Gendered agency in transcultural Hinduism and Buddhism : nuns, gurus and priestesses / edited by Ute Hüsken, Agi Wittich and Nanette R. Spina.

Introduction / Ute Hüsken, Agi Wittich, Nanette Spina -- 1. From Matriarch to Divine Mother: Caste, Gender, and Deification in Hagiographies of Satīmā / Arkamitra Ghatak -- 2. Biographies of Enhanced Agency and Self-Made Gurus: From Housewives into Founders of Guru-Bhakti Communities / Michal Erlich -- 3. Women's Ritual Expression and Religious Agency: Om Shakti Communicating Innovation in Contemporary Hinduism / Nanette R. Spina -- 4. Forgotten priestesses: a 'witch,' a queen and a ritual stew / Tara Sheemar Malhan -- 5. Women Sharing Bhakti, Women Singing Devotion: Friends, Teachers, and Leaders in the Hindu Diaspora / Vasudha Narayanan -- 6. Reinventing Selves: Religiosity and Female Agency in the Siri Tradition of Tulunad in India / Pauline Schuster-Löhlau and Yogitha Shetty -- 7. Yoga's Red Tent: Menstrual-Oriented Iyengar Yoga Practices / Agi Wittich -- 8. Womanhood and female agency in Bengali Vaishnava Sahajiya Tradition / Amnuaypond Kidpromma -- 9. Encountering in a New Phase: Monastic Education for Buddhist Nuns in Sri Lanka / Gihani De Silva -- 10. Against Marginality, Inequality, and Dependency: Remarkable Buddhist Nuns in Sikkim / Marlene Erschbamer -- 11. Global South Coalition for Dignified Menstruation / Interview of Radha Paudel, conducted by Ute Hüsken -- 12. The Changing Attitudes towards Female Priesthood in Hinduism: Insights from Pune, Southern India / Interview of Dr. Aaryaa Joshi by Dr. Agi Wittich -- 13. Beyond Boundaries: A Modern Buddhist Nun's Journey Towards Enlightenment / Interview with Ayyā Phalañāṇī by Agi Wittich -- 14 Luminous Insight: An Interview with Ayyā Tathālokā from Dhammadharini Monastery (USA) / An Interview with Ayyā Tathālokā conducted by Nanette Spina.

"Focusing on complex entanglements of religion and gender from a diversity of perspectives, this book explores how women enact agencies in transcultural Hindu and Buddhist settings. The chapters draw on original, in-depth empirical research in various contexts in South Asian religious traditions. Today in an increasing number of such contexts women are able to undergo monastic and priestly education, receive ordination/initiation as nuns and priestesses, and are accepted as ascetic religious leaders. They are starting to establish new religious communities within conservative traditions, occupying religious leadership positions on par with men. This volume considers the historical background, contemporary trajectories, and potential impact of the emergence of these new and powerful female agencies in conservative South Asian religious traditions. It will be of particular interest to scholars of religion, women's and gender studies, and South Asian studies"-- Provided by publisher.