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基本説明
Beautifully illustrated, the book retells the legends of the deities, devoting a chapter each to the images and histories of nineteen goddesses - and conveying and interpreting their character and powers.
Full Description
The Indian Buddhist world abounds with goddesses - voluptuous tree spirits, maternal nurturers, potent healers and protectors, transcendent wisdom figures, cosmic mothers of liberation, and dancing female Buddhas. Despite their importance in Buddhist thought and practice, these female deities have received relatively little scholarly attention, and no comprehensive study of the female pantheon has been available. "Buddhist Goddesses of India" is the essential and definitive guide to divinities that, as Miranda Shaw writes, "operate from transcendent planes of bliss and awareness for as long as their presence may benefit living beings."Beautifully illustrated, the book chronicles the histories, legends, and artistic portrayals of nineteen goddesses and several related human figures and texts. Drawing on a sweeping range of material, from devotional poetry and meditation manuals to rituals and artistic images, Shaw reveals the character, powers, and practice traditions of the female divinities.Interpretations of intriguing traits such as body color, stance, hairstyle, clothing, jewelry, hand gestures, and handheld objects lend deep insight into the symbolism and roles of each goddess. In addition to being a comprehensive reference, this book traces the fascinating history of these goddesses as they evolved through the early, Mahayana, and Tantric movements in India and found a place in the pantheons of Tibet and Nepal.
Contents
Acknowledgments ix Note on Transliteration xi Introduction 1 Part One: Ascent of the Sacred Female in Early Buddhism Chapter 1: Prthiv: Mother Earth 17 Chapter 2: Mayadev: The Buddha's Wondrous Mother and Her Sacred Grove 38 Chapter 3: Yaksins: Voluptuous, Magical Nature Spirits 62 Chapter 4: Sri Laksmi: Glorious Good Fortune 94 Chapter 5: Hariti: Goddess of Motherly Love 110 Chapter 6: Female Buddhas: The Case of Gotami 143 Part Two: Mahayana Mothers of Liberation Chapter 7: Goddesses in the Flower Ornament Scripture 155 Chapter 8: Praj‾naparamita: Luminous Mother of Perfect Wisdom 166 Chapter 9: Parnasavar: Healing Goddess Clothed in Leaves 188 Chapter 10: Mairci: Lady of Sunrise Splendor 203 Chapter 11: Janguli: The Buddhist Snake Goddess 224 Chapter 12: Sarasvati: Divine Muse 234 Chapter 13: Vasudhara: Lady Bountiful 247 Chapter 14: Cunda: Saving Grace 265 Chapter 15: Sitatapatra: Invincible Goddess With a Thousand Heads and Hands 276 Chapter 16: Usnisavijaya: Bestower of Long Life and Immortality 291 Chapter 17: Tara: Mahayana Buddha, Universal Savior 306 Part Three: Tantric Female Buddhas Chapter 18: Vajrayogini: Her Dance Is Total Freedom 357 Chapter 19: Nairatmya: Her Body Is the Sky 387 Chapter 20: Chinnamunda: Severed-Headed Goddess 403 Chapter 21: Simhamukha: Lion-Faced Female Buddha 418 Chapter 22: Kurukulla: Red Enchantress with Flowered Bow 432 Epilogue 448 Notes 453 Glossary of Tibetan 521 Bibliography 525 Index 553
