the left hand of god book review

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The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman

I t's hard to think of anything I've read recently that feels less like a book and more like a product than Paul Hoffman's The Left Hand of God . Arriving on an extraordinary tide of hype – YouTube trailers, an iPhone app – it has a very readable, highly buffed sheen, but also an uneasy blending of tones whereby too many demographics are being pitched to at once. It feels calculated – indeed, it feels as if it's been put through focus groups – to appeal as broadly as possible, particularly to the teenage crossover readership. The problem, as ever, is that if you try to write a story for everyone, you run the risk of pleasing no one.

The Left Hand of God 's 14-year-old hero, Cale, was brought to a labyrinthine compound called the Sanctuary as little more than a toddler, and he's known no other life. Half-monastery, half-military training ground, the Sanctuary is a place of unbelievable deprivation and cruelty. It's run by the Redeemers, religious fanatics who regularly perform Inquisition-style tortures, and who, in fact, have "the right to kill instantly any boy who does something unexpected".

One day, though, Cale accidentally enters the room of the Sanctuary's Lord of Discipline and finds him dissecting alive two pretty teenage girls. One of the girls dies, but Cale kills the Lord of Discipline and escapes with the other. They go on the run with Cale's friends Kleist and Vague Henri, striking out across the dangerous Scablands to the decadent city of Memphis. Chance allows them to enter the inner circle of Memphis's government, giving Cale his first look at the beautiful Arbell Swan-Neck, daughter of Memphis' leader. There might be a chance at life here, perhaps even love. The Redeemers, though, for reasons of their own, haven't taken the loss of Cale lightly. But would they risk an all-out war just to get him back?

The Left Hand of God is energetically written, but it struggles as it tries to be all things to all readers. There is first the unremitting grimness of the Sanctuary, but when Memphis is reached, an unwelcome jokiness arises and the middle sags with too many picaresque digressions. Even more strangely, when the big battle finally arrives, Hoffman retreats from the action, coolly analysing how the armies progress as if he'd suddenly invited a military historian in as a guest lecturer.

He is also oddly bad at foreshadowing. A hundred pages in, Cale reveals the special circumstances of his training at the Sanctuary, but because we've had no whiff of anything beforehand, it takes another 100 pages to realise he wasn't lying. And we've known Arbell Swan-Neck for half the book before she suddenly has a mute younger brother integral to the plot. What's more, Hoffman heavily foreshadows things that never pay off. Why the Lord of Discipline is cutting open the girls, for example, is never explained, and a perfumed pellet Cale finds at the scene is put in his pocket and forgotten, presumably until book two. Or three. Or perhaps forever, for all it seems to matter here.

I reckon Penguin would like the question of this novel's intended readership to remain unanswered. Published under their adult fantasy imprint, it's also being heavily promoted on their teenage reading site, Spinebreakers, but it doesn't feel fresh enough for the first group or contraband enough for the second. Mostly, The Left Hand of God feels like those Hollywood blockbusters that have been put together by a dozen writers and twice that many producers: professionally done, but with all traces of idiosyncrasy edited out in pursuit of a blander middle ground.

Patrick Ness's The Ask and the Answer is published by Walker Books.

• Patrick Ness

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The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman (The Left Hand of God Trilogy #1)

The Sanctuary of the Redeemers: vast, desolate, hopeless. Where children endure brutal cruelty and violence in the name of the One True Faith. Lost in the Sanctuary's huge maze of corridors is a boy: his age uncertain, his real name unknown. They call him Cale. He is strange and secretive, witty and charming - and violent. But when he opens the wrong door at the wrong time he witnesses an act so horrible he must flee, or die. The Redeemers will go to any lengths to get Cale back. Not because of the secret he has discovered. But because of a more terrifying secret that lies undiscovered in himself.

