The Madness of the Saints : Ecstatic Religion in Bengal

Rating:
Summary: An Ecstatic Read
Review: A great book about the Bhakta traditions of West Bengal. Having lived in India and traveled to West Bengal, I can state that Mrs. McDaniel not only captures the facts, but also the deeper sense of it. She hits at the heart of things in way that to one informed stick out. It is not only what is written, but the way in which it is written that makes me know for certainty that the author knows her stuff. Also provided in the book are rare quotes from tantric literature, as well as stories of little know saints, like vama khepa(the mad saint of the cremation grouds). What makes the book so impressive is that while it comes from an obviously informed prospective, she does not fall into the annoying trap of evangenlist. Moreover, she does not interject herself into the text at all, which seems to be the self important trend of many professors. A great book. I'm surprised it isn't more popular....

Rating:
Summary: An Ecstatic Read
Review: A great book about the Bhakta traditions of West Bengal. Having lived in India and traveled to West Bengal, I can state that Mrs. McDaniel not only captures the facts, but also the deeper sense of it. She hits at the heart of things in way that to one informed stick out. It is not only what is written, but the way in which it is written that makes me know for certainty that the author knows her stuff. Also provided in the book are rare quotes from tantric literature, as well as stories of little know saints, like vama khepa(the mad saint of the cremation grouds). What makes the book so impressive is that while it comes from an obviously informed prospective, she does not fall into the annoying trap of evangenlist. Moreover, she does not interject herself into the text at all, which seems to be the self important trend of many professors. A great book. I'm surprised it isn't more popular....