Modifying Masculinity: Tantric Culture, Female Speech and Reframed Masculinities

Abstract

This chapter shows how the authority of female speech in tantric contexts – both Devi’s speech and the speeches of flesh-and-blood women – compels the male listeners to reframe their masculinities. Exploring a diverse array of texts grounded in Shakta-tantric cultures, including memoirs of male (tantric) spiritual aspirants, creative writing by male writers, accounts of spiritual sadhana and dream visions presented by men, this chapter attempts to establish a connection between, on the one hand, the figuration of the humble male listener to Devi’s speech in certain tantric texts and the Devi Gitas and, on the other hand, the presentation of alternative modes of masculinity – non-aggressive and receptive masculinities – in the fictional and non-fictional writings of certain male authors affiliated to the goddess cultures.