrontation and Acceptance of Death: Kali's Boon 141(5) Kali's ``Taming'' 146(5) The Sword and the Flute: Conclusion 151(10) Works Cited 161