I started on the back-foot with this book. First of all it was bought as a present for me by the missus, and she rarely buys me fantasy books as she can’t remember what I’ve read (hey, sometimes I can’t remember). She’d seen it on the shelf in Tesco’s. Now that’s the second reason - a fantasy book in a national supermarket chain. You just want it to be superb. The final reason was that the cover rocks—I mean it is simply great and the luminaries that sing its praise in and outside of the cover. I really wanted to like it.

And in truth, there’s a lot to like about it.

The story starts in the Sanctuary of the Redeemers, a brutal monastery where young lads are raised in terrible conditions to serve God. We meet three friends—Thomas (Cale), our main character, Kleist and Vague Henri. The friends discover a dark secret within the Sanctuary and flee into the outside world where they travel to the city of Memphis. Whilst there they become embroiled in a Machiavellian world and the Holy War that the Redeemers plan to enact upon the sinners of the city.

Hoffman’s writing is engaging and easy to read and the main characters well designed and interesting. The interplay between the friends is enjoyable and often funny and I really enjoyed the ideas behind the Cale character. But the book feels like a work of two halves. The tone and style of the first part, where the boys are in the Sanctuary is bleak, tense and an absolute page-turner. It felt like a George RR Martin or Scott Lynch dark fantasy. But then when they leave the Sanctuary it starts getting a bit, well, silly. Cale’s character begins to feel inconsistent - at one stage he’s this rock-hard warrior, at another he’s a love-sick puppy and another he’s freaking out in a fight. It’s all explicable but it conveys a sense of patchiness.

Another issue is with the world design. Hoffman has this irritating habit of mixing real place names in with fantasy names, and of mixing real religious aspects with fantastical ones. Perhaps he’s doing something really clever or really ironic but it was lost on me. So the novel starts to feel part historical fantasy, part heroic fantasy and you’re left feeling dissatisfied. For example he has the city of Memphis, Cortina and York, then someplace called Somkheti and then somewhere called Fort Invincible. It’s the same with the names - we have Italian names mixed with British mixed with pure fantasy (Idris Pukke, Arbell, Vipond). Is it a big deal? Not really, but it just makes it appear lazy and poorly thought out, which given the praise it garners, simply isn’t good enough. There are some great scenes. Most of the part set in the Sanctuary, the battle at Silbury Hill in the finale and a lot of the interplay between the friends are well written and I enjoyed them. The book was a good enough read and has planted a degree of curiosity with regards the rest of the trilogy. It just could have been more, especially given the accolade showered upon it. Ross Kitson, 6/10

I liked this book. I liked it a lot. If you were of a mind to go through the book, looking for contrivances and weaknesses, then you will never be searching for long. Yes, the book is flawed and the world, which is an alternate version of our own, confused me and I would hazard a guess that the author even confused himself on more than one occasion.

But to counteract these failings, indeed to relegate them to little more than asides, is a story arc and characters that are simply wonderful. Add to this the book’s opening, which is one of the most atmospheric and immersive I have ever read, and I am left with far more reasons to recommend than to dissuade.

The beginning is unquestionably the strongest section of the book and while the middle and end have good moments, once the walls of the Sanctuary are left behind the narrative loses a little of its power. However, I enjoyed every moment I was reading The Left Hand of God, never did I wish I was reading something else, doing something else, or ever thought of putting it down. So I would highly recommend this book but with the small caveat that you may need to have your disbelief well and truly suspended in order to enjoy it to its fullest. Floresiensis, 8.5/10

7/10 A good enough read. It just could have been more.

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Reviews by Ross Kitson and Floresiensis

1 positive reader review(s) for The Left Hand of God

Hanne from UK

I just finished the whole trilogy. "The Left hand of God" was a strong start. Since I have read a lot of different things I'm still looking for something different, something that can still captive my mind, so to speak. Even when English isn't my native language - I have read a lot already in English though, almost more than Dutch - I found what I sought in "The Left Hand of God". It ís different and at times a bit strange, but that was what kept me interested. I can't exactly say what I liked about it so much. There are things I really didn't like, too, (as there is the fate of my favorite character :p ) but somehow I had to go on reading. I was totally drawn to the story. I finished the 3th book yesterday and I feel a bit lost. I fear the whole trilogy might not be good reading for the occasional reader, but this first book might be strong enough to take you further once you are on that train. :) but surely it's gold for die hard readers, readers who look for something different and anyone who opens his or her mind for it.

