Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas

by David R. Kinsley

What is one to make of a group of goddesses that includes a goddess who cuts her own head off, a goddess who sits on a corpse while pulling the tongue of a demon, or a goddess who prefers sex with corpses? Tantra visions of the Divine Faminine deals with a group of ten Hindu tantric goddesses, the Mahavidyas, who embody habits, attributes, or identities, usually considered repulsive or socially subversive. It is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas, who embody habits, attributes, or identities, usually considered repulsive or socially subversive. It is within the context of tantric worship that devotees seek to identify themselves with these forbidding goddesses. The Mahavidyas seem to function as "awakeners" - symbols that help to project one's consciousness beyond the socially acceptable or predictable. Kinsley not only describes the eccentric qualities of each of these goddesses, but seeks to interpret the Mahavidyas as a group and to explain their importance for understanding Tantra and the Hindu tradition.

Genres: Hinduism, Spirituality, Religion, Nonfiction, Mythology, History, Occult

328 pages, Paperback

First published July 19, 1997

Reviews

[Mekhala Bhatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal book, one of those rare ones which are immensely readable and extremely well researched. Kinsley is a scholar-poet for sure.
In Tantric Visions, he takes on the difficult task of explaining the obscure tradition of the ten mahavidyas, and he does it skilfully.He not only explains to the reader the significance of the Goddesses but he does so in a psychological and spiritual matrix, never sounding dry, of course he has help from the fact that a self decapitating goddess and a paralyzing goddess can seldom become dry subject matter.
He explores the tantric hinduism spectrum from world affirmation to world transcendence in this book, assigning almost an archetype to each goddess but never reducing her to one.The "otherness" of the Goddess is the power she wields, she is a goddess as she can let go, that's where her power lies, in the chaos of embracing all aspects of one's self.

[Komal · Rating 3 out of 5]

The intro chapter is what made my eyebrows rise. It's very shallowly written and can be highly misleading for someone who comes across the concept of Mahavidyas for the first time. It shows surface level understanding of the concept.
Also the repeated usage of the word "myth" while referring to the scriptures became highly obnoxious. There were paragraphs where he wrote myth 4 times in a sentence.

A lot of stories have been put into the book which are nothing more than heresy in the intro chapter.

Poor choice of words and biased perspective ( Using the term "Ancient Greek religion but "Indian mythology" for Vedic scriptures)which led to not being able to capture the essence accurately.

It became a little better with the description of each mahavidya, which saved this book.

I wouldn't recommend this to someone who is new to the concept of Shakti. Somebody who is already familiar with it can go ahead and read it to add on to their knowledge base as they'll be able to pick and choose.

[Madelyn Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a stunning book. I normally struggled to stay present with books that are research heavy, but David has a way of making it incredibly easy to digest, as well as entertaining. I loved learning about this goddess cult, and David's book is the best resource I've found on it.

[Amanda Alley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've ever read. Enough said.

[Charis · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in goddess worship in Nepal (and India), this is a great book. It doesn't hit ALL of the goddesses, but it covers some of the major Tantric ones in a very comprehensive and readable way. The reason it gets four stars and not five is that the iconographic descriptions are great, but there are no photos of actual temples with actual statues--the illustrations are hand drawn. They're very good, and they make it easy to identify whatever temple you're at, but I wish there had been some photos, too! Incidentally, even if you don't really care about this kind of thing, the book's still worth looking at (if you can find it), simply because these goddesses are very strange, from a western perspective. Seriously--they're fun.

[Ritodhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

amazingly lucid and full of puranic citations. Opened my head up to the "10 Mahavidyas" and the cult of shakti within hinduism.

[Ajay Raj · Rating 5 out of 5]

David R. Kinsley’s Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine: The Ten Mahavidyas offers a profound exploration of the ten Mahavidyas, or "Great Wisdoms," in Tantric Hinduism. The Mahavidyas represent different aspects of the Divine Feminine, from the terrifying Kali to the benevolent Kamala. Kinsley delves into each goddess’s symbolism, mythology, and role within Tantric traditions, providing readers with both historical context and spiritual insights.

The book is a deep and scholarly yet accessible examination of these often enigmatic deities, illuminating their significance not only within Hinduism but also in broader religious studies. Kinsley carefully blends academic rigor with an appreciation for the mystical nature of the Mahavidyas, making it a valuable resource for anyone interested in Tantra, Hinduism, or goddess worship.

