Who is Wendy Doniger and what is her primary field of study?

Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, born on November 20, 1940, is an American Indologist. Her professional career has spanned five decades, focusing on Sanskrit and Indian textual traditions. Indology is the academic study of the history, languages, literature, and philosophy of India and related regions.

What academic positions has Wendy Doniger held?

Wendy Doniger is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of History of Religions at the University of Chicago, where she has taught since 1978. She also served as president of the Association for Asian Studies in 1998 and the American Academy of Religion in 1985.

What are some of Wendy Doniger's most notable published works?

Wendy Doniger's major works include The Hindus: An Alternative History; Asceticism and Eroticism in the Mythology of Siva; Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook; The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology; Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts; and The Rig Veda: An Anthology, 108 Hymns Translated from the Sanskrit.

Where did Wendy Doniger pursue her higher education?

Wendy Doniger pursued her higher education at Radcliffe College, earning a BA, and then at Harvard University, where she obtained her PhD. She also earned a DPhil in Oriental Studies from Oxford University.

Who supervised Wendy Doniger's doctoral dissertations?

Daniel H. H. Ingalls, Sr. supervised her PhD dissertation at Harvard University, which focused on Asceticism and Sexuality in the Mythology of Siva. Robert Charles Zaehner supervised her DPhil dissertation at Oxford University, which concerned The Origins of Heresy in Hindu Mythology.

What was Wendy Doniger's dissertation topic at Harvard University?

Her doctoral dissertation at Harvard University, completed in June 1968, was titled Asceticism and Sexuality in the Mythology of Siva.

What was Wendy Doniger's dissertation topic at Oxford University?

Her doctoral dissertation at Oxford University, completed in February 1973, was titled The Origins of Heresy in Hindu Mythology.

What role did Wendy Doniger play in academic journals and organizations?

She served as the editor of the scholarly journal History of Religions and was on its editorial board since 1979. Additionally, she held presidencies for the American Academy of Religion in 1985 and the Association for Asian Studies in 1998. She also serves on the International Editorial Board of the Encyclopædia Britannica.

What was the subject of Wendy Doniger's 2010 lecture at the Art Institute of Chicago?

In 2010, Wendy Doniger delivered the Art Institute of Chicago President's Lecture at the Chicago Humanities Festival, titled The Lingam Made Flesh: Split-Level Symbolism in Hindu Art.

How has Wendy Doniger's work been described by scholars in the humanities?

Since she began writing in the 1960s, Doniger has gained the reputation of being one of America's major scholars in the humanities.

What did K. M. Shrimali say about Wendy Doniger's work, particularly her book on Siva?

K. M. Shrimali, Professor of Ancient Indian History at the University of Delhi, described Doniger's 1973 work, Siva, the Erotic Ascetic, as a path-breaking work that he still prescribes as essential reading for postgraduate students studying the Evolution of Indian Religions.

How does Wendy Doniger describe her own academic background and focus?

Wendy Doniger describes herself as being inclined to texts by both temperament and training. She identifies as a Sanskritist, trained in a generation that framed Sanskrit studies with Latin and Greek, and notes that she has primarily worked with Sanskrit texts rather than engaging in archaeology or art history.

What was Richard Gombrich's assessment of Wendy Doniger's Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook?

Richard Gombrich, an Indologist, described Wendy Doniger's Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit as intellectually a triumph.

What was the nature of the criticism leveled against Wendy Doniger's book Asceticism and Eroticism in the Mythology of Siva?

Wendy Doniger's 1973 book Asceticism and Eroticism in the Mythology of Siva was a critique of the tension between Siva's ascetic and erotic activities within the Great tradition of the Siva-puranas. While Richard Gombrich called it learned and exciting, John H. Marr felt the book lacked the characteristic regionalism of the texts and questioned its length.

What was Michael Witzel's critique of Wendy Doniger's translation of the Rig Veda?

Michael Witzel, in an email message, described Wendy Doniger's translation of the Rig Veda as idiosyncratic and unreliable, comparing it to her translations of the Jaiminiya Brahmana and Manu.

