Tantric Kali, Daniel Odier
Tantric Kali, Daniel Odier
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Tantric Kali
Secret Practices and Rituals

Author: Daniel Odier

Narrator: Aura Paige

Unabridged: 3 hr 11 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 03/03/2026

Includes: Bonus Material Bonus Material Included


Synopsis

The mythology, rituals, meditations, and practices used in Tantric worship of the goddess Kali in the tradition of Kashmiri Shaivism

• Reveals the practices of Vamachara, known as the Left-hand Path but more accurately translated as the Path of Shakti

• Includes a Kali ritual from the Nirrutara Tantra, translated here for the first time

• Presents devotional chants, meditations, and mudras specific to Tantric worship of Kali

According to traditions going back to pre-Vedic times, Kali sprang from the third eye of the Goddess Durga as a destructive and terrifying manifestation of feminine power sent to lay waste to the forces of evil. Throughout India to this day, Kali is worshipped as the destroyer of bondage, capable of liberating her devotee from all rules and subjugation.

In Tantric Kali, Daniel Odier presents the mythology, practices, and rituals of Kali worship in the Tantric Kaula tradition within Kashmiri Shaivism. He reveals the practices of Vamachara, commonly known as the Left-hand Path but more accurately translated as the Path of Shakti. In this tradition the body itself is Kali’s temple, and it is therefore unnecessary to reject or deny the body to know union with the divine. Instead, nothing is regarded as pure or impure and there is complete freedom from rules. Focused on working directly with forbidden emotions and behaviors, this path allows the seeker to transcend obstacles to liberation through sexual union. According to the Kaula Upanishad, “In your behavior do the opposite to what the norms dictate but remain in consciousness.” This is the essence of Tantra. Kali is absolute reality: manifested as woman intoxicated by desire, she frees the tantric practitioner from all desire except union with the divine.

The author includes an evocative ritual from the Nirrutara Tantra--never before translated into any Western language--containing devotions to the 64 yoginis according to Matsyendranath, founder of the Kaula path. Offering devotional chants, meditations, and mudras specific to Tantric worship of Kali, this empowering book provides practices and teachings for those on the Tantric path to liberation.

About Daniel Odier

Daniel Odier began his studies with Kalu Rinpoche in 1968 and remained his disciple until his passing in 1989. In 2004 Odier received the Ch'an ordination in the Lin t'si and Caodong schools in China as well as permission to teach the Zhao Zhou Ch'an lineage in the West. He gives workshops in Europe, Canada, and the United States and is the author of Tantric Quest: An Encounter with Absolute Love and many other books, including Yoga Spandakarika: The Sacred Texts at the Heart of Tantra. He lives in Switzerland.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Mindfulnessmyttymuhveli on April 28, 2018

A disappointment. Bought this for ~16€ and got a skimpy book that didn't contain that much more information on Kali than a basic wiki-page. If you've never heard or read anything about Kali, then this might be a nice dip-of-the-toe-kinda-book for you, but for nearly everyone else it just doesn't go......more

Goodreads review by Steven on May 17, 2021

It's fine. This book definitely contains some vital information about Kali and how she relates to Abhinavagupta's philosophy, but I would maybe like some more confirmation on the validity of Odier's translation of the Nirrutara Tantra. Also, the author mentions that parts of this book were (supposed......more

Goodreads review by Utkrisht on May 27, 2025

Daniel Odier’s Tantric Kali: Secret Practices and Rituals is a compelling, evocative, and deeply spiritual book that provides exploration into the secretive world of Kali sadhana and tantric practices for beginners. Drawing from his personal experiences and insights rooted in the Kashmiri Shaiva and......more

Goodreads review by Sylvi on July 09, 2022

I'd give this a 3.5/5 stars if I could. The first third of this book goes over some extremely beginner origin story of Kali (most popular one), what some symbolism means with her (skin color, items she often holds, etc.), And some specifics of kaula, a group of Hindus who worship Kali (majority of H......more

Goodreads review by Yolanda on September 30, 2019

It's a good book; however, I was more interested in "The Who" than the how. I appreciate the how, that was described in this book, but it's a manner of reference vs. learning and I returned the book to the library. It's good to know that Kali is the devourer of time, that we all have our demons, and -......more


Quotes

Tantric Kali provides depth as we are guided through mythology, ritual, visualization, and life teachings to have a direct experience of Shakti from the wisdom teachings of the Kaula path. Daniel offers another treasure from the heart of his realization—steeped in his lineage with translations of the oldest ritual to Kali--songs and hymns and truly transformative practices and meditations direct from the root. A full-spectrum offering, this is the birth of another Odier classic. Daniel is one of the extraordinary and skillful practitioner teacher-scholar-writers of our time. Tantric Kali is juicy, liberating, radical, and exquisite and offers a unique compendium of tantric Kali sadhana accessible to all.”