TANTRISM AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN INDIA
TANTRISM AND WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT IN INDIA
Author(s): Reghina Dascăl Subject(s): Gender Studies
Published by: Universitatea de Vest din Timişoara
Keywords: Tantra; Buddhism; Hinduism; goddess; empowerment; shakti; bhakti
Summary/Abstract: It is the purpose of this paper to explore some aspects of Tantrism, an esoteric system of spiritual advancement by the cultivation of physical and psychic resources rooted in the ancient Hindu philosophical concept of shakti. Between 900 and the fifteenth century it not only contributed immensely to feminizing and galvanizing Hinduism, but it also gave rise to a scriptural corpus, rewriting goddess theology, her relation to male deity, her cosmic functions, being at the same time subversive of dominant Brahmanical values and speaking directly to women’s experiences.
Journal: Gender Studies
- Issue Year: 11/2012
- Issue No: suppl.
- Page Range: 220-234
- Page Count: 15
- Language: English