The Lord Who Is Half Woman: Ardhanarisvara in Indian and Feminist Perspective

by Goldberg, Ellen

• ISBN13: 9780791453254
• ISBN10: 0791453251
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-06-01
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr

Summary

The designation "Lord Who Is Half Woman" refers to the androgynous Hindu god Ardhanarisvara (also known as Siva-Sakti). 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 Ardhanarisvara, exploring four distinct areas of Indian culture, namely iconography, hathayoga, 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.

Author Biography

Ellen Goldberg is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations	p. ix
Introduction	p. 1
Ardhanarisvara in Indian Iconography	p. 7
Ardhanarisvara and Hathayoga	p. 57
Ardhanarisvara in Devotional Poetry	p. 91
An Indian and a Feminist Perspective of Androgyny	p. 113
Sakti and Parvati: A New Interpretation	p. 133
Notes	p. 155
Bibliography	p. 173
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