Devi: the Goddesses of India

The monotheistic religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam have severelyimited the portrayal of the divine as feminine. But in Hinduism ‘God’ very often means ‘Goddess’. This extraordinary collection explores twelve different Hindu goddesses, all of whom are in some way related to Devi, the Great Goddess. They range from theiquid goddess-energy of the River Ganges to the possessing, entrancing heat of Bhagavati and Seranvali. They areocal,ike Vindhyavasini and global,ike Kali; ancient,ike Saranyu and modern,ike ‘Mother India’. The collection combines analysis of texts with intensive fieldwork, allowing the reader to see how goddesses are worshiped in everydayife. In these compelling essays, the divine feminine in Hinduism is revealed as never before—fascinating, contradictory, powerful.