One of the best insights in the book comes from Kinsley's analysis of the paradoxical nature of these goddesses. On page 118, he writes:
"The Mahavidyas represent the idea that the divine is beyond all dualities, and therefore encompasses opposites: creation and destruction, beauty and terror, order and chaos."
This passage captures the central theme of the book—that the divine feminine, through the Mahavidyas, transcends binary categorizations and challenges conventional notions of divinity.

Kinsley’s discussion of the fierce goddess Kali is particularly compelling. He explores how Kali, as a symbol of death and transformation, serves as a reminder of the inevitability of change. On page 45, he notes:
"Kali is both the womb and the tomb, the giver and taker of life. Her image evokes fear, but also reverence, for she embodies the truth that all life flows from destruction."

In conclusion, Tantric Visions of the Divine Feminine is an insightful and thought-provoking study that not only enriches the reader’s understanding of Tantric practices but also invites reflection on the broader philosophical questions of life, death, and the nature of divinity. Kinsley’s work is essential for those seeking a deeper grasp of the divine feminine and its place in spiritual traditions.Echoes Of Us: A Collection of Poetic Reflections

[vijay pratap · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading this book, I discovered several fascinating aspects:

1.The Shakti Cult and Its Relevance:
The book delves into the significance of the Shakti cult, exploring its historical and cultural importance. It sheds light on how this ancient tradition continues to influence contemporary spiritual practices.

2.The Origin and Meanings of Various Avatars: It provides a comprehensive overview of the origins and symbolic meanings of different avatars. This deepened my understanding of their roles and significance in the broader context of the Shakti cult.

3.Related Rituals and Practices: The book meticulously describes various rituals and practices associated with the Shakti cult. These insights offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of traditions that have been passed down through generations.

However, I feel that further exploration into this mysterious world is needed.

The book has piqued my curiosity, and I am eager to delve deeper into the intricate details and lesser-known aspects of the Shakti cult.

There is so much more to uncover and understand about this profound spiritual tradition.

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Goddess chapters are spotty, but at times useful. The introduction though...my goodness. This man really needed to study this topic more indepth before trying to write a book about it. He dithers back and forth between pure western ignorance and quoting random people on the streets of India as authorities. He clearly doesn't understand the symbolism behind the art depicting these goddesses and goes as far as to suggest they hate men and/or force men to serve them...despite the fact that many men ( myself included) worship at least one of these deities and know well that is not the case.

If you are knowledgeable enough to discern the nonsense from substance, this is a safe read, but most Westerners go straight from Wikipedia to buying this book, and in my opinion, it's a misleading introduction.

[Moitreyo L. Handique · Rating 5 out of 5]

For an aspiring adept and Sadhaka, this book provides a valuable insight into the core philosophy of the left hand path of worship specifically the much contentious group of Ten Mahavidyas. The book takes us through the underlying and often implicit ideas of the path, initiating us into the world of juxtapositions of death and sexual imagery often misunderstood. It opens our mind to the path of true Sadhana where the adept tries to break free of the shackles of conventions that limit our consciousness. A truly marvellous research work.

[Mahesh · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was always interested in religious pursuits. i once saw the painting of godess dhoomavati at chamunda temple in himachal pradesh. But information about these mahavidhyas was not easily available at that time. Only after reading the tantric visions do i came to realise that there are ten mahavidyas. It was an easy and enlightening reading. I found that these mahvidyas are feminine power in an assertive role. They are independent of their male counterparts. I found another aspect of hinduism in this reading.

[Lili · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic scholarly work on the Mahavidyas! If your approach is either spiritual or scholarly I certainly recommend reading it, it is not at all dry and very interesting. I only wish it had more pictures, perhaps of the temples mentioned in the text.

[Joanna Pollner stamper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Western mind is lured with Tantra, David Kinsley sets esoteric teachings into comprehensible essence of images that do not mean what the mind perceives it as.........., there is another depth layer of illusions yet to be unraveled by the reader. Clear concise true to its source. Excellent book

[Nancy McQueen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rich and elegant book. It beautifully illustrates the multiplicity of the Mayavidyas; 10 of the countless forms that the Mahadevi can take.

[Priyanka Shukla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a amazing book which talks about the mahavidyas, explains about them. If you are interested in knowing about the mahavidyas and their significance this book is much recommended one.

[Abhinandan Dass]

A primer into the 10 Mahavidyas.

[Manish Prasad · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok