The Lord Who Is Half Woman: Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist PerspectiveThe designation Lord Who Is Half Woman refers to the androgynous Hindu god Ardhana?ri?s vara (also known as S iva-S akti). While iconographical aspects of this significant image have been addressed, the complex theological, philosophical, and social implications inherent in a dual gendered deity have not. This book provides the first extensive study of the influence of Ardhana?ri?s vara, exploring four distinct areas of Indian culture, namely iconography, hat|hayoga, devotional poetry (bhakti), and mythology. Ellen Goldberg also offers a feminist analysis of the ways in which male and female have been constructed in this image and the various representations pertaining to the broader gender implications of an androgynous deity. |
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The Lord Who Is Half Woman: Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist Perspective Ellen Goldberg No preview available - 2002 |
Common terms and phrases
adept advaita ājñā cakra analysis androgyne androgyne motif Ardhanarīnaṭeśvara arms aspect attainment bhakti bindu brahman cakra canons of Indian century C.E. chapter consciousness convey culture darśana deity devotee diagnostic features divine androgyne Doniger drogyne Eliade female half female side feminine feminist Figure gender goddess Goudriaan Gurgaon guru half-female Hari-Hara hathayoga Hindu his/her Hoeveler human hymns iconography iḍā ideal identified image of Ardhanārīśvara Indian iconography Indian tradition Kalidos karma left female linga lotus Maheśvara male and female male half male-identified masculine metaphor mudrā mūlādhāra mūrti mythology nāda nāḍī namaḥ nārī nonduality normative Ortner Pārvatī Peterson poetry portrayed practitioner prakṛti prāṇa Purāņa refers right male role rūpa sabīja samādhi sacred sadhana sahasrāra Śaiva Śakti samādhi Sanskrit sexual significant Śiva Śiva and Śakti Śiva-Śakti Śiva's Srinivasan stage stotra subtle body śūnyatā suṣumņā symbol Tamil temple texts theological theory tion transcendence turīya union viśuddha viśuddha cakra Western woman women yoga yogin/ī