32. Sravana Borkataky-Varma | Hijrās, Women, and Gender in Śākta Tantra

In this episode we welcome back to the Podcast, Sravana
Borkataky-Varma. We catch up on her latest book projects,
research, and teaching at Harvard Divinity School. We discuss the
categories of so-called Classical Tantra vs. Neo Tantra, and some
of the nuances of the scholar-practitioner. We discuss gender and
transgender, particularly within the hijrā communities, and the
recently formed Kinnar Akhara. We then preview the upcoming
course, YS 120 | Women and Gender in Hindu Tantra—detailing its
four modules: Sacred Transgender Identities, Temple Wives, Guru
Mothers, and Superwomen Gurus.



Speaker Bio


Dr. Sravana Borkataky-Varma is a historian, educator, and
social entrepreneur. As a historian, she studies Indian religions
focusing on esoteric rituals and gender, particularly in Hinduism
(Goddess Tantra). As an educator, she is currently a lecturer at
Harvard Divinity School. She is on leave from her parent
organization, the University of Houston where she is the
Instructional Assistant Professor. In the past she has taught at
the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, the University of
Montana, Rice University, and Dalian Neusoft University, China.


There are five forthcoming book projects that Sravana is
simultaneously working on: A monograph titled Divinized Divas:
Superwomen, Wives, Hijṛās in Hindu Śākta Tantra, a co-written
book titled The Serpent's Tale: Kuṇḍalinī and the History of an
Experience, two co-edited volumes titled Living Folk Religions
and Religious Responses to the Pandemic & Crises: Isolation,
Survival, and #Covidchaos, and a co-edited special issue journal
Digital Tantra. Her published articles can be found on sravana.me


As a social entrepreneur, she is the co-founder of a nonprofit,
Lumen Tree Portal. Sravana invests in building communities with
individuals from various faith backgrounds who believe in
kindness, compassion, and fulfillment. 


Links


YS 120 | Women and Gender in Hindu Tantra