What is the nature of the criticism regarding the 'unbalanced' section of the Wikipedia article on Wendy Doniger?

The article notes that a section may be unbalanced towards certain viewpoints, specifically mentioning criticism from some conservative diaspora Hindus starting in the early 2000s. They questioned her accuracy in describing Hindu traditions and criticized her use of psychoanalytic concepts to interpret non-Western subjects. Aditi Banerjee also criticized Doniger for allegedly misquoting the Valmiki Ramayana.

How did Christian Lee Novetzke summarize the controversy surrounding Wendy Doniger's work?

Christian Lee Novetzke, an associate professor of South Asian Studies, summarized that Wendy Doniger, a prominent scholar of Indian religious thought, has faced criticism from those who consider her work disrespectful of Hinduism. He noted that her use of psychoanalytical theory became a lightning rod for censure from freelance critics and watchdog organizations claiming to represent Hindu sentiments.

What did Martha Nussbaum observe about the criticism directed at Wendy Doniger?

Martha Nussbaum observed that while the agenda of American Hindu critics of Doniger seemed similar to the Hindu right-wing in India, it lacked overt connection to national identity. She also noted that this criticism created feelings of guilt among American scholars due to the prevailing ethos of ethnic respect.

How did Wendy Doniger respond to criticisms regarding postcolonial domination and her perspective on Indian identity?

Wendy Doniger acknowledged that Indians have grounds to reject postcolonial domination but asserted that her works represent only one perspective and do not subordinate Indian self-identity.

What was the issue with Wendy Doniger's contribution to Microsoft's Encarta Encyclopedia?

Her authorship of the section on Hindu Religion in Microsoft's Encarta Encyclopedia was criticized for being politically motivated and distorted. Following a review, the article was withdrawn.

What was Pratap Kumar's observation on the reception of Wendy Doniger's secular critique of Hinduism?

Pratap Kumar noted that Doniger's dispassionate secular critique of Hinduism often met with defensive responses from Indian scholars, such as Varadaraja V. Raman, who, while acknowledging her scholarship, urged appreciation and sensitivity when analyzing sacred works.

What was the reception of Wendy Doniger's book, The Hindus: An Alternative History, in India?

The book was a bestseller in India in its non-fiction category. However, it also faced significant controversy, leading to a lawsuit and Penguin India recalling the book in 2014 due to allegations of offending religious sentiments. It was later republished by Speaking Tiger Books.

What criticisms were raised by scholarly reviews of The Hindus: An Alternative History?

While scholarly reviews in publications like the Social Scientist and the Journal of the American Oriental Society praised Doniger's textual scholarship, they also criticized her poor historiography and lack of focus. One review noted that the work rarely rose above storytelling and was neither a serious work for students of Indian history nor a true alternative history of the Hindus.

What was the outcome of the lawsuit filed against Wendy Doniger and Penguin Books regarding The Hindus?

In 2014, as part of a settlement agreement, Penguin India recalled the book The Hindus. This decision was protested by several Indian authors and intellectuals.

What recognition has Wendy Doniger received for her work?

Wendy Doniger has received numerous accolades, including election to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1989) and the American Philosophical Society (1996). She also received the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Literary Award (2000), the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize (2002), the Martin E. Marty Public Understanding of Religion Award (2008), and the Charles Homer Haskins Prize (2015).

How many books has Wendy Doniger authored, and what other contributions has she made to scholarly work?

Wendy Doniger has authored 16 books. Additionally, she has translated nine volumes primarily from Sanskrit to English with commentary, contributed to many edited texts, and written hundreds of articles for various journals, magazines, and newspapers.

Under which names has Wendy Doniger published her works?

She has published works under both her maiden name, Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, and her married name, Wendy Doniger.

What was Wendy Doniger's role in the publication of R. Gordon Wasson's book Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality?

Published under the name Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty, she served as the Vedic consultant and co-author for R. Gordon Wasson's 1968 book Soma: Divine Mushroom of Immortality, contributing a chapter on the post-Vedic history of the Soma plant.

