Beyond Fear and Devotion: The Daśa Mahāvidyā, Kāmākhyā, and the Sacred Feminine in Tantric Tradition

Beyond Fear and Devotion: The Daśa Mahāvidyās, Kāmākhyā, and the Sacred Feminine in Tantric Traditions examines the historical, ritual, and symbolic dimensions of the Mother Goddess within Hindu Tantric traditions, foregrounding Kāmākhyā as a pivotal centre of Śākta thought and practice. Situating the Daśa Mahāvidyās within their complex socio-religious and historical contexts, the book explores their iconography, textual sources, and ritual practices from early medieval Kāmrūpa to contemporary forms of worship. Drawing upon a combination of fieldwork, epigraphical evidence, and scriptural analysis, it traces the intersections between localized devotional practices and pan-Indian Tantric traditions. Particular attention is given to ritual events such as the Ambubachi Mela, through which themes of power, transformation, and the sacred feminine are ritually articulated. By integrating historical documentation, anthropological insight, and critical interpretation, this book provides a comprehensive scholarly account of the Daśa Mahāvidyās, emphasizing their enduring significance in shaping religious thought, ritual culture, and conceptions of the sacred feminine.