SAUNDARYA LAHARI
(HarperCollins 2022)

Saundarya Lahari is a popular Sanskrit hymn celebrating the power and beauty of Śakti, the primordial goddess. In one hundred verses, it underlines the centrality of the feminine principle in Indian thought. Attributed to Adi Sankaracarya, Saundarya Lahari is a valuable source for understanding tantric ideas. Every verse is associated with yantras and encoded mantras for tantric rituals, and specific verses in the hymn are considered potent for acquiring good health, lovers, and even poetic skills. Mani Rao’s Saundarya Lahari is an inspired, lyrical translation that renders the esoteric immediate and the distant near.

Interview in Hindustan Times by Chintan Girish Modi  → 

Discussion: with Alka Pande at Jaipur Literature Festival 2023  → 

Discussion: on Samyukta Poetry. Hosted by Sonia Nair  → 

Performance: at Bangalore Literature Festival 2022, with Karuna Sivasailam singing, and Ramkrishnan Sathyapal on violin  →