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 The Relationship Between Goddesses And Women The Ambiguous Goddess Sakti/Maya Prakrti/Maya The Ambiguous Female: From Divine To Human Women And Creation Of The Social Order Women And Maintenance Of The Social Order Notes Bibliography Index

About the Author

Tracy Pintchman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology at Loyola University of Chicago.

Reviews

"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