What is the significance of the image caption 'Doniger in 2025'?

The image caption indicates that the photograph of Wendy Doniger was taken in the year 2025, suggesting a recent or future depiction.

What is the purpose of the 'Authority control' section at the end of the article?

The 'Authority control' section provides links to various international and national databases that catalog information about Wendy Doniger, serving as a way to verify and connect her identity across different library and archival systems.

What academic fields are listed under Wendy Doniger's 'Fields' in the infobox?

The fields listed for Wendy Doniger are Sanskrit literature, Hinduism, Mythology, and History of Religions.

Which universities are listed as Wendy Doniger's alma mater?

Wendy Doniger's alma mater includes Radcliffe College (BA), Harvard University (PhD), and Oxford University (DPhil).

Who are listed as Wendy Doniger's doctoral students?

Jeffrey Kripal and Alexander Argüelles are listed as her doctoral students.

What is the 'See also' section referencing?

The 'See also' section references A. K. Ramanujan, an author known for his work on Ramayanas, and Censorship in India, indicating related topics or individuals relevant to Wendy Doniger's work or controversies.

What is the function of the 'Navbox' at the end of the article?

The Navbox, specifically the one for Presidents of the Association for Asian Studies, serves as a navigational tool, allowing users to easily access a list of past presidents of that organization, including Wendy Doniger who served in 1998.

What is the meaning of the 'Unbalanced' notice within the article?

The 'Unbalanced' notice indicates that a particular section of the article may favor certain viewpoints and suggests improving it by adding information on neglected perspectives, with relevant discussion potentially found on the talk page.

What is Wendy Doniger's connection to the book 'The Laws of Manu'?

Wendy Doniger co-authored a new translation of The Laws of Manu (Manavadharmasastra) with Brian K. Smith, which was published in the Penguin Classics series in 1991.

What is Wendy Doniger's contribution to the translation of Vātsyāyana's Kāmasūtra?

Wendy Doniger, along with Sudhir Kakar, provided a new translation of Vātsyāyana's Kāmasūtra, published by Oxford University Press in 2002.

What is the significance of Wendy Doniger's work on 'The Rig Veda'?

Wendy Doniger translated 108 hymns from the Rig Veda into English, published as The Rig Veda: An Anthology. While considered reliable by some, it has also faced criticism for being idiosyncratic.

What is the 'External links' section for?

The 'External links' section provides direct links to further resources related to Wendy Doniger, such as her faculty page at the University of Chicago, her profile on Stanford University's lecture series, and related content on Wikiquote.

What does the succession box indicate regarding the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize?

The succession box shows that Wendy Doniger received the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize in 2002, succeeding Annette Peach and Lucy Newlyn, and was succeeded by Jane Stabler and Claire Tomalin. This prize is awarded for the best book about English literature written by a woman.

Indology is the academic study of the history, languages, literature, and philosophy of India and related regions. Wendy Doniger is a prominent figure in this field.

What specific criticism did Aditi Banerjee level against Wendy Doniger?

Aditi Banerjee, a co-author with Rajiv Malhotra, specifically criticized Wendy Doniger for allegedly grossly misquoting the text of the Valmiki Ramayana.

What does the reference to 'The Implied Spider: Politics and Theology in Myth' signify?

The Implied Spider: Politics and Theology in Myth is one of Wendy Doniger's published works, stemming from the 1996-1997 ACLS/AAR Lectures, and it explores the intersection of mythology with political and theological themes.

What is the significance of the 'Notes' section in the Wikipedia article?

The 'Notes' section contains citations and references that support the information presented in the article, allowing readers to verify the sources of the facts and claims made about Wendy Doniger.

What is the 'References' section for?

The 'References' section lists the primary sources, such as academic journals and books, that were consulted in the creation of the Wikipedia article about Wendy Doniger, providing further details and context for the information presented.

What does the inclusion of 'See also' entries like A. K. Ramanujan suggest?

