Daughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of India [Paperback]

Linda Johnsen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1994

This book takes us along on a search for the feminine face of God. We travel with Linda Johnsen for a fascinating investigation of the great women saints of India who manifest the divine in their lives. Together with her we comb the scriptures, meet the holy ones, and are led, step by step, to sit in awe at the feet of six remarkable, contemporary women.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

In the Hindu tradition, God has both male and female characteristics. This fine investigation presents six contemporary women saints of India who are considered to be the exemplification of the feminine aspect of the divine, living incarnations of the "Divina Mother" or "the Goddess." Johnsen, a longtime student of religion and spirituality, not only interviewed these women but also lived and walked among them in the United States and in India. The result of her studies is an engrossing and charming book that illustrates the great strength of character and spiritual wisdom these women possess. (A list is provided so that one can get in touch with their centers in this country.) Useful to informed lay readers and scholars generally, this book is highly recommended for religion collections in both public and academic libraries.
Marilyn E. Schafer, Canadian Memorial Chiropractic Coll., Toronto
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

In The Hindu tradition, God has both male and female characteristics. This fine investigation presents six contemporary women saints of India who are considered to be the exemplification of the feminine aspect of the divine, living incarnations of the Divine Mother or the Goddess. Johnsen, a longtime student of religion and spirituality, not only interviewed these women but also lived and walked among them in the United States and India. The result of her studies is and engrossing and charming book that illustrate the great strength of character and spiritual wisdom these women possess. (A list is provided so that one ca get in touch with their centers in this country.) Useful to informed lay readers and scholars generally, this book is highly recommended for religion collections in both public and academic libraries. --Marilyn E. Schafer, writing for Library Journal, June 1, 1994

With her book Daughters of the Goddess, Linda Johnsen valiantly gives us a shot of enthusiasm, providing an impetus to pursue spiritual treasures. Following Johnsen to India, we get to sit in Hindu homes, listen to tales of women saints immortalized by oral tradition, and wonder what it would have been like growing up aspiring to become divine beings rather than movie stars. What if a wise old woman had taught us not only about mastering a profession or a social role but about mastering ourselves? asks Johnsen. What if we had grown up knowing we were daughters and sons of the Goddess? Backpacking through India, Johnsen introduces us to six women saints, five of which Johnsen personally interviewed. Together with Johnsen, we receive spiritual gems from women mystics who are still quite accessible (with the exception of Anandamayi Ma, who passed away in 1982). --Elizabeth U. Harding, writing for Yoga Journal, January/February 1995

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Yes International Publishers; 1 edition (April 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 093666309X
• ISBN-13: 978-0936663098
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #130,481 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Linda Johnsen is a long-time student of religious philosophy and spirituality and an initiate in the Shaktavaita Tradition. She holds degrees in Eastern and Western Psychology, and has post-graduate training in theology and Sanskrit. She has traveled to India and lived with women saints. She is a writer for several spiritual magazines and a contributor to several anthologies, including The Divine Mosaic: Women's Images of the Sacred Other. Linda is also author of Yes Publishers' Kirtan: Chanting as a Spiritual Path, A Thousand Suns: Designing your Future with Vedic Astrology, Daughters of the Goddess: Women Saints of India, which received Midwest Business Association award for "Best New Age Book of the Year" and The Living Goddess: Reclaiming the Tradition of the Mother of the Universe.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful journey to the Goddess and her daughters, July 31, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (San Bruno, Ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of India (Paperback)

In this time of the renaissance of the divine femine, Linda Johnsen has written a wonderful book that reveals the beautiful and ancient tradition of Goddess energy and women saints in India, and introduces the reader to contemporary women who embody the many aspects of the Goddess, as incarnations of her, and who are alive and active today. Her accounts of living, traveling with, and encountering these remarkable women, are fascinating glimpses into the wisdom and transformative energy that they embody and share with many around the world. She writes as an observer, a scholar, and a devotee, and does so with respect, fascination, reverence and chronicles her own transformation in her meetings with these living women saints. This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the history and daily life of the avatars living amongst us, and the strong Goddess tradition of their homeland and heritage. It is a unique and heartening book which contains humor, storytelling, history, wisdom, and written from a perspective that only a women could do in her study of the mysteries and beauty of the Goddess and her daughters, in all her aspects. Read this book and let the women that she encounterd grace you with their presence as well, through their photos, words, and energy, for the Goddess lives through them, and in this book you can become acquainted with them, as the author did. I appreciate this book immensely, for it is a wonderful forum and introduction to the women who are incarnations of the Goddess, and who are revealed in a personal way so well by the author.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, informative, approachable style., February 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Daughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of India (Paperback)

An inspiring and informative first hand account of some of the women alive today (or at least until 1980) from India who embody the living goddess tradition of South Asia. As a westerner who's both seen some of these women for myself and been to India, I find this book a great introduction to the Indian culture as well as a glimpse of what it's like to be in the presence of such women of power. The book is written in an immediate, narrative style and not the dry academic style of many older books on the subject. Once I started reading it, I couldn't put this book down until I was done!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars read this book!, August 30, 2003

By 

"disilusioned13" (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Daughters of the Goddess: The Women Saints of India (Paperback)

This book is one of the most insperational books that I have read regarding women in spirituality. It is so good that I bought it after checking it out from the library.