The Names of Devi

The iconographic trail of a vast subject, beginning with a taste of the ancient figurines, seals, and petroglyphs, then Vedic goddesses: Aditi, Prthvī, Ushas, Rta, Nirrti, Vac, Sarasvati. Nature goddesses in Maurya and Gupta art—the yakshi, salabhaniyika, and apsaras—trees, flowers, waters, and animals. Lakshmi looms large in the ringstones, terracottas, sculptures, temples, and rock-cut caves. Saptamatrika (the Seven Mother Goddesses); Vaishnava, Shaiva, Jain and Buddhist goddesses; Durga, Kali, and the Dasa Mahavidya (Ten Great Wisdoms). Ganga, Jvalamukhi, and the stunning circular temples of the 64 Yoginis. Shakta traditions of Lalita / Rajarajesvari / Sri Vidya; regional goddesses in Kashmir, Assam, Odissa, Tamilnadu and Kerala, where a million women annually celebrate Pongala for Atukkal Amma.