Indian Gods and Goddesses, Vol. IV : Yogini Shrines and Saktipithas (2 Parts-Set)

Contents: Part I: 1. Introduction: i. Genesis and evolution of the female principle. ii. Multiplicity of forms. iii. Concept of Sakti and its evolution. iv. The early stages. v. Tantras relating to Sakti. vi. The cradle land of Tantras. vii. Yoginis and the Pancamakaras. viii. Saktipithas. ix. The Goddesses emerging out of the body of the great Goddess. x. Sakti cult in Assam. xi. Class of Saktas in Bengal. xii. The Kararis. I. Yogis, Yoginis and their temples: 2. The Yogis, Yoginis and Bhairavas: i. Yogis. ii. The Yoginis. iii. Bhairavas. 3. Yoginis temples in India: i. The names. ii. Locations. iii. Architecture. iv. The temples. II. Historical aspects, Tantras, Cakras and Yantras: 4. Historical overtones. 5. The Tantras: i. Definition. ii. Topics on Tantras. iii. The Yantras. iv. Brahmanical Tantras. v. Kaula schools. 6. Cakras and Yantras: Yogini-Cakras: i. Mandala. ii. Yantras. iii. Mula Cakra of eighty-one Yoginis. iv. Cakra of sixty-four yoginis. v. Cakra of forty-two yoginis. vi. Sri-Cakra. III. Saktipithas: 7. Saktipithas: i. The concept of Sakti. ii. Saktipithas. iii. Andhra Pradesh. iv. Assam. v. Bengal. vi. Bihar. vii. Delhi. viii. Gujarat. ix.  Haryana. x. Himachal Pradesh. xi. Jammu and Kashmir. xii. Madhya Pradesh. xiii. Maharashtra. xiv. Orissa. xv. Punjab. xvi. Rajasthan. xvii. Tamilnadu. xviii. Tripura. xix. Uttarakhanda. xx. Uttar Pradesh. xxi. Baluchistan. IV. Bhavanisahasranama: 8. Bhavanisahasranama. 9. Epilogue. Maps. Appendices: 1. Names of Causatha-Yoginis. 2. V.S. Agrawala\'s book entitled Ancient Indian Folk Cults. 3. Srimadagurumandalarcana. 4. List of Yoginis in Devata by B.D. Vasu, Varanasi. 5. Description of Yoginis of Bheraghat temple. 6. List of Causatha-Yoginis as supplied by Dr. Bhanu Sankar Mehta, Varanasi. 7. Candi temples at Varanasi. 8. List of sculptures once reported from Causatha-Yogini temple, Varanasi. 9. Saktipithas as listed in Tantra-Cudamani. 10. List of Pithas as described in Pithanirnaya (Mahapithanirupana). 11. List of Pithas (Mahapithas) and Upa-Pithas as described in Sivacarita. 12. Saktipithas as per the studies in Devi Bhagavata by P.G. Lalye. 13. Sriyantra-I. 14. Sriyantra-II. 15. Sriyantra-III. 16. Sriyantra-IV. 17. Bagalamukhi-pujana Yantra. 18. Bagalamukhi-stambhana Yantra. 19. Svayamvara Kala Pujana Yantra. 20. Sri-Cakra with Halividya. 21. Bhavanisahasranama-stutih. Bibliography. Index.

Parts II:  List of Plates.

"In the religious history of India, the worship of Sakti or the following of the Tantric practices have their own importance. The Yoginis are adored as a form of Sakti-Kaula worship in the country. The females who achieve the divine spiritual knowledge with the following of the Yogic practices are called the Yoginis.

Besides the Yoginis, several other centres of Sakti-worship known as Saktipitha have been mentioned in the Puranas, some of which give their number as 108 or 51. These Saktipithas are scattered throughout the country. With every set of Saktipitha a Bhairava-a form of Siva, was attached for its protection. These Saktipithas are said to have emerged, wherever the parts or the ornaments of the body of Sati fell on earth. Besides the above, there are several other Siddhapithas of the Goddesses, some of which have been included in this work in order to make it more representative.

Both the Vol. III and Vol. IV of the series provide a comprehensive study on the Goddesses in India from the earliest times to the late medieval period, based on the literary as well as the archaeological evidence. Besides the thousand names of the Goddess Bhavanisahasranama, have also been highlighted in the present volume in quite a lively manner which will appeal the readers in general as well as those with scholarly aptitude." (jacket)