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From Ogress to Goddess: Hariti, a Buddhist Deity
English
243 (Throughout Color Illustrations)
About the Author
Madhurika K. Maheshwari, a 1962 Arts Graduate from Calcutta University, specialized in Hindi. She followed up with a Visharada degree in Hindi from Allahabad University. Her command over the language was put to good use when she began to adapt and translate English plays into Hindi-what’s more, these plays were staged successfully all over India. Married to internationally-known numismatist DSr. K.K. Maheshwari, Madhurika continued to nurture her interest in history and even more so, mythology, even as she was occupied as housewife and mother. Whi9le her first publication is centered on the Buddhist Goddess Hariti, she has already begun work on the a companion volume on Hariti’s consort Kubereta.
A Few Words
In the Indian heavens, the lesser gods tend to get more overlooked - so I opted for Kubera as the subject for my first research study. Not that this ancient god had not made his mark among the ranks of the demi-gods, having risen from a simple yaksha to the top echelons as King of the Yakshas and the Lord of Wealth. But, to my mind, he has not received his appropriate share of scholarly attention.
Then why this book? Even as I began to explore Kubera's multi-hued. career and dramatic evolution, I wondered if I might not settle for a less challenging subject to inaugurate my venture into research and writing. Namely, Kubera's consort, the Yakshini of Rajgriha - Hariti.
That turned out to be a total misjudgment. A stirring tale unfolded A Mother of Demons, she was converted to the Righteous Path by the Buddha Himself, going on to become one of Buddhism's - and India's - foremost Mother Goddesses, whose worship extended from Gandhara to India, and
243 (Throughout Color Illustrations)
About the Author
Madhurika K. Maheshwari, a 1962 Arts Graduate from Calcutta University, specialized in Hindi. She followed up with a Visharada degree in Hindi from Allahabad University. Her command over the language was put to good use when she began to adapt and translate English plays into Hindi-what’s more, these plays were staged successfully all over India. Married to internationally-known numismatist DSr. K.K. Maheshwari, Madhurika continued to nurture her interest in history and even more so, mythology, even as she was occupied as housewife and mother. Whi9le her first publication is centered on the Buddhist Goddess Hariti, she has already begun work on the a companion volume on Hariti’s consort Kubereta.
A Few Words
In the Indian heavens, the lesser gods tend to get more overlooked - so I opted for Kubera as the subject for my first research study. Not that this ancient god had not made his mark among the ranks of the demi-gods, having risen from a simple yaksha to the top echelons as King of the Yakshas and the Lord of Wealth. But, to my mind, he has not received his appropriate share of scholarly attention.
Then why this book? Even as I began to explore Kubera's multi-hued. career and dramatic evolution, I wondered if I might not settle for a less challenging subject to inaugurate my venture into research and writing. Namely, Kubera's consort, the Yakshini of Rajgriha - Hariti.
That turned out to be a total misjudgment. A stirring tale unfolded A Mother of Demons, she was converted to the Righteous Path by the Buddha Himself, going on to become one of Buddhism's - and India's - foremost Mother Goddesses, whose worship extended from Gandhara to India, and
244 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2009
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