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Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal
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Review
"A well-researched and documented study. ... Highly recommended."--Choice
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About the Author
June McDaniel is Professor of Religious Studies and Director of the Religious Studies Program at the College of Charleston. She is the author of The Madness of the Saints: Ecstatic Religion in Bengal (1989) and Making Virtuous Daughters and Wives: An Introduction to Women's Brata Rituals in Bengali Folk Religion (2002).
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Product details
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Oxford University Press; 1 edition (August 5, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0195167910
ISBN-13: 978-0195167917
Product Dimensions:
9.1 x 0.7 x 6.1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review:
3.2 out of 5 stars
5 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
#1,055,689 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
This magnificent book is a fascinatingjourney among a variety of spiritual traditions which can be broadly encompassed under the name of Bengali Shaktism.The Introduction provides a `classification'of various Shakta types. Albeit a bit artificial(these categories should be not taken rigidly becausemuch overlapping is possible), the use of these `strands'in the book is a useful tool to emphasizeand appreciate the profound differences existingbetween various Shakta types.Most important, from the anthropological perspective, is the evidenceprovided in the First Chapter of some surviving types ofBengali Shaktism (Folk Shaktism) among the so-called`tribals' or Adivasis (i.e., those who were in theland first) which are obviously completely outside the mainstreamof traditional Hinduism. They are `outside' from the scripturalperspective, mythological perspective, and ritual perspective.Yet, they are Hindus.Under the name of `folk' Shaktism the Author reports a complex set of believes incorporated into Hinduism, but still preservingmemories and a heritage of an incredibly ancient, pre-Hindu, past.The remnant of a Shamanic component, [after Eliade's seminalwork, Shamanism cannot be possibly regarded with contempt, as itwas a century ago] is extremely fascinating andindirect proof of enormous Antiquity.The existence of forms of Hinduism among Bengali tribalswhich have a surprisingly different mythology,is a profound evidence of how rich and variedand intrinsically encompassing true Hinduism is.Hinduism can incorporate infinite amountof varieties within, some philosophical (just considerthe immense amount of contrasting philosophicalliterature produced during the Puranic age) and some,as in the case of Adivasi Shaktism, ethnic and regional.The Second Chapter emphasizes a Sanskrit-based Shakta Tradition,and those texts in particular that have contributedto create it, such as the Kularnava Tantra. It is important to stress how the `Tantric', Kaula tradition in the sense in which it is understood in Bengal is oftenmisunderstood, misjudged and slandered outside of Bengal.This, I suspect, may be a remnant of last centuries foreign dominations(Shaktism was the less tolerated of the various schools of Hinduism)but this is not necessarily the opinion supported by the Author, who reports the problem but does not speculate on historical causes.The third chapter summarizes the version of Skaktismbased on a `bhakti' sentiment, bearing some similarityperhaps with Vaishnava, Krishna-centered Bhakti, except thatit is focused on Kaali, Durgaa, or regional varietiesof Hindu Devis. I find this section particularly fascinatingbecause it fills a gap in the western literature. Whereasbooks on the Sanskrit Shaktism, from Woodroffe's onwards,are available in the west, it is perhaps more difficultto access documents on the immense amount of religiousliterature produced in Bengali. This literature rangesfrom the Mangal-Kavyas, [particularly appealing isthe beautiful story of the Goddess Manasaa, on which a comparativemythologist could perhaps write an entire encyclopedia!]to the moving biographies of the many Shakta saints. This chapter,by documenting such vast amount of Bengali literature,is truly a homage to the vast spiritual and culturalheritage of Bengal.The Fourth Chapter discusses in greater detail theimportance of Durgaa and Kaaliin Bengal. Albeit fascinating, this Chapter isperhaps not unique, for there are several other books on this subject,and on Durga Puja specifically, available in the English language.The Fifth chapter is an attempt to describe someof the changes imposed on Shaktism when incorporatedin New Age believes. The Author reports some of these appropriationswith an attempted cold, dispassionate and scholarly style, but there seems to be an occasional underlying polite irony, whensomewhat hilarious quotations from Authors such as Selby or Condron areinserted. On the other hand, I personally foundthe report of a former student of the Author,who felt a profound call towards Durgaa, to bevery impressive and convincingly `real'.I think that a few points should be emphasized:The Author seems to suggest that some of the Shaktatraditions are endangered, and may disappear soon.This applies to both the Sanskrit-based tradition(Kaula Tantra), and to the Shakta traditions of the Adivasi.A coalition of opposers, coming partly from the Communist Bengaligovernment, partly from an attitude sadly nourished bysome Orthodox Hindus, partly because of a