Author: Devdutt Pattanaik
Publisher: Vakils, Freffer & Simons
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 126
ISBN/UPC (if available): 9788187111917
Description
Written in simple narrative style, this large-format book on art paper with color illustrations is an attempt to understand the meaning of goddess worship in our time, and takes us through Shakta imagery, philosophy, beliefs, customs, history, folklore and myth. Is God male or female? Neither, say some religions. Male, say most. Female, say quite a few. Hinduism makes room for all these beliefs. Sacred texts state that the divine principle is both nirguna, without form, and saguna, with form. As nirguna, the divine principle stands beyond the confines of gender. As saguna, God can be masculine or feminine. Hence the Shakta cult of the mother-goddess Devi is as important to the Hindu as the worship of Shiva and Vishnu.
This book reaches to young and old alike, bringing together tales of Adi-Maya-Shakti, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, Kali, Durga as well as several village-goddesses such as Kanyakumari, Vaishnav-devi, Bahucharmata and heroines such as Anasuya, Arundhati and Savitri. Also included are tales of ancient goddesses who were once worshipped in other parts of the world such as Isis, Ishtar, Aphrodite and Diana.
Highlights include lucid explanations and a pictorial key to numerous symbols associated with Shakta customs and Tantrik rituals, a map showing important Devi temples, a bibliography for those interested in learning more and over 150 illustrations of which many are in color. This is an attempt to understand the meaning of goddess worship in our time. Written in simple narrative style, it takes us through Shakta imagery, philosophy, beliefs, customs, history, folklore and myth.