Abstract

Within the American diasporic context, the significance of the Hindu Goddess takes on new interpretative meanings for both Indian females and western feminists interested in the female divine; these women interact with the Goddess through an array of diverse practices and discourses, which in turn shape their own religious identities. This article observes the variety of perspectives on the Hindu Goddess across a broad spectrum of female practitioners, including western feminists, traditional Hindu women from India, and Hindu women living within the American diaspora. Furthermore, the article examines how Hindu diasporic women utilize the classical Indian dance forms of Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi to mold their religious identities, and to encounter Hinduism's divine female.

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