For young women in early South Asia, marriage was probably the most important event in their lives, as it largely determined their socioeconomic and religious f

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • PEN/FAULKER AWARD WINNER • The acclaimed author of The Swimmers and When the Emperor Was Divine tells the story of a group of young wo

The Buddha left his home and family and enjoined his followers to go forth and "become homeless." With a traditionally celibate clergy, Asian Buddhism is often

Nautilus Book Award Winner The first full biography of Mahaprajapati Gautami, the woman who raised the Buddha--examining her life through stories and canonical

This collection of essays examines ten core themes from a comparative perspective and thus provides an integrated introduction to the social and spiritual value