Women and Goddesses in India

3 Credits · Level: Undergraduate

Among the major religions of the world, Hinduism is by far the most interesting from the perspective of the divine feminine. Kali, Durga, Lakshmi, Parvati and Sarasvati are only a few of the many female divinities who play a major role in Hindu life and thought. Such goddesses are not only objects of devotional actions, they are also embodiments of highly sophisticated religious ideas. At the same time, Indian women are the undoubted carriers of the many Hindu traditions, both at the domestic and village level. This course will focus on the theology and philosophy of the divine feminine in India and will also engage in the sociological and anthropological understanding of the status and roles of women in India as the subjects and objects of religious action and imagination. Some of the questions we shall approach include, what is the unique aspects of women’s rituals and rights? What are the cultural symbols embodied in the persons and lives of women? What is the relationship between women and the worship of goddesses? Why is Hinduism distinct in maintaining so many rich traditions associated with goddesses?