Archive: Meditation and Yoga Books #7

"Encountering the Goddess, A Translation of the Devi-Mahatmya and a Study of Its Interpretation" is an excellent English translation by Thomas B. Coburn of the famous "Devi-Mahatmya", published in 1991 by the State University of New York Press.

The Devi-Mahatmya, also known as Durga-Saptasati or Candi is one of the main scriptures of the Shakta tradition. Its estimated date of composition is 400-600 CE.
The Mahatmya is part of the Markandeya Purana and is divided into thirteen chapters with a total number of 700 mantras (hence "saptasati", meaning "sevenhundred").
The book comprises three meditations, namely Mahakali Dhyanam (chapter 1), Mahalaksmi Dhyanam (chapters 2-4) and Mahasarasvati Dhyanam (chapters 5-13).
Coburns edition is an English translation only. For those interested in the Sanskrit text, Swami Jagadisvaranada's edition is recommended.

Encountering the Goddess - Thomas B. Coburn