The ascetic goddess who is half woman

• Verfasst von: Srinivasen, Perundevi [VerfasserIn]
• Titel: The ascetic goddess who is half woman
• Titelzusatz: female authority in the discourses of M?riyammaṉ's Tapas
• Jahr: 2012
• Titel Quelle: Enthalten in: Nidān
• Ort Quelle: Durban : Univ., 1989
• Jahr Quelle: 2012
• Band/Heft Quelle: 24(2012), 1, Seite 66-83
• ISSN Quelle: 2414-8636
• DOI: doi:10.58125/nidan.2012.1
• Datenträger: Online-Ressource
• Sprache: eng
• Sach-SW: Androgynous
• Sach-SW: Ardhanari
• Sach-SW: Ardhanarisvari
• Sach-SW: Asceticism
• Sach-SW: Authority
• Sach-SW: Bhringi
• Sach-SW: Feminism
• Sach-SW: Goddess
• Sach-SW: Mariyamman
• Sach-SW: Poxes
• Sach-SW: Samayapuram
• Sach-SW: Siva
• Sach-SW: Tamilnadu
• Sach-SW: Tapas
• K10plus-PPN: 1839592397
• K10plus-PPN: CATS / Abt. Südasien
• Bibliothek/Idn: SA / m4344912284
• Lokale URL Inst.: Zum Volltext

Abstract

This paper explores the popular narratives of tapas (or ascetic penance) of MÄ?riyammaá¹?, a south Indian goddess of diseases associated with poxes. Unlike the tapas of the goddess P?rvat? of Śaiva temple legends (talapur?ṇams), which is predicated upon her erotic longing to re/unite with the male god Śiva through marriage, M?riyammaṉ's tapas aims to subvert the male authority through pox-affliction and/or violence. In the narratives, not only is M?riyammaṉ's marriage with Śiva ruled out, but Śiva's conventional androgynous (Ardhan?r?) form is appropriated by her in such a way that her supreme authority and cosmic sovereignty are reinforced. M?riyammaṉ's tapas provides a model of female asceticism that underscores a significant female autonomy.