Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to announce the publication of A Garland of Forgotten Goddesses: Tales of the Feminine Divine from India and Beyond (UC Press).
It is an anthology of primary source stories, each followed with a brief essay describing the historical and social context. I designed it as a teaching resource, but it also highlights cutting-edge research since none of these sources were previously available in translation (and several had never been published in their original languages). A diverse range of sources includes a passage from the c.6th century Skanda Purana, exciting narratives and visualization guides from early-medieval Tantras, literature from Nepal and Indonesia highlighting women and their relationship with goddesses, local Puranas, songs, and stories translated from modern booklets marketed to pilgrims.
CONTENTS
Preface
Introduction
I Demons and Battle
1. Bhadrakāḷī: Slaying the Demon in the Backwaters — Noor van Brussel
2. Cāmuṇḍi and Uttanahaḷḷi: Sisters of the Mysuru Hills — Caleb Simmons
3. Kauśikī: The Virgin Demon-Slayer — Judit Törzsök
4. The Seven Mothers: Origin Tales from Two Early-Medieval Purāṇas — Shaman Hatley
II Miracles and Devotees
5. Svasthānī: Goddess of One’s Own Place — Jessica Vantine Birkenholtz
6. Kailā Devī: The Great Goddess as Local Avatar of Miracles — R. Jeremy Saul
7. Bahucarā Mātā: She Who Roams Widely — Darry Dinnell
8. Rāṣṭrasenā: Hawk Goddess of the Mewar Mountains — Adam Newman
III Tantras and Magic
9. Rangda in the Calon Arang: A Tale of Magic — Thomas M. Hunter and Ni Wayan Pasek Ariati
10. Tvaritā: The Swift Goddess — Michael Slouber
11. Kāmeśvarī: Visualizing the Goddess of Desire — Anna A. Golovkova
12. Avyapadeśyā: Indefinable Kālī — Olga Serbaeva
Glossary
List of Names (Deities and Characters)
Primary Sources
Bibliography
Michael Slouber, Ph.D. Associate Professor, South Asian Studies Global Humanities and Religions Western Washington University