Xavier from Austria

Completely agree. The first part of the book is outstanding, amongst the most atmospheric writing I have read in a long time. But once the Sanctuary is left behind and Memphis appears on the horizon the quality of the story becomes rather patchy. Still very good in places but it suffers in comparison to what has gone before. All in all though I would recommend it. This book's sequel, The Last Four Things, is rather disappointing but I will still be reading the third book as Paul Hoffman is an author that definitely has talent and is worth persevering with.

7.4 /10 from 3 reviews

All Paul Hoffman Reviews

• The Left Hand of God (The Left Hand of God Trilogy #1)
• The Last Four Things (The Left Hand of God Trilogy #2)
• The Beating of His Wings (The Left Hand of God Trilogy #3)

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The Left Hand of God : Book summary and reviews of The Left Hand of God by Paul Hoffman

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The Left Hand of God

by Paul Hoffman

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Published Jun 2010 384 pages Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi, Speculative, Alt. History Publication Information

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Book summary.

They call him Cale. He is destined to save the world... ...or destroy it. In the Redeemer Sanctuary, the stronghold of a secretive sect of warrior monks, torture and death await the unsuccessful or disobedient. Raised by the Redeemers from early childhood like hundreds of other young captives, Thomas Cale has known only deprivation, punishment, and grueling training. He doesn't know that another world exists outside the fortress walls or even that secrets he can't imagine lurk behind the Sanctuary's many forbidden doorways. He doesn't know that his master Lord Bosco and the Sanctuary's Redeemers have been preparing for a holy war for centuries - a holy war that is now imminent. And Cale doesn't know that he's been noticed and quietly cultivated. Then, Cale decides to open a door. It's a door that leads to one of the Redeemers' darkest secrets and a choice that is really no choice at all: certain death or daring escape. Adrift in the wider world for the first time in his young life, Cale soon finds himself in Memphis, the capitol of culture - and the den of Sin. It's there that Cale discovers his prodigious gift: violence. And he discovers that after years of abuse at the hands of the Redeemers his embittered heart is still capable of loving - and breaking. But the Redeemers won't accept the defection of their special subject without a fight. As the clash of civilizations that has been looming for thousands of years draws near, a world where the faithful are as brutal as the sinful looks to young Cale to decide its fate.

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Reader reviews.

"Clever phrasing and innate humor shine through Hoffman's brutish story, but over-the-top villains and rushed, unlikely twists lead to a frustrating, cliff-hanger ending." - Library Journal "[D]espite...gaping flaws, the plight of poor, tormented, invincible Cale beguiles, and the book's true power is its utter unpredictability. Judging by the hype, what the publisher hoped for was Lord of Harry Potter's Dark Materials ; what it actually secured is, in its own immodest way, engrossing enough." - Kirkus Reviews "Brooding and magnificent. Hoffman has created a terrifying world and filled it with strange and complex characters." - Eoin Colfer, New York Times Bestselling author of Artemis Fowl "Writers like Hoffman are too rare. This wonderful book gripped me from the first chapter and then dropped me days later, dazed and grinning to myself." - Conn Iggulden, New York Times Bestselling author of The Dangerous Book for Boys "Starred Review. This compelling read will be popular with fans of fantasy, action, and military fiction, who will eagerly await the next installment." - School Library Journal

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Author Information

Paul hoffman.

Paul Hoffman studied English at New College, Oxford before becoming a senior film censor at the British Board of Film Classification. He lives in the United Kingdom. The Left Hand of God is the first in trilogy following Cale.

