Customer Reviews

Buddhist Goddesses of India

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This book is more than worth it for the pictures alone. The images of Buddhist goddesses are simply gorgeous--whether clear black and white, or glorious color. Representing architectural elements, reliefs, gates, sculptures, painted cloth, and more, these images provide an invaluable visual document of the female images of divinity populating Buddhist history.

Even so, the book offers far more. Shaw not only gathers these visual images for us, she helps us understand them--why they exist, why they appear as they do, and what they teach us about Buddhist thought and practice. For each goddess, Shaw considers the visual representations alongside the goddess's appearances in literature, history, ritual practices, and other Hindu and folk traditions. Moving among these various representations, Shaw creates compelling accounts of each deity's religious significance. She also documents change over time, charting the ascension of goddess figures through three stages of Buddhist history, early, Mahayana, and Tantra. The female Buddhas of Tantra occupy the third section of the book. And all along the way, Shaw deftly moves from persuasively engaging issues in Buddhist scholarship to telling vivid stories about the goddesses themselves.

This comprehensive, accomplished book is for everyone and anyone who is interested in Buddhism, India, goddesses, South East Asia, Indian art and architecture, comparative religions, or the religious significance of art in general. Its stories and pictures engage and delight. At the same time, it is a must-read for scholars in all these fields for the ways in which it stretches and prunes our understanding of Buddhism. As Shaw persuasively documents, there is far more to the tradition than teachings of renunciation. Equally integral to the tradition are life-affirming, female-celebrating expressions of wisdom, creativity, and devotion.

This magnum opus will remain a serious resource for information about Buddhist Goddesses of India for decades. The scholarship is impeccable. Not only does it bring numerous texts and information into English for the first time, it explicates vast amounts of material loaded with insightful interpretations that only an expert authority can provide. This text will also reward those seeking inspiration from the Buddhist pantheon of goddesses. The prose is lyrical, compelling, and transports the reader into the powerful and colorful worlds of these ancient goddesses.

Miranda Shaw devoted more than a decade of research to create this epic work, greatly expanding on concepts she introduced in Passionate Enlightenment. Buddhist Goddesses of India sets a new benchmark for the study and understanding of female deities in the context of Asian religion and society. While the title states the focus is on Buddhist goddesses, the book's scope is actually far greater; the author's rigorous research explores Hindu and animist relationships for each goddess, carefully examining their origins and the historical evolution of their worship.

To her credit, Shaw designed the book as a reference that readers can explore in a non-linear fashion; each chapter is independent. That said, the author constructed a brilliant hierarchy that is a pleasure to read in sequence. What makes this reference especially rare is Shaw's writing style, which transcends the strength of her logic to give readers a work of beauty and inspiration.

She begins each chapter with a quote of original scripture relating to the goddess, followed by her own prose introduction, such as this example from page 188:

"Parnasavari dwells in a forest glade high on a mountainside. Her beauty reflects the allure of the forest. Her skin glistens with emerald light; the healing sap of trees flows in her veins; her limbs are robust and supple as saplings. Parnasavari adorns herself with nature's finery: feathers, flowers, fruit, and berries. A skirt made of leaves sways around her hips as she dances in her primeval bower. Thus arrayed in tribal splendor, she wanders in a state of joyous, primal rapture, alive to the colors, fragrances, and textures of the forest. Her woodland home is a treasure trove of botanical riches and medicinal secrets...."

Shaw then conducts a thorough analysis of each goddess (see list below) including origin, development, iconography, sphere of influence, methods of worship, geographical areas of influence, temporal and regional variations, tantric manifestations, conflicting interpretations, relationships with other gods and goddesses, etc. Shaw's sources include her own translations and extensive field work in South Asia. Most goddesses are illustrated with multiple photos and the book features 16 stunning color plates.

This systematic approach consistently gives rise to new insights, illuminating roles, iconography and relationships among gods and goddesses that have previously been obscure. The author's focus on feminine deities has caused some to criticize her as a "feminist." My perception is that she is a realist, conducting research where previous scholars have missed crucial connections, or chosen not to make them. In this regard, her groundbreaking scholarship is similar to Trudy Jacobsen's work Lost Goddesses: Denial of Female Power in Cambodian History.

Buddhist Goddesses of India is an indispensible reference on the evolution of female deities in Asian religion. But it is Miranda Shaw's lifelong passion for this topic that makes her book an inspiration for anyone seeking to understand the feminine divine.

PART ONE - ASCENT OF THE SACRED FEMALE IN EARLY BUDDHISM
Prthivi: Mother Earth
Mayadevi: The Buddha's Wondrous Mother and Her Sacred Grove
Yaksinis: Voluptuous, Magical Nature Spirits
Sri Laksmi: Glorious Good Fortune
Hariti: Goddess of Motherly Love
Female Buddhas: The Case of Gotami

PART TWO - MAHAYANA MOTHERS OF LIBERATION
Goddesses in the Flower Ornament Scripture
Prajnaparamita: Luminous Mother of Perfect Wisdom
Parnasavari: Healing Goddess Clothed in Leaves
Marici: Lady of Sunrise Splendor
Jariguli: The Buddhist Snake Goddess
Sarasvati: Divine Muse
Vasudhara: Lady Bountiful
Cunda: Saving Grace
Sitatapatra: Invincible Goddess With a Thousand Heads and Hands
Usnisavijaya: Bestower of Long Life and Immortality
Tara: Mahayana Buddha, Universal Savior

PART THREE TANTRIC FEMALE BUDDHAS
Vajrayogini: Her Dance Is Total Freedom
Nairatmya: Her Body Is the Sky
Chinnamunda: Severed-Headed Goddess
Simhamukha: Lion-Faced Female Buddha
Kurukulla: Red Enchantress with Flowered Bow

Note - Full Sanskrit diacritical marks that appear in the actual book are missing in the list above.

This book is a masterpiece of clarity and readability. The information is available for the first time in one volume; and is accurate, accessible and poetic. A tour de force from this erudite scholar. I pick it up to find specific information about a particular goddess; and find myself reading on strictly for pleasure. A must-have book for feminists, historians of goddess traditions, buddhists, and teachers of Comparative religion.

Miranda Shaw's book, Buddhist Goddesses of India provides valuable information on most if not all the female divinities of Buddhism. The book is divided into three parts:

(1) Ascent of the scared female in early buddhism,
(2) Mahayana mothers of liberation and
(3) Tantric female buddhas.

Every goddess is introduced with a poem/invocation/hymn and through out the section on the goddess there are various pictures, poems and commentaries.

A very informatve and balance book.

I savor my time to read "Buddhist Goddesses of India". The energy it brings me is very specific to the Goddess I am reading about. It must have been quite a journey writing it, connecting so deeply with each Goddess. Reading the book helps me stay centered in myself in what feels like a masculine world. Anyone like myself, who is sensitive to the many currents of energy in the world, or who would like to experience the energy of the Goddess, will have a good time with this book. It is also very useful for practitioners of Buddhism.