Vicissitudes of the Goddess: reconstructions of the Gramadevata in India's religious traditions

Abstract

The author describes the history of village goddess traditions with a special focus on the local goddesses of Andhra Pradesh, India, from prehistoric to contemporary times. Tracing the symbols and images of goddess into the brahmanical (Saiva and Vaisnava), Buddhist, and Jaina religious traditions, the author argues how goddesses and their symbolizations were appropriated and transformed. She also describes the evolution of popular Hindu goddesses such as Durga and Kali, how and when women are deified and how these deified women cults share characteristics with the village goddesses.