Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.31337/oz.81.1.7
From Terracotta Figurines to Bhārat Mātā: A Brief History of Śaktism, the Longest–Lasting Worship of the Divine Feminine Principle
Vesna Ratković
orcid.org/0009-0007-6526-1964
; Fakultet filozofije i religijskih znanosti Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
*
* Dopisni autor.
Sažetak
Śaktism is goddess worship in Hinduism and is the longest–standing worship of the
divine feminine principle, a form of worship that has endured for 4,000 years. The
first indications of such worship date back to the Indus Valley Civilization and are
evident in ancient terracotta figurines and seals with female figures. Goddess worship
in India endures to this day and has developed into various forms. Today, perhaps
the most prominent is the goddess Bhārat Mātā, Mother India. In order to present
this abiding and exceptionally rich tradition of worship of the feminine principle,
this paper presents a brief overview of the history of goddess worship in India in
five stages: (1) the beginnings of the worship of the feminine principle in the Indus
Valley Civilization, (2) goddesses in the Vedas with an emphasis on Devīsūkta, (3)
the fundamental scriptures of Śaktism , that is, Devīmāhātmya and Devībhāgavata
purāṇa, (4) tantric Śaktism, and (5) political Śaktism. Also, the paper explains the
terms śakti, prakṛti and māyā as basic concepts associated with goddess worship in
Hinduism.
Ključne riječi
Hinduism; Śaktism; Devī; śakti; Bhārat Mātā
Hrčak ID:
341009
URI
Datum izdavanja:
7.1.2026.
Posjeta: 463 *