Devi

From Free net encyclopedia

For other uses see Devi (disambiguation).

Commonly known as Devi (goddess), Vaishnodevi (देवी, Devī in Hindi and Sanskrit) is the Divine Mother of Hinduism. Some of her other names include Jai Mata Di and Mata Rani. She is known as the goddess of strength, the female aspect of divinity, usually considered to have an equal role with the male aspect as energy or the driving force (Shakti), without which the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, is impotent.

Vaishnodevi's main temple is situated in Jammu region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Her main scripture, adored by Hindus, is the Devi Mahatmyam (also known as Chandi Path and Durga Saptashati), in which an allegorical telling of the binding force of Maya and ego is represented through devotional stories about the Divine Mother slaying demons who afflict the world.

In Sanskrit grammar, the Devi inflection is named after the goddess Devi.

Contents 1 Devi's appearance 2 Shakta 3 Aspects 4 See also 5 Further reading 5.1 External links

Devi's appearance

Unlike most Hindu gods, Vaishnodevi has 8 arms. She holds many items including a sword, bow, shield and conch. She sits on a tiger who is in a passive position.

She comes in many aspects. Devi is the mother of all living things. Her right hand holds joy and pain and her left hand holds life and death. She is a goddess of fertility, rain, health and nature, and holds the entire universe in her uterus. She is also a goddess of death.

Shakta

Devi is widely worshipped in Hindu traditions. The most famous festival dedicated to Her is Navratri. There is a separate tradition within Hinduism devoted to her worship called shakta. Hindu Tantra is practically inseparable from Shaktism. She is visualised in three forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Aspects

Devi is the original form of every goddess in Hinduism. Because of this, all of the goddesses of Hinduism are aspects of Devi. This is a list of the most well known goddesses, ie. devis in Hinduism.

• Ambika
• Bhavani
• Bhutamata
• Brahmani
• Chamunda
• Dakshayani
• Durga
• Jagaddhatri
• Kali
• Maya
• Lakshmi
• Mahavidyas (ten)
• Nirrith
• Parvati
• Saraswati
• Sati
• Shakti
• Tara (Devi)
• Uma

See also

• Hindu deities
• List of Hindu deities
• List of Hinduism-related articles

Further reading

• Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 8120803795) by David Kinsley

External links

• The Vaishnodevi Temple website is http://www.maavaishnodevi.org
• http://www.jaimatadi.org/
• Conception and Evolution of The Mother Goddess in India by Dr.P. C. Jain
• Shrimad Devi Bhagavatam Translation by Swami Vijñanananda
• http://www.tirupatitimes.com/ A visit to this site will show the way to visit several official websites of Indian temples including Sri Vaishnodevi,Lord balaji,Shirdi Sai, Lord Ayyappa and Maata Madurai Meenakshi

Template:Hindu Culture and Epicsde:Devi fr:Devî lt:Devi nn:Devi sl:Devi fi:Devi sv:Devi