Woman and Goddess in Hinduism

by Tracy Pintchman

  Vidhnas, 163

  vidhi (conduct of rite), 163

  Viu, 179–180

  visualization, 45–52, 132

  vivaks.a (intention), 154

  Vivekananda, 181, 185

  Vorurteil (prejudgment), 8–9

  Vraja, land of (Braj), 175, 183

  vrata s (vows), 89, 203

  Wessinger, Catherine, 100–101, 102, 226–227

  White, David G., 63, 122

  womanhood, Hindu: celibacy and, 205; ideals of, 10, 19–20, 29–31; traditional values and, 198. See also femininity

  women: as actors in tantric practice, 121–123, 124; as caste group, 129–131; as gods, 127, 131–140; health/welfare of, 13–14, 149–150, 155, 158, 160, 166; initiation and, 136, 137; ritual on behalf of, 164–166. See also femininity

  “women are gods” verse, 128, 131, 132, 137–139. See also Kl Practice

  women’s rights: Gandhi and, 15, 199, 212–213; Kl Practice and, 122–123; mythical narratives and, 209–214

  yajrtha (purpose of ritual), 154

  Yama (God of Death), 24–25, 26–28

  Ymuncrya, 179

  yantras, 36, 68–69, 174–175, 193, 224

  “Yes to St, No to Ram” (Kishwar), 91

  yoga, 63

  yonis, 66–67, 68–69, 121–123

  Yoni Tantra (YT), 127