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Summary
This book explores the rise of the Great Goddess by focusing on the development of saakti (creative energy), maya (objective illusion), and prakr(materiality) from Vedic times to the late Puranic period, clarifying how these principles became central to her theology.
"I like very much the way in which Pintchman carefully establishes the interrelationships between saakti, maya, and prakrti concepts that might not at first appear to be closely connected. This book nicely reveals their organic integration, an integration that Hindu culture itself recognized and elaborated only gradually over the centuries. She avoids reading later Sakta or Tantric theological ideas back into the earlier literature, yet she convincingly demonstrates how the later ideas are firmly rooted in the ancient traditions. Thus, the book provides the reader with a sense both of the continuities involved in the development of the Great Goddess concept, as well as the major transformations of tradition that such a development entailed." -- C. Mackenzie Brown
"There are two complementary, arresting features of this book. One is the broad sweep of the author's inquiry into the history of three concepts that are fundamental to the Great Goddess. She follows a thread of continuity that has never been so crisply delineated. The result is kind of a conceptual "adventure story" told in flashbacks: we know what the mature conception is, as it is now common knowledge. Where it came from makes for very interesting reading. The second striking feature is the provocative, suggestive linking of this history to contemporary issues regarding gender and women." -- Thomas B. Coburn
"The author provides a thorough discussion of the main concepts relating to the feminine principle in the intellectual, literary traditions of Hinduism. She shows that goddess worship is not a marginal expression but is central to even the most orthodox elements of Hinduism. She also brings together much far-flung scholarship from India, Europe, and the United States without duplicating any of it." -- Kathleen M. Erndl
Tracy Pintchman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology at Loyola University of Chicago.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Setting the Stage
Textual Issues
Summary of the Book
One The Feminine Principle in The Vedas
Cosmogony, Cosmology, and Goddesses in the Vedas
Samhitas
The Waters
Earth
Aditi
Viraj
Vac (and Sarasvati)
Saci/Indrani
Brahmanas
The Waters
Earth/Aditi/Viraj
Vac/Sarasvati
Indrani
Upanisads
The Waters
Earth
Vac
Two Prakrti, Maya, and Sakti: The Feminine Principle in Philosophical Discourse
Prakrti
The Term Prakrti In Early Vedic, Grammatical, And Ritual Contexts
Prakrti As A Material Principle
Prakrti In Vedic And Proto-Samkhya Contexts
The Marriage Of Vedic And Proto-Samkhya Materials In The Mahabharata
Prakrti In Classical Samkhya
Maya
Maya In Vedic And Early Post-Vedic Contexts
Maya In Advaita Vedanta
Sakti
Vedic Roots
Sakti In Philosophical Literature
Sakti In Grammatical Literature
Sakti In Tantric Literature
Three The Feminine Principle In Puranic Cosmogony and Cosmology
Introduction To The Goddess Materials In The Epics And Puranas
The Devi-Mahatmya
Cosmogony And Goddesses In The Puranas
Primary Creation (Sarga): Basic Cosmogony
Samkhya-Type Accounts Of Cosmogony
Reconciliation Of Competing Philosophical Systems In Accounts Of Primary Creation
Secondary Creation (Pratisarga)
Creation Of The Worlds
Creation Of Progeny
The Explicit Introduction Of The Feminine Element In Creation: Prakrti/Sakti As The Consort Of God
References Outside Of Accounts Of Cosmogony
Integration Of The Feminine Principle In Accounts Of Cosmogony: Sarga And Pratisarga
Vaisnava Puranas And Vaisnava Sections Of Cross-Sectarian Puranas
Saiva Puranas And Saiva Sections Of Cross-Sectarian Puranas
Sakta Puranas
Four Concluding Remarks
Resume
Contextual Issues
Thematic Issues
Historical Issues
Interpretive Issues
Further Implications Of The Study: Historical And Socio-Political Implications
Further Implications Of The Study: Cultural Implications
