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 androgyne androgyne motif Ardhanārī Ardhanārīnațeśvara Ardhanārīśvara images arms aspect ātman bhakti bindu brahman cakra canons of Indian century C.E. chapter consciousness convey culture darśana deity diagnostic features divine androgyne Doniger drogyne Eliade female half female side feminine feminist gender goddess guru Hari-Hara hathayoga hathayoga theory hathayoga tradition hathayoga treatises his/her Hoeveler human hymns iconography idā ideal identified image of Ardhanārīśvara Indian iconography Indian tradition Kalidos left female linga lotus Maheśvara male and female male half male-identified masculine metaphor mudrā mūlādhāra mūrti mythology nāda namaḥ śivāya nārī nonduality normative Ortner Pārvatī Peterson pingalā portrayed practitioner prakrti Purāņa puruşa refers right male role rūpa sacred sādhana sahasrāra cakra Śaiva Śakti samādhi Samhitā samsāra sexual significant śilpa Śiva Śiva and Śakti Śiva-Śakti Śiva's Srinivasan stage stotra subtle body śūnyatā sușumņā symbol Tamil temple texts tion transcendence turīya union viśuddha viśuddha cakra Western woman women yoga yogin/ī