The 'See also' section suggests related individuals or topics that might be of interest to readers exploring Wendy Doniger's work, such as A. K. Ramanujan, another prominent scholar of Indian literature and mythology, and the topic of censorship in India, which may relate to controversies surrounding her work.

Wendy Doniger Wiki: Wendy Doniger: Illuminating Indian Traditions

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

When you are ready...
🎮 Play the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge Game🎮

Biography

Early Life and Education

Born Wendy Doniger on November 20, 1940, in New York City, she was raised in Great Neck, New York. Her father, Lester L. Doniger, managed a publishing business. During her high school years, she pursued dance studies under renowned figures like George Balanchine and Martha Graham. Doniger graduated summa cum laude from Radcliffe College in 1962 with a focus on Sanskrit and Indian Studies. She furthered her academic pursuits at Harvard University, earning an M.A. in 1963 and a Ph.D. in 1968 with a dissertation on "Asceticism and Sexuality in the Mythology of Siva," supervised by Daniel H. H. Ingalls, Sr. She also obtained a D.Phil. in Oriental Studies from Oxford University in 1973, with her dissertation focusing on "The Origins of Heresy in Hindu Mythology" under the guidance of R.C. Zaehner.

Academic Career

Doniger has established a distinguished career spanning over five decades as an American Indologist. She is the Mircea Eliade Distinguished Service Professor Emerita of History of Religions at the University of Chicago, where she has been a faculty member since 1978. Her scholarly contributions are extensive, covering Sanskrit literature, Hinduism, mythology, and the history of religions. She has held significant leadership roles, serving as president of the American Academy of Religion in 1985 and the Association for Asian Studies in 1998. Additionally, she has served on the editorial board of the journal History of Religions since 1979 and contributed to the Encyclopædia Britannica's International Editorial Board.

Reception and Scholarly Discourse

Recognition and Accolades

Wendy Doniger's significant contributions to the humanities have been widely recognized. She was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1989 and the American Philosophical Society in 1996. Her work has garnered prestigious awards, including the PEN Oakland/Josephine Miles Award for Splitting the Difference (2000), the Rose Mary Crawshay Prize from the British Academy for The Bedtrick (2002), the Martin E. Marty Public Understanding of Religion Award from the American Academy of Religion (2008), and the Charles Homer Haskins Prize from the American Council of Learned Societies (2015). Her extensive scholarship has cemented her reputation as a leading figure in her field.

Scholarly Debate and Criticism

Beginning in the early 2000s, Doniger's scholarship, particularly her interpretations of Hindu traditions, faced criticism from some conservative diaspora Hindus and figures like Rajiv Malhotra. Critics argued that her work was disrespectful, misquoted texts, and inappropriately applied psychoanalytic concepts to non-Western subjects. A notable controversy arose around her book The Hindus: An Alternative History, which led to its recall by Penguin India in 2014 following a lawsuit alleging offense to religious sentiments. While some scholars, like Christian Lee Novetzke and Martha Nussbaum, have defended her work and contextualized the criticism within broader academic debates on cultural sensitivity and postcolonial studies, the controversies highlight the complex reception of her interpretive methodologies.

The criticism often centers on Doniger's use of psychoanalytic frameworks and her comparative approach, which some argue imposes Western perspectives onto Indian traditions. For instance, Aditi Banerjee criticized Doniger for alleged misquotations of the Valmiki Ramayana. The section on her work in Wikipedia was flagged for being "unbalanced," prompting calls for adding neglected viewpoints. Scholars like Varadaraja V. Raman, while acknowledging Doniger's scholarship, urged greater sensitivity when analyzing sacred texts. Doniger herself has maintained that her work offers a perspective that does not subordinate Indian self-identity and that her interpretations are part of a valid academic discourse.

