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Can development in ancient Hindu mythology and theoloogy shed light on the rapid changes taking place in India and Indian communities around the world? Prof. Tracy Pintchman thinks they do.

When: Monday October 1, 6:00 PM
Where: Butler University, Johnson Room, Robertson Hall 4600 Sunset Ave, Indianapolis, IN
Free and open to the public

Tracy Pintchman of Loyola University specializes in the study of Hinduism, with a focus on gender issues, Goddess traditions, and Hindu women’s rituals. Her publication include: The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition (1994); Seeking Mahadevi: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess (2001); Guests at God’s Wedding: Celebrating Kartik among the Women of Benares (2005); and Women’s Lives, Women’s Rituals in the Hindu Tradition (2007).

Here’s a glowing review of Dr Pintchman’s The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition :

This book is a must-read for anyone serious about studying the Goddess traditions of Hinduism. The writing style is lucid and dense, so while she makes really interesting connections, she also assumes a working knowledge of Hinduism. This book is not for beginners, and it’s not a quick read - but it’s worth reading if you already have a grounding in Hindu traditions, understand Hindu concepts and keywords, and have a basic knowledge of Hindu theology, cosmology and cosmogony.

Pintchman begins with the feminine principle in Vedic literature (including the Upanisads and Brahmanas), where she explores the Goddess in relation to the elements, focusing primarily on earth and water. The second part of the book focuses on the three main manifestations of Goddess in Hindu theological and philosophical discourse - Prakriti (nature), Maya (illusion) and Shakti (power) - with a thorough review of the relevant literature. Finally, she explores the Puranas, focusing primarily on the Devi Mahatmya, but also surveying Vaishnava, Shaiva and Shakta puranas. Her discourse on cosmology/cosmogony and the introduction of the feminine principle of creation as the consort of the masculine God is particularly interesting to those studying the Shakta branch of Hinduism.

Again, this may be a challenging book to read if you’re not well-grounded in Hindu studies, but it is a wealth of scholarly insight into a fascinating and growing field.

Sounds like a rewarding and important talk, but it also sounds like we laypersons ought to prepare ourselves, so…

Know before you go … “Hinduism, quick survey” will remind you of what you read in your comparative religion class long ago. “What is a Hindu?” is also useful. You should read some recent news stories about Hinduism and politics, a very important topic for India and the world today.

For more information after the event … Check out Provocate’s suggested readings about India. Purchase copies of Dr. Pinchet’s books!

If this sounds interesting, check out … another view of Indian religion in Islam in West and South Asia November 5.

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This entry was posted on Monday, September 3rd, 2007 at 1:20 am and is filed under Events, Women, Religion, India. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.