The Triumph of the Goddess: The Canonical Models and Theological Visions of the Devī-Bhāgavata PurānaThe authors of the Devī-Bhāgavata Purāna endeavored to demonstrate the superiority of the Devī over competing masculine deities, and to articulate in new ways the manifold nature of the Goddess. Brown's book sets out to examine how the Purana pursues these ends. The Devī-Bhāgavata employs many ancient myths and motifs from older masculine theologies, incorporating them into a thoroughly "feminized" theological framework. The text also seeks to supplant older "masculine" canonical authorities. Part I of Brown's study explores these strategies by focusing on the Purana's self-conscious endeavor to supersede the famous VaisBhagavata Purana. The Devī-Bhāgavata also re-envisions older mythological traditions about the Goddess, especially those in the first great Sanskritic glorification of the Goddess, the Devi-Mahatmya. Brown shows in Part II how this re-envisioning process transforms the Devī from a primarily martial and erotic goddess into the World-Mother of infinite compassion. Part III examines the Devi Gita, the philosophical climax of the Purana modeled upon the Bhagavad Gita. The Devi Gita, while affirming that ultimate reality is the divine Mother, avows that her highest form as consciousness encompasses all gender, thereby suggesting the final triumph of the Goddess. It is not simply that She is superior to the male gods, but rather that She transcends Her own sexuality without denying it. |
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ancient appears aspects asura avatāra battle Bhagavad Gita Bhāgavata bhakti boon Brahman Brahmavaivarta caritas century chapter cosmic creation darśana DBHP DBHP's deeds deity deluding delusion demons devatās Devī Devi Gītā Devi-Bhāgavata Devi-Māhātmya Devi's devotion dhyānas divine epic episode erotic female feminine frame story Goddess gods grace gunas Hayagrīva Hayaśiras Hazra Hindu horse-headed hymns incarnations Indra interpretation Kālī karma king Kṛṣṇa Lalye later Lord Madhu and Kaiṭabha Mahā Mahā-Kālī Mahā-Lakṣmī Mahā-Purāņas Mahabharata Māhātmya Mahisa male manifestations mantra Manu Mārkaṇḍeya masculine māyā meditation mother motif myth Nārada Nārāyaṇa nature Niśumbha O'Flaherty original Pārvatī Paurāņika perspective praise Prakṛti Purāṇa Purāņas Purāņic Puruşa Rahasyas Rāma recitation refers reveals role sage Śākta Sakti śaktis Sanskrit Sanyal Śiva Skandha slain slaying śruti Sumbha supreme Suratha Tantric theological tradition Trans transcendent Trimurti Udyoga ultimate Upanisad Vaiṣṇava various VarP Vedas Vedic verse vision Visņu Vṛtra woman worship