Beyond Fear and Devotion The Dasa Mahavidyas, Kamakhya, and the Sacred Fe

Beyond Fear and Devotion examines the historical, ritual, and symbolic dimensions of the Mother Goddess within Hindu Tantric traditions, foregrounding K"am"akhy"a as a pivotal centre of ®S"akta thought and practice. Situating the Da«sa Mah"avidy"as within their complex socio-religious and historical contexts, the book explores their iconography, textual sources, and ritual practices from early medieval K"amr"upa 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.