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THE LEFT HAND OF GOD

by Hugh Holton ‧ RELEASE DATE: Feb. 15, 1999

Chief of Detectives Larry Cole is a dedicated law-and-order man, but in his Chicago—the year is 2004—keeping the lid on is never a simple matter. And now, suddenly, in his seventh adventure (Red Lightning, 1998, etc.), Chief Cole has a she-devil to contend with. Literally. She goes by the name of Abo-Yorba, “the shape-shifter,” and the shape she shifts into is monstrous and lethal. The shape she shifts out of, on the other hand, belongs to “stunningly beautiful” TV reporter Orga Syriac. Actually, this is a monster less to be feared than admired, as Chief Cole discovers. Clued in by African legend, he learns it’s only injustice that converts Abo-Yorba into a killing machine. And that’s where the noxious Human Development Institute comes in, a group headed by malevolently maniacal Dr. Goldman, who’s never so happy as when he’s murdering in mass. The why of this homicidal bent is probably best ascribed to innate evil since it’s never otherwise explained. Also among the innately evil are Jack Carlisle, master fixer and exploiter; Philo Coffey, villainous politician; and Thomas Kelly, who likes to pretend he’s a priest so that he can more readily murder real ones. HDI’s mission is to start a war somewhere, preferably one in which the fatality lists will be striking. Abo-Yorba’s is to seize and destroy HDI—while overworked, overmatched Chief Cole scurries about desperately seeking a way to keep Chicago his kind of town. Clumsy prose, comic-book characters, the art of storytelling mashed into pulp. (Author tour)

Pub Date: Feb. 15, 1999

ISBN: 0-312-86763-8

Page Count: 480

Publisher: Forge

Review Posted Online: April 25, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1999

MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

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by Hugh Holton

A CONSPIRACY OF BONES

by Kathy Reichs ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2020

Forget about solving all these crimes; the signal triumph here is (spoiler) the heroine’s survival.

Another sweltering month in Charlotte, another boatload of mysteries past and present for overworked, overstressed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan.

A week after the night she chases but fails to catch a mysterious trespasser outside her town house, some unknown party texts Tempe four images of a corpse that looks as if it’s been chewed by wild hogs, because it has been. Showboat Medical Examiner Margot Heavner makes it clear that, breaking with her department’s earlier practice ( The Bone Collection , 2016, etc.), she has no intention of calling in Tempe as a consultant and promptly identifies the faceless body herself as that of a young Asian man. Nettled by several errors in Heavner’s analysis, and even more by her willingness to share the gory details at a press conference, Tempe launches her own investigation, which is not so much off the books as against the books. Heavner isn’t exactly mollified when Tempe, aided by retired police detective Skinny Slidell and a host of experts, puts a name to the dead man. But the hints of other crimes Tempe’s identification uncovers, particularly crimes against children, spur her on to redouble her efforts despite the new M.E.’s splenetic outbursts. Before he died, it seems, Felix Vodyanov was linked to a passenger ferry that sank in 1994, an even earlier U.S. government project to research biological agents that could control human behavior, the hinky spiritual retreat Sparkling Waters, the dark web site DeepUnder, and the disappearances of at least four schoolchildren, two of whom have also turned up dead. And why on earth was Vodyanov carrying Tempe’s own contact information? The mounting evidence of ever more and ever worse skulduggery will pull Tempe deeper and deeper down what even she sees as a rabbit hole before she confronts a ringleader implicated in “Drugs. Fraud. Breaking and entering. Arson. Kidnapping. How does attempted murder sound?”

Pub Date: March 17, 2020

ISBN: 978-1-9821-3888-2

Page Count: 352

Publisher: Scribner

Review Posted Online: Dec. 22, 2019

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 15, 2020

GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | GENERAL THRILLER & SUSPENSE | MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | SUSPENSE | THRILLER | DETECTIVES & PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS | SUSPENSE | GENERAL & DOMESTIC THRILLER

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by Kathy Reichs

by C.J. Box ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 28, 2015

A suspenseful, professional-grade north country procedural whose heroine, a deft mix of compassion and attitude, would be...

