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The 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.
Goddess worship has long been a significant aspect of Hinduism. In
this book David Kinsley, author of "The Sword and the Flute--Kali
& Krsna: Dark Visions of the Terrible and the Sublime in Hindu
Mythology," sorts out the rich yet often chaotic history of Hindu
goddess worship.
With a New Preface Kali and Krsna are two of Hinduism's most
popular deities, representing dramatically different truths about
the nature of the sacred. The cruel and terrible Kali is thought to
be born of wild, aboriginal roots. She is the goddess of thieves
and often associated with human blood sacrifice. Krsna, in
contrast, is the divine lover and inimitable prankster who plays a
bewitching flute to draw all to him. But Kali and Krsna have much
more in common than their contrasting personalities suggest.
Kinsley shows that Krsna's flute can be interchangeable with Kali's
sword, revealing important perceptions of the divine in the Hindu
tradition.
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