Key Scholarly Contributions

Major Interpretive Works

Doniger has authored numerous influential books that explore the complexities of Indian mythology and religion. Her seminal works, often published under the name Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty earlier in her career, include:

Asceticism and Eroticism in the Mythology of Siva (1973)
The Origins of Evil in Hindu Mythology (1976)
Women, Androgynes, and Other Mythical Beasts (1980)
Dreams, Illusion, and Other Realities (1984)
The Implied Spider: Politics and Theology in Myth (1998)
The Bedtrick: Tales of Sex and Masquerade (2000)
The Hindus: An Alternative History (2009)
The Donigers of Great Neck: A Mythologized Memoir (2019)

Translations and Edited Volumes

Beyond her original scholarship, Doniger has made significant contributions through translations and edited collections, making classical Indian texts accessible to a wider audience. Notable among these are:

Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook (1975)
The Rig Veda: An Anthology, 108 Hymns Translated from the Sanskrit (1981)
Textual Sources for the Study of Hinduism (1990)
The Laws of Manu (with Brian K. Smith, 1991)
Vātsyāyana Kāmasūtra (with Sudhir Kakar, 2002)
She also edited volumes such as Purana Perennis: Reciprocity and Transformation in Hindu and Jaina Texts (1993) and contributed to The Norton Anthology of World Religions: Hinduism (2015).

Published Articles

Contributions to Periodicals

Doniger has authored hundreds of articles for academic journals, magazines, and newspapers, including prominent publications such as the New York Times Book Review, London Review of Books, Times Literary Supplement, The Washington Post, The Nation, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Her articles often engage with contemporary issues through the lens of mythology and cultural history. For example, her review of David Chaffetz's "Raiders, Rulers, and Traders: The Horse and the Rise of Empires" in The New York Review of Books (April 10, 2025) explored the historical symbolism and impact of horses, touching upon themes of conquest, power, and civilization.

Related Scholarship

Influential Figures and Concepts

Doniger's work intersects with several significant areas of study and figures in the humanities:

A. K. Ramanujan: A fellow scholar of Indian culture, known for his work on Indian folklore and mythology, including "300 Ramayanas."
Censorship in India: A relevant topic given the controversies surrounding the publication and reception of some of Doniger's works in India.
Mircea Eliade: The scholar whose distinguished professorship Doniger held at the University of Chicago, known for his work on comparative religion and mythology.
Psychoanalytic Theory: A methodological approach used by Doniger, which has also been a point of critical discussion regarding its application to non-Western subjects.

Scholarly Notes

Key References and Citations

The following notes provide context and citation details for the information presented:

The citation for her curriculum vitae indicates an archived version from August 7, 2016, on the University of Chicago Divinity School website.
References to Shrimali (2010) and Rocher (2012) offer critical perspectives on Doniger's book The Hindus: An Alternative History, discussing its historiography, scope, and interpretive methods.
The controversy surrounding The Hindus involved a lawsuit filed in 2011 under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, leading to Penguin India's recall of the book in 2014.
Various academic reviews and articles, such as those by James F. DeRoche, David Arnold, David Dean Shulman, and Pankaj Mishra, have engaged with her work, highlighting both its strengths and areas of debate.

References

Source Material

The content presented here is synthesized from publicly available information, primarily drawing from the detailed Wikipedia article on Wendy Doniger. The original source material includes academic reviews, scholarly articles, and biographical information, which are programmatically listed in the reference section.

Authority Control

Standardized Identifiers

Wendy Doniger's work and identity are cataloged across various international and national authority control databases, ensuring consistent identification and referencing in academic and archival contexts. These include:

International: ISNI, VIAF, FAST, WorldCat
National: Germany (GND), United States (Library of Congress), France (BnF data), Italy (SBN), Australia (NLA), Czech Republic (NKC), Spain (BNE), Netherlands (KB), Latvia (NLG), Greece (NLG), Korea (NLK), Sweden (Libris), Poland (NBP), Israel (NLI), Catalonia (BNC), Belgium (KBR)
Academics: PhilPeople
Other: IdRef, SNAC, Yale LUX, Trove, DDB

Teacher's Corner

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

Edit and Print Materials from this study in the wiki2web studio

Click here to open the "Wendy Doniger" Wiki2Web Studio curriculum kit

Use the free Wiki2web Studio to generate printable flashcards, worksheets, exams, and export your materials as a web page or an interactive game.