Box takes another break from his highly successful Joe Pickett series ( Stone Cold , 2014, etc.) for a stand-alone about a police detective, a developmentally delayed boy, and a package everyone in North Dakota wants to grab.

Cassandra Dewell can’t leave Montana’s Lewis and Clark County fast enough for her new job as chief investigator for Jon Kirkbride, sheriff of Bakken County. She leaves behind no memories worth keeping: her husband is dead, her boss has made no bones about disliking her, and she’s looking forward to new responsibilities and the higher salary underwritten by North Dakota’s sudden oil boom. But Bakken County has its own issues. For one thing, it’s cold—a whole lot colder than the coldest weather Cassie’s ever imagined. For another, the job she turns out to have been hired for—leading an investigation her new boss doesn’t feel he can entrust to his own force—makes her queasy. The biggest problem, though, is one she doesn’t know about until it slaps her in the face. A fatal car accident that was anything but accidental has jarred loose a stash of methamphetamines and cash that’s become the center of a battle between the Sons of Freedom, Bakken County’s traditional drug sellers, and MS-13, the Salvadorian upstarts who are muscling in on their territory. It’s a setup that leaves scant room for law enforcement officers or for Kyle Westergaard, the 12-year-old paperboy damaged since birth by fetal alcohol syndrome, who’s walked away from the wreck with a prize all too many people would kill for.

Pub Date: July 28, 2015

ISBN: 978-0-312-58321-7

Page Count: 272

Publisher: Minotaur

Review Posted Online: April 21, 2015

Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 2015

GENERAL MYSTERY & DETECTIVE | MYSTERY & DETECTIVE

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by C.J. Box

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May 8, 2019 | 7 comments

Aghora 1, At the left hand of God, by Robert Svoboda: Book Review

By Priyanka Dalal

Even so, there are a few matters from this book that really surprised me,

The Aghora path is NOT as Obscure as one would think

How often in our day to day sadhana doing yoga or conventional religion or something “sattvic” are we told to go to the crematorium and use some dead bodies for ……? Almost Never. And yet that is what Aghora seem to be all about. So one would think that the Aghora path is totally out there, very different and apart from the more usual and traditional spiritual paths.

After reading the book, I feel there is a much deeper overlap of the sattvic spiritual marg with Aghora than what I had earlier thought.

A lot of well know, “non-Aghori” yogis and devotees have had their interactions with Aghora and Tantra. Ramakrishna Paramhamsa is one. He had some relevant interactions with Telang Swami, a very amazing Aghori who is said to have lived for 100s of years. Even a Jain monk has been named in the book who was well versed with various Aghori practices. And then I researched this monk and I have started realising that many of the rituals / claims in traditional religion are very Aghora/Tantra in nature. For example, Mahavir Swami’s blood being milk. Or of the many Krishna’s miracles where from a small quantity of food, too many people are fed.

Other rituals like prana pratishtha where emotion or life from the devotee is set into an idol. Where over time an actual deity gets established within that idol. This ritual is very core to most spiritual paths and religions. And yet it is also common for Aghora and Tantra.

Can Tamas be harnessed for spiritual growth?

I remember reading Ramana Maharshi’s comment about Sattva and Tamas being periodical qualities for everyone. And that we should try to remain in Sattva as much as possible. It was valuable for me because it inculcated a sense of acceptance within me about Tamas. Accepting Tamas as a natural part of life and thus relaxing within oneself and not judging ourselves for our Tamasic tendencies is valuable.

Aghora goes a step beyond and says they utilize Tamas to reach higher peaks of spiritual growth. That is interesting and also very relevant. At the same time the book well displays the severe austerities needed to actually be able to do that.

