Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten MahavidyasThe Hindu pantheon is rich in images of the divine feminine—deities representing a wide range of symbolic, social, and meditative meanings. David Kinsley's new book documents a highly unusual group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, many of whom are strongly associated with sexuality and violence. What is one to make of a goddess who cuts her own head off, or one who prefers sex with a corpse? The Mahavidyas embody habits, attributes, or identities usually considered repulsive or socially subversive and can be viewed as "antimodels" for women. Yet it is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas seem to function as "awakeners"—symbols which help to project one's consciousness beyond the socially acceptable or predictable. Drawing on a broad range of Sanskrit and vernacular texts as well as extensive research in India, including written and oral interpretations of contemporary Hindu practitioners, Kinsley describes the unusual qualities of each of the Mahavidyas and traces the parallels between their underlying themes. Especially valuable are the many rare and fascinating images he presents—each important to grasping the significance of the goddesses. Written in an accessible, engaging style, Kinsley's book provides a comprehensive understanding of the Mahavidyas and is also an overview of Hindu tantric practice. |
Contents
THE MAHĀVIDYĀS AS A GROUP | 18 |
The Black Goddess | 67 |
The Goddess Who Guides through Troubles | 92 |
She Who Is Lovely in the Three Worlds | 112 |
She Whose Body Is the World | 129 |
The SelfDecapitated Goddess | 144 |
The Fierce One | 167 |
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Common terms and phrases
adept appearance aspects associated avatāras Bagalā Bagalāmukhī Bhairavī bhūta Bhuvaneśvarī blood Brahmā brahman Buddhist Calcutta Chinnamastā consciousness consort corpse cosmic cosmos creation cremation ground cult death Delhi demons depicted described destruction devotees Dhumavati dhyāna dhyāna mantras Dīkṣit Durgā epithets evam example female fierce garland goddess gods hair Hinduism Ibid iconography identified India individual Mahāvidyās interpretation Kālī Kālī and Tārā Kālī's Kāma Kamalā kundalini Lakṣmī lingam lotus magical powers Mahā Mahāvidyās male deities mantra Mātangī meditation Motilal Banarsidass myth offerings pañca tattva ritual Pārvatī polluted Prakṛti priest pūjā Rati reality represents role sādhaka sādhanā sākta Śākta-pramoda Śakti Satī says severed heads sexual intercourse siddhis Śiva Śiva's skulls Ṣoḍaśī spiritual Śrī cakra Śrīvidyā story stotra suggest Swami symbol Tantra Śāstra Tantrasāra tantric sādhanā tantric texts Tantrism Tārā tattva temple theme thousand-name hymn tongue Tripura-sundarī University Vaiṣṇava Varanasi vidyās Viṣņu vols wears women worship yoni