The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal FeminineHINDUISM / MYTHOLOGY In India it is said that there is a goddess in every village, a nymph in every lake. Demonesses stand guard on village frontiers, ogresses howl on crossroads, untamed forests resound with the laughter of celestial virgins. It is a land of mysterious apsaras and seductive yakshinis, of terrifying dakinis and wise yoginis--each with a story to tell. In this wide-reaching exploration of ancient Hindu lore and legends, Devdutt Pattanaik investigates the evolving cultural perceptions of earth, women, and goddess over the course of 4,000 years. Some of the tales recounted are revered classics; others are common and folkloric, often held in disdain by priests. Until now most have remained hidden, isolated in distant hamlets or languishing in forgotten libraries, overwhelmed by the din of masculine sagas. As these tales come to light through word and stunning imagery, the author identifies the five faces given to the eternal feminine as man sought to unlock the mysteries of life.The female half of existence is at first identified with Nature, gradually deified and eventually objectified. She comes to be seen as the primal mother, fountainhead of life and nurturance.The all-giving mother then transforms into the dancing nymph, a seductress offering worldly pleasures that bind man to the cycle of life. As this nymph is domesticated, the dominant image of woman becomes that of the chaste wife with miraculous powers. Finally, the submissive consort redefines herself as the wild and terrifying goddess who does battle, drinks blood, and demands appeasement. Exploring mysteries of gender and biology and shedding light on the roots of taboos and traditions still practiced in India today, Pattainaik shows how mortal woman can be both worshipped and feared as she embodies the image of the Mother Goddess. A medical doctor by training, DEVDUTT PATTANAIK moved away from clinical practice to nurture his passion--mythology. His unorthodox approach is evident in his books on Hindu mythology, which include introductions to Shiva and Vishnu. Dr. Pattanaik lives in Mumbai, India, where he works as a health communicator and writes and lectures on Hindu narratives, art, ritual, and philosophy. |
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Contents
Left Halves FEMINIZING THE CIRCLE | 6 |
Earth Mother ROTATING THE CIRCLE | 21 |
Dancing Nymph TRANSCENDING THE CIRCLE | 57 |
Cult of Chastity SQUARING THE CIRCLE | 89 |
A Brief History of Hinduism | 158 |
Dates of Hindu Scriptures | 161 |
Glossary | 162 |
Select Bibliography | 168 |
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ancestors apsaras Arjuna ascetic asuras beautiful became Bhagvata Purana Bhisma blood body Brahma brahmana brother caste celestial chaste chastity child consort corpse cosmic cosmos cursed cycle Daksha daughter Dayamava death decided demons desire devas Devi Bhagvatam dharma divine Draupadi earth earth-goddess eternal father female fertility Folklore forest Ganga gave birth goddess gods Hanuman head hermit Hindu husband India Indra Kali Kama karma Kauravas kill king Krishna Laxmana Laxmi live lord Mahabharata male marriage marry mind mother mother-goddess Narada Nature nymph offered Pandavas Parashurama Parvati Prajapati primal princess queen Radha rakshasas Rama Ramayana rasa Ravana refused ritual river sacred Hindu lore sage samsara Sati Savitri seed semen sexual Shakti Shikhandi Shiva Purana Sita Skanda Purana society sons sought spirit story suhagan tapas temple tion transformed turned Urvashi Veda Vedic village Vishnu Vishvamitra wanted warrior widow wife wives woman womb women worldly worship yagna Yama yoga