In today’s times there are a lot of youngsters who act like their Tamasic tendencies are OK because “you know even Shiva drank and smoked” – I have always rejected that narrative. I mean drinking and smoking is OK but to justify it on basis of Shiva doing it is treacherous. And there are so many stories calling out on this tendency in humans. Even when actual disciples of the Guru get arrogant of their prowess, and the Guru shows them how far they still have to go by doing some Aghori stuff like drinking molten metal or some such.

So, leaving aside that narrative which justifies Tamas. I am still pondering on how Tamas can be harnessed – not exactly in Aghori fashion. But simply by looking at my life. For example, through complete involvement into binge watching Netflix and treating it as spiritual as any other practice. Or some such thing. The relevant bit for me is this idea of harnessing Tamas also towards spiritual growth. The book suggests some visualisation techniques also which are interesting (and again an overlap with the ‘sankalp’ rituals in Hindu / Jain -ism).

Note that I don’t follow any practices written in books. But I do find it valuable to remain aware of some perspectives. And then eventually life within us brings interesting ideas and solutions for us. ( Spirituality isn’t about reading, it’s about experience )

And when I think of it, I don’t think this is specific only to Aghora. Even in yoga and bhakti there have been ample examples where devotees display deep sadhana in “tamasic” conditions. Like that Shiva’s devotee who was a hunter and a totally wild man. He wanted to offer something in a temple. He killed a few choice animals and offered the best meat to the linga. The traditional pujari who came in was shocked at this “sacrilege” but Shiva was pleased because of the devotion & innocence of the hunter’s heart.

Shakti – the feminine

This book had the most interesting narrative on Goddesses and Shakti. It made me realise that I had pondered into the nature of Shiva and his various forms. This naturally happened as Sadhguru and Ramana both are majorly looking at Shiva…so that’s mainly the two exposures I have had. I had never really closely looked at Shakti.

Isha does have the Linga Bhairavi shrine but I still feel Sadhguru Jaggi Baggi hasn’t spoken enough of her. He has spoken somethings, maybe I need to ponder more on it. Or maybe that is also the nature of the Devi that she is more native to me.

In yoga, I guess Kundalini is the Shakti form that is touched upon usually. But in this Aghora book he talks quite a bit about many other forms of Shakti. And also the differences between the masculine and feminine.

This is a great book to read to,

– Get a different perspective on matters. It is an amazing one. And as Indic culture and as spiritual seekers we aren’t judgemental. We include everything, we take everything as our Guru and most specifically, if we are walking a certain spiritual path then everything can be taken as a means to advance on it.

This book is good that way. Moreover, it has a lot of warning for anyone thinking of reading this book and practicing something flippantly.

– To grasp the insane diversity and depth of Indian culture . At some point in this book I got the feeling that I have no idea what India has been up to. So for Indian people this book is a great read.

– The modern ideas of spirituality are often very domesticated and placid. This book nicely throws water on that and helps to get a fire going in our hearts . Though again, once we have a fire going in our hearts, everything can be used as fuel to make it burn stronger.

Other Books by the Author,

This Aghora series which is mostly a collection of the talks given to the author by an Aghori Vimalananda is of 3 parts. I read the 1st part and shared my thoughts on it above.

The second part is about Kundalini (oooh!) and the third on Law of Karma . I don’t know if I will read these… will see how I feel.

One of my Twitter friends had read other books by the author which I was not aware of until he mentioned it,

The Greatness of Saturn

Light on Life

The Saturn book is written beautifully…Light on life is a good book for beginners who are wanting to learn astrology basics… — Scofield (@doshijatin) May 5, 2019

This blog post contains some Amazon Affiliate links. Any revenue from it will go towards the upkeep of this blog.

Have you read any of these books ? Or met any Aghoris? 🙂

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Top 5 spiritual book recommendations.

