Goddess Traditions in Tantric Hinduism: History, Practice and Doctrine

by Bjarne Wernicke Olesen (Editor)

Overview

Hinduism cannot be understood without the Great Goddess and the goddess-orientated Śākta traditions. The Goddess pervades Hinduism at all levels, from aniconic village deities to high-caste pan-Hindu goddesses to esoteric, tantric goddesses. Nevertheless, the highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship have only recently begun to draw scholarly attention. This book addresses the increasing interest in the Great Goddess and the tantric traditions of India by exploring the history, doctrine and practices of the Śākta tantric traditions.

The highly influential tantric forms of South Asian goddess worship form a major part of what is known as ‘Śāktism’, and is often considered one of the major branches of Hinduism next to Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism and Smārtism. Śāktism is, however, less clearly defined than the other major branches, and the book looks at the texts of the Śākta traditions that constitute the primary sources for gaining insights into the Śākta religious imaginative, ritual practices and history. It provides an historical exploration of distinctive Indian ways of imagining God as Goddess, and surveys the important origins and developments within Śākta history, practice and doctrine in its diversity.

Bringing together contributions from some of the foremost scholars in the field of tantric studies, the book provides a platform for the continued research into Hindu goddesses, yoga, and tantra for those interested in understanding the religion and culture in South Asia.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781138583788
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/21/2018
Series:	Routledge Studies in Tantric Traditions
Edition description:	Reprint
Pages:	200
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Bjarne Wernicke Olesen is a Research Fellow at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies, UK, and a teacher of classical South Asian languages and religions at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Table of Contents

Foreword Introduction 1. Śakti in Early Tantric Śaivism: Historical Observations on Goddesses, Cosmology, and Ritual in the Niśvāsatattvasaṃhitā 2. The (Un)Dreadful Goddess: Aghorī in Early Śākta Tantras 3. Varieties of Melaka in the Jayadrathayāmala: Some Reflections on the Terms Haṭha and Priya 4. Snakebite Goddesses in the Sìākta Traditions: Roots and Incorporations of Tvaritā, Kurukullā, and Bherunòdòā 5. The Cāṇḍālī as Śakti: Untouchable Women in Some Tantric Texts 6. Śāktism and Haṭhayoga 7. Śāktism, Polity and Society in Medieval Malabar