HINDU, JAIN AND BUDDHIST GODDESSES (English)

HINDU, JAIN AND BUDDHIST GODDESSES (English)
INDIAN GODS AND GODDESSES Volume - 3
Ed. Shantilal Nagar
2005    285 mm x 220 mm    280 pp + 65 art plates + 55 line drawings
Hardcover     Rs. 2000

From the Sarasvati civilisation through the later Aryan influx, the female deity continues to be worshipped in India. This trend is still visible in the Vedic / Brahmanic religion (aka Hinduism), Jainism and Buddhism.

A Hindu text, Kena Upanishad, offers by way of explanation a story that it was the goddess who knew about the Brahman, while the rest were ignorant.

Terracotta images of goddesses were found at the site of the Indus valley excavations. In the Kushana period images of Mahishasuramandini, Gajalaxmi, Durga, Bhadra and several others, including various forms of Matrkas, were sculpted.

In the Gupta period images appeared in stone as well as metal and as bas-reliefs on the walls of monasteries, caves, etc.

Images of Tantric goddesses like Kali, Shakti, Mahakali, Bhadrakali, the 64 Yoginis, etc. as well as local deities such as river goddesses were enshrined in temples and worshipped. Stories surrounding them began to appear in both religious and folk literature.

The Jain and Baudda religions also saw the emergence of sub-deities in the form of goddesses. In Jainism, they were known as Yakshinis and Vidyadevis. The concept of a pair of Yaksha and Yakshini linked with a Tirthankara does not appear prior to the 6th century CE.

The Tiloyapannatti (7th century CE) gives a complete list of the 24 yakshinis. A slightly different listing of 24 names appears in the later Shvetambara work, the Pravacanasaroddhara. In addition, 16 Vidyadevis and 8 mothers, known as Ashtamatrkas are also listed in medieval Jain texts.

There are many goddesses listed in Buddhist texts like Sadhanamala and Nishpannyagavali. Some are said to be benevolent while others are described as terrific.

Citations from original texts in Sanskrit and Prakrit add to the value of the book and underline its credibility. 

This book is a well researched study of Indian traditions and traces the genesis and evolution of female deities in Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism. It will be of great interest to the layman and scholar. The book should be a part of every Indological library.

Chapter Scheme
--------------------
1. Introduction
2. Deities of the Chalcolithic Age
3. Vedic Deities
4. Hindu Goddesses
5. Jain Goddesses
6. Buddhist Female Deities
7. Epilogue

Appendices
1. Goddesses with their attributes and vehicles
2. Jain Yakshis
3. Buddhist Goddesses, their Complexion and Attributes

Bibliography
Index
Plates

The 65 art plates featuring colour and B/w photographs of goddesses adds to the value of this book. This book is available for sale at our bookstore either individually or as part of a 4 - Volume set.

Other Volumes in this Series are:

INDIAN GODS & GODDESSES in 4 Volumes
Vol. 1 Early Deities from Chalcolithic to the Beginning of Historical Period
Vol. 2 The Vedic Period
Vol. 3 Hindu Jain and Buddhist Goddesses
Vol. 4 Yogini Shrines and Shaktipithas

|| parasparopagraho jivanam ||

Manish

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