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

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The first exhaustive collection of goddess mythologies from India. Explores the evolution of goddess worship in India over 4,000 years. Stunning color photographs illustrate many stories of goddess lore never before available in one collection. In India it is said that there is a goddess in every village, a nymph in every lake. Demonesses stand guard on village frontiers, ogresses howl on crossroads, and untamed forests resound with the laughter of celestial virgins. It is a land of mysterious Apsaras and seductive Yakshinis, of terrifying Dakinis and wise Yoginis--each with a story to tell. In this wide-reaching exploration of ancient Hindu lore and legends, author Devdutt Pattanaik discovers how earth, women and goddesses have been perceived over 4,000 years. Some of the tales recounted are revered classics, others are common and folklorish, often held in disdain by priests. Until now, most have remained hidden, isolated in distant hamlets or languishing in forgotten libraries, overwhelmed by the din of masculine sagas. As the tales come to light through word and stunning color imagery, the author identifies the five faces given to the eternal feminine as man sought to unlock the mysteries of life: the female half of existence is at first identified with Nature, gradually deified and eventually objectified. She comes to be seen as the primal mother, fountainhead of life and nurturance. The all-giving mother then transforms into the dancing nymph, a seductress offering worldly pleasures that bind man in the cycle of life. As this nymph is domesticated, the dominant image of woman becomes the chaste wife with miraculous powers. Finally the submissive consort redefines herself as the wild and terrifying goddess who does battle, drinks blood, and demands appeasement. Exploring mysteries of genderand biology, and shedding light on the roots of taboos and traditions practiced in India today, the author shows how the image of the Mother Goddess can be both worshipped and feared when she carries the face of mortal woman.

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Devdutt Pattanaik, born in 1970, is an Indian author, physician, mythologist, columnist and consultant. He is currently the Chief Belief Officer of the Future Group. Pattanaik has written more than twenty-five books, some of which are Myth=Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology, Vishnu: An Introduction, Hanuman's Ramayan, and The Book of Ram. The author completed his MBBS from Grant Medical College, Mumbai, and then decided to pursue a course in Comparative Mythology at Mumbai University. Before he starting writing books, Pattanaik worked for fourteen years in the pharma and healthcare industry. He now writes a column for The Economic Times, and is an inspirational speaker as well as a leadership coach. Pattanaik has hosted TV shows, namely Shastrarth on CNBC-Awaaz and Business Sutra on CNBC-18. The author is a story consultant for Star TV, and he gave a TED lecture in 2009. Pattanaik lives in Mumbai.