1) Your Guru's book 🙂 In my case, Mystics Musings, Sadhguru

2) Aghora Trilogy, Robert Svoboda

3) Talks with Ramana Maharshi

4) Highway Dharma Letters

5) Dada Bhagwan Aptvani Series

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by Priyanka Dalal | Jan 1, 2022 | Ashram Talks , Indic Culture

Bright red painted walls encircle a wonderful courtyard in the main market area of Uttarkashi. A little old-school wooden gate let’s us enter into this courtyard & visit a Kolkata-feels Kali temple. This is the Anandmayee Maa’s ashram of Uttarkashi. 🙂

I was actually amused when you mentioned you haven’t seen माँ काली. I mean it seemed – how to put it – lets say ‘unwholesome’ for someone who connects to Sadhguru in the गुरु शिष्य model. I am not connected to him in that way but his talks on Linga Bhairavi/Shakti are not rare. I mean any sadhana revolving around Shiv – I mean it is not complete or rather do not take place – without acknowledging or referring to Shakti. so it is always shiv-shakti or the ardhnarishwar when it comes to Shiva or shivalingam. and I hope you know what ardhnarishwar is – please don’t tell me otherwise 😋 but with this book now you’ve got an interesting narration and closely looked at Shakti. I’ll read this book too. thanks for sharing. tonight I feel like going to a kāli temple. 🙏🏾

“unwholesome” that’s an interesting choice of words. Lol. Also, not having seen maa Kaali is hardly amusing. You do realise that these names are referred to actual energy forms… and I am not aware of it being common knowledge to keep seeing them by people.

Let me know your thoughts if you read the book 🙂

‘seen’ in the sense of being aware of her physical form. that’s it. that is what I meant and implied. nothing else or nothing more. Priyanka there is no contextual difference. I am calling that picture on the cover माँ काली because essentially that picture has all the attributes that make up the physical form of mahakali. keeping everything aside that might have stirred up with my comment, see and check for yourself.

the author , I assume and I believe has far greater scope of understanding, deep and immersive, and may have collated forms and names and all.[” ….but the author uses a different….”], from here neither there is any need for defense or attack. my comment was without a sense of disrespect and with a sense of friendship and I might’ve taken some liberty in that. I am pretty sure you’ll be wasting your time if you think you’ve found something there to blog about. first understand my context in this conversation ‘neutrally’ and then if you still think you’ve actually found something to blog about, फिर तो कौन ही रोक सकता हैं, feminine energy रोकने से नहीं रूकती 😋

I don’t know what you are talking about – there is no attack or defense. There is a contextual difference which you aren’t realising. You are asking me to see the pic and recognise it as maa Kaali.. I don’t have that kind of exposure to maa Kali to do that. The only time I saw maa Kaali properly was in Kolkata and that time also I was totally flumoxxed with loadsa Qs. I was also not clear what her story was and why her one foot was on Shiva etc… etc… I don’t have the familiarity that I have seen many folks like you display. Even with the “physical idol form” …

Exactly omg yes I think I used the word unwholesome to imply this unfamiliarity and lack of exposure only. Nothing else. Now lets come to the folks. Folks of this land , like me like anybody and yes like Sadhguru. Do one thing. Click a photo of the book’s cover, I mean you already have that pic, and send it to vasudev. To tell you, in the context, who vasudev is I am here talking about Jaggi vasudev. नहीं तो आप बोलोगे यह वासुदेव कौन हैं, I am not familiar 😋 Don’t tell him anything. About our conversation, about how you came to these books, just ask I am curious about the form on cover please tell me in ‘simplest’ way what it is. then lets see the familiarity ‘displayed’ by folks like Sadhguru to folks like you ! (Ouch this is what my sadhana has given me – unpleasant speech 😛) When you realize this displayed familiarity you might also realize how something is holding you from seeing one simple thing – “the context of our conversation”. जय माँ काली खप्पर वाली। Oops familiarity displayed 😋

I don’t know what your are talking about. But I am moving to other things.

Another thing, you are calling that picture on the book cover maa Kali but the author uses a different name for the specific Shakti form … So this is a contextual difference. But your comment has made me realise certain differences in our cultural make up… Will blog on it later. 🙂

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