The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition

Contents: Introduction. I. The feminine principle in the Vedas. 2. Prakrti, Maya, and Sakti: the feminine principle in philosophical discourse. 3. The feminine principle in Puranic cosmogony and cosmology. 4. Concluding remarks. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

"This book explores the rise of the Great Goddess by focusing on the development of sakti (creative energy), maya (objective illusion), and prakrti (materiality) from Vedic times to the late Puranic period, clarifying how these principles became central to her theology." (jacket)

[Tracy Pintchman is Assistant Professor in the Department of Theology at Loyola University of Chicago.]