Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-r5fsc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-03T19:06:56.086Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Women, Earth, and the Goddess: A Shākta-Hindu Interpretation of Embodied Religion

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2020

Abstract

This essay explores the notion of female embodiment and its relation to the phenomenon of religion. It explains religious beliefs, acts, and events in terms of the worship of the female body. By elucidating this standpoint, this essay hopes to reclaim the centrality of the female body and its importance in the study of philosophy of religion.

Type
Embodying Divinities
Copyright
Copyright © 1994 by Hypatia, Inc.

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Apffel‐Marglin, Frédérique, in collaboration with Purna Chandra Misra. 1991a. Woman's blood: Challenging the discourse of development. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Apffel‐Marglin, Frédérique. 1991b. Gender and unitary self: Locating the dominant when listening to the subaltern voice. Unpublished manuscript.Google Scholar
Avalon, Arthur, trans. 1984. Wave of bliss: Awndalahart, New Delhi: Abhinav Publications.Google Scholar
Brown, C. Mackenzie. 1990. The triumph of the goddess: The canonical models and theological visions of the Devi‐Bhagvata Purana. Albany: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Coburn, Thomas. 1984. Devi‐Mahatmya: The crystallization of the goddess tradition. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.Google Scholar
Coburn, Thomas. 1991. Encountering the goddess: A translation of Devi Mahatmya and a study of its interpretation. Albany: State University of New York Press.Google Scholar
Griffith, R. T. H., trans. 1920-1926. Rigveda. Benaras: E. J. Lazarus and Company.Google Scholar
Gupta, Sanjukta. 1972. Laksmt tantra: A pancaratra text. Leiden: E. J. Brill.Google Scholar
Hiltebeitel, Alf. 1988. The cult of Draupadt: Mythologies; From Gingee to Kuruksetra., vol. 1. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
Kak, Ram Chandra, and Haribhatta Shastri, Trans. [1984] 1985. Devi‐rahasya: With parisisthas. Vadodara: Butala Publications.Google Scholar
Kale, Moreshvar, trans. 1981. Kumarasambhava. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.Google Scholar
Kale, Moreshvar, trans. [1934] 1982. Uttararornacharitao/Bhavabhuti. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.Katyon. 1987.61(1): 15‐19.Google Scholar
Kavirayar, I. [1857] 1977. Shri Makaparata Vilacam Cutu‐Tukilurital. Madras: Irattina Nayakar and Sons.Google Scholar
Keller, Catherine. 1986. From a broken web: Separation, sexism, and self. Boston: Beacon Press.Google Scholar
Keller, Catherine. 1989. Feminism and the ethic of inseparability. In Weaving the visions: New patterns in feminist spirituality. See Plaskow and Christ 1989.Google Scholar
Kinsley, David. 1986. The Hindu goddesses: Visions of the divine feminine in the Hindu religious tradition. Berkeley: University of California Press.Google Scholar
Krishnamacharya, V ed., 1959. Laksmi tantra: A pancaratra text. Madras: The Adyar Library and Research.Google Scholar
Leslie, Julia. 1989. The perfect wife: The orthodox Hindu woman according to the Stndharmapaddhati of Tryambakayajavan. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.Google Scholar
Mookerjee, Ajit. 1988. Kali: The feminine force. London: Thames and Hudson.Google Scholar
Morgan, Robin. 1982. Metaphysical feminism. In The politics of women's spirituality, ed. Spretnak, Charlene. New York: Anchor Press.Google Scholar
Nene, Gopalsastri, trans. 1970. Manusmriti. Varanasi: Chaukhamba Sanskrit Series.Google Scholar
Nyayaratna, M., ed. 1889. Purva mimamsa sutra of jaimini. Calcutta: Asiatic Society.Google Scholar
Plaskow, Judith, and Christ, Carol eds., 1989. Weaving the visions: New patterns in feminist spirituality. San Francisco: Harper.Google Scholar
Powers, Maria. 1980. Menstruation and reproduction: An Oglala case. Signs 6(1): 5465.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radhakrishnan, Sarvapalli. [1953] 1969. The principal Upanishads. London: Allen and Unwin.Google Scholar
Sastri, Sankardatta, trans. 1985. Shri Candipatha. Bombay: Sastu Sahitya.Google Scholar
Sastry, Ananthakrishna, trans. [1951] 1970. Lalita‐sahashranaman. Adyar India: The Theosophical Publishing House.Google Scholar
Sharma, Arvind. 1993. Hinduism. In Our religions, ed. Sharma, Arvind. San Francisco: Harper Collins.Google Scholar
Shastri, J., trans. 1970. Shiva purana. 4 vols. Delhi: Motilal Banarasidass.Google Scholar
Shweder, Richard. 1991. Thinking through cultures: Expeditions in cultural psychology. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.Google Scholar
Sircar, Dineshchandra. 1948. Ptthanirnaya: The Shakta pithas: Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal 14(1): 4266.Google Scholar
Devyatharvashirsa, Shri. 1987. In Kalyan 61(l): 1519.Google Scholar
Sukthankar, V. S., et al. eds., 1933-1939. Mahabharata. 19 vols. Poona: Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute.Google Scholar
Swami, Jagadiswarananda, trans. [1953] 1986. Devimahatmya. Madras: Sri Ramakrishna Math.Google Scholar
Swami, Vijnanananda, trans. [192123] 1977. Shrimad devi bhagwatam. New Delhi: Oriental Books.Google Scholar
Walker, Alice. 1989. God is inside you and in everybody else. In Weaving the visions: New patterns in feminist spirituality. See Plaskow and Christ, 1989.Google Scholar
Woodroffe, John. [1918] 1969. Shakta and Shskti. Madras: Ganesh and Company.Google Scholar