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Learn about wendy_doniger while playing the wiki2web Clarity Challenge game.

Unlock the mystery image and prove your knowledge by earning trophies. This simple game is addictively fun and is a great way to learn!

Play now

Explore More Topics

Discover other topics to study!

forbes

ministry of defense israel

slovak national council

alcohol enema

national collegiate athletic association

References

The John U. Nef Committee on Social Thought,"Wendy Doniger profile, socialthought.uchicago.edu; accessed February 22, 2014.

History of Religions Editorial Board, press.uchicago.edu; accessed February 22, 2014.

Martha Craven Nussbaum, The clash within: democracy, religious violence, and India's future, Harvard University Press, 2007 p.249.

Richard Gombrich, Hindu Myths: A Sourcebook Translated from the Sanskrit by Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty Religious Studies, Vol. 14, No. 2 (Jun. 1978), pp. 273â274

The interpretation of gods

Martha C. Nussbaum, The Clash Within: Democracy, Religious Violence, and India's Future, (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2009), p. 248

Pratap Kumar, "A Survey of New Approaches to the Study of Religion in India," New Approaches to the Study of Religion: Regional, critical, and historical approaches, 2004, p. 132.

David Arnold. "Beheading Hindus And other alternative aspects of Wendy Doniger's history of a mythology", Times Literary Supplement, July 29, 2009

Pankaj Mishra, "'Another Incarnation'", nytimes.com, April 24, 2009.

"How Doniger's now-recalled 'The Hindus' ruffled Hindutva feathers" firstpost.com

A full list of references for this article are available at the Wendy Doniger Wikipedia page

Feedback & Support

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer

Important Notice

This page has been generated by an AI model for educational and informational purposes. The content is based on publicly available data and aims to provide a comprehensive overview suitable for advanced academic study. It is not intended to substitute professional academic or research consultation.

This is not academic advice. The information provided herein should not be considered a definitive or exhaustive analysis. Always consult primary sources and engage with scholarly discourse critically. The creators of this page are not liable for any errors, omissions, or actions taken based on the information presented.

Wendy Doniger: Illuminating Indian Traditions

💡 Dive in with Flashcard Learning! 💡

Biography 🏛️

🎓 Early Life and Education

💼 Academic Career

Reception and Scholarly Discourse 💬

⭐ Recognition and Accolades

⚖️ Scholarly Debate and Criticism

Key Scholarly Contributions 📖

📚 Major Interpretive Works

🌐 Translations and Edited Volumes

Published Articles 📰

📄 Contributions to Periodicals

Related Scholarship 🔗

💡 Influential Figures and Concepts

Scholarly Notes 📝

📌 Key References and Citations

References 📚

📜 Source Material

Authority Control 🗂️

🔗 Standardized Identifiers

Teacher's Corner 🧑‍🏫

Edit and Print this course in the Wiki2Web Teacher Studio

True or False? 🤔

❓ Test Your Knowledge! ❓

Gamer's Corner 🎮

Are you ready for the Wiki2Web Clarity Challenge?

Explore More Topics

📜 Discover other topics to study!

References

📜 References

Feedback & Support 👍

To report an issue with this page, or to find out ways to support the mission, please click here.

Disclaimer ⚠️

📜 Important Notice

Dive in with Flashcard Learning!

Biography

Early Life and Education

Academic Career

Reception and Scholarly Discourse

Recognition and Accolades

Scholarly Debate and Criticism

Key Scholarly Contributions

Major Interpretive Works

Translations and Edited Volumes

Published Articles

Contributions to Periodicals

Related Scholarship

Influential Figures and Concepts

Scholarly Notes

Key References and Citations

References

Source Material

Authority Control

Standardized Identifiers

Teacher's Corner

True or False?

Test Your Knowledge!

Gamer's Corner

Discover other topics to study!

References

Feedback & Support

Disclaimer

Important Notice