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Emotional And Spiritual Dimensions in Vanessa R. Sasson's Yasodhara: A Novel About the Buddha's Wife

Authors: Mohamed Esak Kutty Sheikh Syedali A; Dr. M. Benazir Nuzrath;

Emotional And Spiritual Dimensions in Vanessa R. Sasson's Yasodhara: A Novel About the Buddha's Wife

Abstract

Vanessa R. Sasson’s Yasodhara: A Novel about the Buddha’s Wife offers a compelling reimagining of the life of Yasodhara, a figure often marginalized in Buddhist narratives. The research paper explores the emotional and spiritual dimensions of Sasson’s portrayal, emphasizing how the novel humanizes Yasodhara beyond her traditional role as Siddhartha’s consort. The text foregrounds her inner struggles, resilience, and spiritual awakening, thereby challenging androcentric readings of Buddhist history. Through a close analysis of narrative voice, symbolism, and character development, the study highlights how Sasson reconstructs Yasodhara’s emotional landscape—her love, grief, longing, and eventual transcendence—as integral to the broader spiritual discourse. The paper argues that Yasodhara’s journey embodies a dual dimension: emotional, in her confrontation with abandonment, motherhood, and loss; and spiritual, in her capacity to transform suffering into insight. Sasson’s narrative situates Yasodhara as a seeker in her own right, whose spiritual trajectory parallels and complements Siddhartha’s quest. By weaving together historical imagination and literary creativity, the novel underscores the importance of female perspectives in Buddhist storytelling. The paper demonstrates that Sasson’s Yasodhara is not merely a retelling but a profound meditation on the emotional and spiritual dimensions of human experience. It invites readers to reconsider the silenced voices in religious traditions and to recognize the transformative power of empathy, resilience, and spiritual agency in shaping the legacy of Buddhism.

Keywords

Emotional Suffering, Spiritual Transformation, Womanhood, Buddhist Rewriting, Feminine Voice.

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selected citations
These citations are derived from selected sources.
This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Citations provided by BIP!
popularity
This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Popularity provided by BIP!
influence
This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically).
BIP!Influence provided by BIP!
impulse
This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network.
BIP!Impulse provided by BIP!
0
Average
Average
Average
Green