secularisttendency within India which is taking its aim on Shaktismparticularly, seems to converge against the Shaktas.Particularly sad is the report that many Adivasisperceive the role of Indians from the central governmentas a form of `colonialism'. This feeling (which has beensuccessfully exploited by foreign missionaries inother States such as Tripura or Nagaland where many Adivasis havebeen converted to Christianity and have therefore lost their ancestralspiritual knowledge forever) is a serious problem and should betaken very seriously by all Hindus of all traditions, beVaishnavas, Shaivas, Skaktas or Smartas... if they don't wanta precious part of the Hindu heritage disappear.Hinduism has been among the most tolerantreligions *because* it does not consider a problem to worship the Divineunder many aspects. What appears to be contradictoryin our limited minds is not such from the perspectiveof the Divine. To have Myths in which oneGod does not appear in a favorable light as in otherMythological Sources shows the complexity, the variety,the immense amount of possibilities of the Human Pathstowards the Divine. That beyond the humans, Apsaras,Yakshas, Asuras, Devas and Devis exist aSubstance, or a `Condition', be it called Atman, Brahman, or Shakti, from which All is made, is one fundamental Hindu belief. Thatthe -particular- path one chooses, or the particularDeities one chooses to worship, will lead there,as long as one follows the Dharma with sincerity and devotion,is also a Hindu tenet.On this matter, I need to comment on a coupleof Reviewers who, in my opinion, have used unnecessarilyharsh words against the Author. It is certainly truethat some western Authors write on Hinduism withlittle knowledge, and is even truer that some western Authorshave profoundly slandered the Hindus. But I strongly believethat these accusations should not be brought against Dr. McDaniel.To document Shakta traditions which do not depict Shiva as depicted inthe Shaiva Puranas is -not- an insult to Shiva, as one negativeand very superficial Reviewer suggests. Nor it means that theAuthor endorses specifically any of these traditions. It is insteadsimply an attempt to provide information on existing, little known,aspects of that multiform planet named Hinduism. Hinduismis immensely rich -because- such traditions exist,and the tendency of eradicating un-orthodox traditions, so dominant in other religions, has never really appealed -so far- the Hindu mind.As for accusing the Author of `ignorance', I reallybelieve that is a perplexing accusation. The reviewer who thinks so,should perhaps scroll the reference and notelist, [which encompasses Maha- and UpaPuranas, Tantric Sanskrit text,medieval Bengali literature (Mangalkavyas), a vast amountof scholarly books and articles written by Indian scholars,often in Bengali] and compare it with references in otherbooks on Hinduism published in the West.As for accusing the Author of being disrespectful to Hinduism,the last page of her Conclusions shows very clearly hersympathy and her love for India and the Indian culture.Quite an unexpectedl conclusion for a book which a Revieweraccuses to be offensive to Hinduism, indeed.I am not a scholar of Hinduism, but I have continuouslynourished an interest in Hinduism for 30 years, andon Shaktism for the last 10 years. I can surelysay that I found an immense amount of information inProfessor McDaniel's book,which is a precious addition to my library on Hinduism.
Professor McDaniel's "Offering Flowers" presents an exhaustively researched but eminently readable overview of the religious and spiritual practices of the women of rural Bengal. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to learn more about Indian culture as it manifests itself outside of the institutionalized forms. An enjoyable and vivid journey back in time -- or maybe outside of time -- to a place where religious beliefs and rituals are still directly connected to the tangible natural world.
This book is a great way to understand the worship of the great goddess Kali. I like the fact that the written has given varies examples of her worhip through out india. I think it's a great book for people who would like to get to know the goddess Kali.
i prefer not to write negative feedbacks but this book deserved a real one...I got this book thinking that it would be a good collection of the objective reviews about goddess worshiping in India by a "professor" - and it was printed by a respectable publisher, what else would i want for a good reference? On the contrary the book turned out to be full of wrong notions.just a very small excerpt for you to understand what i mean;"He (Shiva) became blue-throated after drinking poison in an unsuccesful suicide attempt, for he could no longer stand the hunger and poverty he had to endure" p 172 from the book "offering flowers feeding skulls"Either the author did not read the indian scriptures (Ms McDaniel; if you are reading this review, at least read "shiva puranas" before attempting to write about Shiva) or she is having some second thoughts... in any case, the shame is on her.Not only her, shame on Oxford University Press, too. I thought they have good editors and they *read and understand* the manuscript before they publish...
This book shows anybody with a little knowledge about anything can write a book and at least can make some money out of it.This book clearly shows the author's inability to understand hindu and his attempt to interpret it it the way he wanted to.It is in many ways an insult to Hindu.
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