The Goddess in India: The Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine

Hinduism is arguably the oldest surviving religion, as old as the pyramids, if not older. The perspective on the Mother Goddess is an can inept living tradition still alive today.Devdutt does an excellent job in putting together a sketch of the feminine power associated with nature, creation and destruction. A very interesting and light read.

Years ago when my Conservative Christian practices left a huge void in my life, I turned to authors such as Frederick Buechner, Barbara Brown Taylor, Father Thomas Keating, Thomas Merton, Saints such as Teresa of Avila. I read books on the Kabbalah, Sufism, the Civil Rights Movement. My religion stayed Christian but with a totally different outlook... more meditative, thoughtful, contemplative and loving, tolerant.When I saw how Christianity systemically undermines the "free will" of women, something that came much later in my spiritual awareness, I wondered about the historical context of women in religion. But history mostly said, "that's the way we've always done it". And I wanted some answers more definitive. I got those answers from this book. This is a wonderful book that traces the mythology that formed to harness the power of women. Some of it is quite disturbing, but worth a thorough reading. In ancient times the power of women was the status quo. If you have begun to question the wisdom of patriarchy, the mean and hateful comments regarding women on the subject of rape and chastity, then this is the book to read. Understanding God as Creator from a Hindu viewpoint gives clarity to the events in the Garden of Eden mythologically. Understanding the apocryphal Lilith story from this viewpoint makes even more sense.One of the best practices for a person's spirituality is to find information on the subject from another religion's point of view. What one finds are very similar practices that are easier to understand, because one is not fearful of undermining one's own religion.“Myth is much more important and true than history. History is just journalism and you know how reliable that is.” Joseph Campbell

I found this to be a thorough-going textual analysis of the woman's place in Indian, and, specifically, Hindu/Brahmanical culture. The author begins by offering his very thoughtful and careful vision of the material he wants to present. This theme is later forgotten to some extent, but I found the anthology altogether informative, its thematic structure well-maintained. Pattanaik would have done well to add more pictures and representations to the myths and stories he presents, since I'm sure there are many works of art dedicated to these tales. In any case, I have few complaints.

I am so sorry I purchased this book. The title describes it as a study of the divine feminine in India, but the author has found all the ways he could to undermine that concept and promote a male-dominated, patriarchal mythology. As a student of Goddess beliefs in different cultures, I was profoundly disappointed.

This book is basically a reworked, rearranged, Westernized version of "Devi, the Mother Goddess: An Introduction," by the same author, which is also easily available -- most readily through Marketplace sellers -- right here on Amazon.com.The original "Devi: An Introduction" is a really useful guide -- but it was published in India, for Indians, and possibly this Western publisher feared it assumed more prior knowledge of the topic than most Western readers would likely bring to the table. If that's the case, I must disagree: Any interested, moderately educated general reader could pick up "Devi" and totally enjoy it."The Goddess in India," on the other hand, seems to be based on a reorganization principle that appears regrettably forced and artificial. The nature of this artifice is revealed in the book's subtitle, "Five Faces of the Eternal Feminine." Where do these "Five Faces" appear in the authentic Hindu Shakta tradition? Unless I've missed something big, they appear precisely nowhere.I mean, I may have been miseducated, but I've never understood Sri Chakra as having a circle for "Dancing Nymphs," a circle for "Goddesses with Unbound Hair," or an apparent sort of non-smoker's section for a so-called "Cult of Chastity." (Apparently, neither did the author, since he mentioned *none* of these oddball categories in "Devi: An Introduction.")My guess, though I hope I am wrong, is that the U.S. publisher decided that there was not a sufficient Western audience for an authentically Hindu presentation on the subject, and therefore dreamed up these so-called "Faces of the Feminine" to appeal to New Agers and Pagans and fit in more easily to the more vague and nebulous Goddess-revival cults of the West.In doing so, they left us with a book that's pretty enough to look at, but one that is *far* inferior to the original "Devi, the Mother Goddess: An Introduction" as a reliable guide to authentic Hindu tradition.I can't totally pan the book because much of the content is fine. But the misleading structure of this reissue forces me to redirect serious readers to the original version.

To start with, this book is not for everyone. It is fairly explicit and narrates stories from a perspective that requires certain maturity to not take offence.This book is a collection of short stories on Gods from all over the subcontinent and beyond. The author's then interprets these stories focusing towards the five aspects of Goddesses. And sometimes the author includes stories driving his point. These are then tied to the Hindu philosophy.You'll probably enjoy this book if you like reading stories of Hindu gods and deities. Even otherwise, this book brings forth stories unheard of.

Almost made goddesses looked like ordinary women. The beauty of every goddess and that form's meaning is missing in the book.Best part of the book is where the author says, goddess teaches us to accept the beautiful side and the ugly side of the universe.

Good book by pattanaik. The edition is of 2000 year printed in Korea. The condition is good. A nice book about features and aspect of Shakti.

Vaste sujet mais livre réduit. L'iconographie est très limité alors que l'Inde offre largement de quoi illustrer un tel sujet. Quant au contenu, c'est trop succinct bien que les textes indiens sont riches dans le domaine également.Broad topic but reduced book. The iconography and the textes are very limited while India has largely illustrate what such a subject.

A book I've wanted to read for long, great price!