Birthing the Goddess: An Exploration of Myth, Tradition, & Feminine Divinity

“Birthing the Goddess—The Feminine and the Idea of Birth” is a ground breaking collection of essays exploring birthing myths and traditions. Authored by five close friends on their second collaborative journey, this anthology delves into the extraordinary births of gods, goddesses, and semi-religious figures created by tradition.

Anamika Roy’s fascinating essay traces the birth of Radha, a female deity who emerged in the early medieval Indian religious and literary scenario. Nilima Chitgopekar provides a visually charged, vivid, and evocative account of the birth and feats of Durga, famously known as Mahishasurmardini for her battle against the demon Mahishasur, highlighting Durga’s phenomenal birth, which did not occur from the womb.

Stella Dupui takes readers on a magnificent ride around the world, exploring stories of Amazonian woman warrior fighters, the Sati memorial stones of India, and the legends and sculptural images of Matsyendranath in Ladakh. Janet’s contribution is a fragment of her 25-year-long research on traditional birthing practices across India.

Seema Kohli navigates the continuity of birth and death through the ideas of ‘Hiranyagarbha’ and Martanda. “Birthing the Goddess” offers a delightful dive into the artistic representation of numerous spiritual tales on birth, brimming with brilliant scholarship and creative ideas on the many facets of birth.