Research Catalog

Title

Buddhist goddesses of India / Miranda Shaw.

Author

Shaw, Miranda Eberle, 1954-

Publication

Princeton : Princeton University Press, c2006.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Holdings

Details

Description

xi, 571 p., 16 p. of plates : ill. (some col.); 25 cm.

Summary

• "Beautifully illustrated, the book chronicles the histories, legends, and artistic portrayals of nineteen goddesses and several related human figures and texts. Drawing on a sweeping range of material, from devotional poetry and meditation manuals to rituals and artistic images, Shaw reveals the character, powers, and practice traditions of the female divinities. Interpretations of intriguing traits such as body color, stance, hairstyle, clothing, jewelry, hand gestures, and handheld objects lend deep insight into the symbolism and roles of each goddess." "In addition to being a comprehensive reference, this book traces the fascinating history of these goddesses as they evolved through the early, Mahayana, and Tantric movements in India and found a place in the pantheons of Tibet and Nepal."--BOOK JACKET.
• "The Indian Buddhist world abounds with goddesses--voluptuous tree spirits, maternal nurturers, potent healers and protectors, transcendent wisdom figures, cosmic mothers of liberation, and dancing female Buddhas. Despite their importance in Buddhist thought and practice, these female deities have received relatively little scholarly attention, and no comprehensive study of the female pantheon has been available. Buddhist Goddesses of India is the essential and definitive guide to divinities that, as Miranda Shaw writes, "operate from transcendent planes of bliss and awareness for as long as their presence may benefit living beings." Beautifully illustrated, the book chronicles the histories, legends, and artistic portrayals of nineteen goddesses and several related human figures and texts. Drawing on a sweeping range of material, from devotional poetry and meditation manuals to rituals and artistic images, Shaw reveals the character, powers, and practice traditions of the female divinities. Interpretations of intriguing traits such as body color, stance, hairstyle, clothing, jewelry, hand gestures, and handheld objects lend deep insight into the symbolism and roles of each goddess. In addition to being a comprehensive reference, this book traces the fascinating history of these goddesses as they evolved through the early, Mahayana, and Tantric movements in India and found a place in the pantheons of Tibet and Nepal."--Publisher's website.

Subject

• Buddhist goddesses > India
• India > Religious life and customs
• South Asia > Religious life and customs

Bibliography (note)

• Includes bibliographical references (p. 525-551) and index.

Processing Action (note)

• committed to retain

Contents

• Acknowledgments -- Note on transliteration -- Introduction -- pt. 1. Ascent of the sacred female in early Buddhism -- 1. Pṛthivī : Mother Earth -- 2. Māyādevī : the Buddha's wondrous mother and her sacred grove -- 3. Yakṣiṇīs : voluptuous, magical nature spirits -- 4. Śrī Lakṣmī : glorious good fortune -- 5. Hārītī : goddess of motherly love -- 6. Female Buddhas : the case of Gotamī --
• pt. 2. Mahayana mothers of liberation -- 7. Goddesses in the Flower Ornament Scripture -- 8. Prajñāpāramitā : luminous mother of perfect wisdom -- 9. Parṇaśavarī : healing goddess clothed in leaves -- 10. Mārīcī : lady of sunrise splendor -- 11. Jāṅgulī : the Buddhist snake goddess -- 12. Sarasvatī : divine muse -- 13. Vasudhārā : Lady Bountiful -- 14. Cundā : saving grace -- 15. Sitātapatrā : invincible goddess with a thousand heads and hands -- 16. Uṣṇīṣavijayā : bestower of long life and immortality -- 17. Tārā : Mahayana Buddha, universal savior --
• pt. 3. Tantric female Buddhas -- 18. Vajrayoginī : her dance is total freedom -- 19. Nairātmyā : her body is the sky -- 20. Chinnamuṇḍā : severed-headed goddess -- 21. Siṃhamukhā : lion-faced female Buddha -- 22. Kurukullā : red enchantress with flowered bow -- Epilogue -- Notes -- Glossary of Tibetan -- Bibliography -- Index.

ISBN

• 0691127581 (cl : alk. paper)
• 9780691127583 (cl : alk. paper)
• 0691028535 (cloth : alk. paper) (canceled/invalid)

LCCN

^^2005054533

Owning Institutions

Harvard Library