Thursday, September 27, 2007

HINDU GODDESSES

HINDU GODDESSES

Ambaji - Ambaji or Durga mata represents the power of the Supreme Being that preserves moral order and righteousness in the creation. The Sanskrit word Durga means a fort or a place that is protected and thus difficult to reach. Durga, also called Divine Mother, protects mankind from evil and misery by destroying evil forces such as selfishness, jealousy, prejudice, hatred, anger, and ego.

The worship of Goddess Durga is very popular among Hindus. She is also called by many other names, such as Parvati, Bhavani, and Kali In the form of Parvati, She is known as the divine spouse of Lord Shiva and is the mother of Her two sons, Ganesha and Karttikeya. There are many temples dedicated to Durga's worship in India.

In Her images, Goddess Durga is shown in a female form, wearing red clothes. She has eight arms, carrying many objects in Her hands. The red color symbolizes action and the red clothes signify that She is always busy destroying evil and protecting mankind from pain and suffering caused by evil forces. Following is the symbolism associated with Goddess Ambaji.

Maha Kali - Kali is Sakthi ( the source of power ) embodied in a female form. Shiva and shakti are known as one Power. She is known to be the fiercest goddess ever. Kali is Parvati herself.

This goddess is seen with four arms holding a Khadagh ( thick axelike sword ) on her top left, a head of a demon on her top right, a trident on her bottom left and a vessel of blood on her bottom right which she drinks. In another illusion she is also seen with ten arms holding various weapons.

She wears a garland of heads and a petticoat of arms.

There were so many demons and evil which took over earth and heaven that big corruption in the cosmos outraged she became so angry that she turned black and her eyes turned red.. No god or goddess could do anything to calm her . Even the great gods of the trinity Brahma and Vishnu were terified.

In this condition all the gods and goddesses went to Lord Shiva who had a solution.

He lay down on the ground on which the big war of chaos had taken place where Kali was slaying the demons. Kali misakingly tred on Lord Shivas corpse. She looked down and was so shoked that she pulled out her tongue and cried out ‘ My Lord!’ shed made a big mistake by tredding on him. Lord shiva calmed the mother goddess.

Mahalakshmi - Mahalakshmi is the great goddess of granting wealth, she is the daughter of the ocean, the spouse of Vishnu. She is seated on a big pink lotus dressed in Red adorned with ever shining golden jewels.

Altogether there are eight forms of Lakshmi ( Ashta Lakshmi) such as Adhi Lakshmi, Veer Lakshmi, Gaja Lakshmi, Dhan Lakshmi, Dhanya Lakshmi,Aishwarya Lakshmi, Vijaya Lakshmi and Santana Lakshmi. All of these Lakshmis represent specific goals in life that the goddess grants.

She holds lotuses on her top left and right arms, and on her bottom left and right hand are the abhay hasta mudra (hand which showers blessings) and Varada hasta mudra from which she endlessly showers money (and boons)with.

She has many names such as Kamadhenu (in form of the holy cow), Kamala ( the one on the lotus ), Narayani ( the spouse of Narayan),Kalyani (ever merciful ).

Saraswati -Saraswati or Brahmmani or Brahmatani is the mother goddess of practising knowledge and music, the spouse of the creator Lord Brahma. She is the creater of the seven sounds, She is known as the mother goddess that sits upon ones tongue and our voice is the power of this mother goddess. She is seated on a white lotus or a swan dressed in White silk.

She holds a mala ( rosery beads ) on her top left hand, The Vedas) a text of scriptures on her bottom right hand, and is always seen playing the Veena ( instument form of a sitar ).

Meenakshi - Meenakshi is another form of the mother goddess Parvati (spouse of Shiva) , The mother goddesses temple is known to be very famous in Madurai (south india). She was the powerful princess of Madurai, She rode horses,tamed elephants wresteled bulls and hunted lions.

She led her armies to conquer the four corners of the world and defeated many kings and war lords.At the foot hills of the himalayas she found out of a hermit who refused to aknowledge anyones suzerainty.She had fell in love with Shiva and married him in Madurai and was blessed by Lord Vishnu. The divine place where thay got married is turned into a holy pillgrimage in Madurai.

Santoshi Santoshi maa is the goddess of patience, She is the daughter of lord Ganesh. The appearance of this mother goddess took place when the two sons of Mansa devi wanted a sister to tie a rakhi ( sacred string symbolising a bond of love) on their hands. Women pay oaths and seek this goddesses blessings by doing a (vrat) fasting on Fridays by avoiding sour food as it is a auspicious day for Santoshi maa.

The goddess came on earth to help her devotees in difficult conditions. When there was a conflict between the three goddessess Parvati Saraswati and Mahalakshmi. Santoshi maa helped her devotees to show how compassionate she was and just as much powerful.

The four armed goddess holds a sword on her top left, a trident on her top right, her bottom left hand known as the (Abhaya hasta mudra) which showers blessings. She holds a bowl of kheer (rice pudding) on her bottom right which is the mother godessesses favourite feast.

Chamunda - Chamunda mata or Rann-chandi ( warrrior goddess ) is the goddess of power and another form of Durga.Her illusion is twinlike as she is also called Chandi-Chamunda. The fierce mother goddess has big eyes dressed in red and green adorned with garlands of flowers and in front of her is vehicle the Lion.Her temple is very famous in Gujrat on the moutain named Chotila.

Two Demons named 'Chanda' and 'Munda' did great penance for many years to please Lord Brahma. When Brahma was pleased he apeared in front of them and the demons asked for being very strong warriors and that they would rule the world and take over heaven. Lord Brahma was merciful so he granted the wish.

There was big chaos in the world and the demons became very greedy and attempted to take over heaven aswell as the three abodes of Vishnu (Vaikunth), Shiva (Kailas) and Brahma (Brahmalok ).The three gods went to the mother goddess Parvati who took the form of Chandi and Chamunda who slayed Chand and mund.

Gayatri - Gayatri is the mother goddess who which disperses the clouds of ignorance and lets the aspirant see the spiritual sun, which shines eternally behind those clouds and his oneness with that sun.This goal is achieved from the form of Gayatri.

She has five faces of different colours, ten hands carrying different things, and ten graceful eyes, She is sitting on a red Lotus. Each of her faces symbolise a specific meaning such as:

1) Pearl Colour: Pearls are collected from sea from the bosom of snails. Snails come to the surface of the sea with their eyes and mouth open. When it rains, the rain drops fall into their mouth and if at the time the rain drops fall into their mouth, the snails swasthi nakshatra (star) in the sky and absorb its radiation into them, then the rain drops are converted into original pearls (as distinct from cultured Pearls). These original Pearls are divine in Nature. Thus the first face of Gayatri is of Pearl colour, giving out the luster of Pearls (representing briliance).

2) Coral Colour: (ie. bright red) (one of the nine gems). The second face develops the principle of nitchala Tattwa in the aspirants mind (still mind).

3) Gold Colour: Very bright both in colour and quality. Mere seeing the gold and exposing ourselves into its luster promote good quality and external charm in the aspirant.

4) Blue colour representing the Sky: Sea is blue in colour. Sree Mahavishnu

(Lord Narayana) is also blue in colour (Vishnu tattwa). This face fosters the aspirant with all wealth and also Divine Grace from Lord Narayana.

5) White face: This face represents purity. It develops purity in the mind of the aspirant and also grants divine grace from Saraswati (the goddess for wisdom).

Durga - Durga or Mahisasura-mardini is the fiercce goddess who slayed the buffalo headed demon ‘Mahisasura’.

When the demon did hard penance to Lord Brahma he asked Lord Brahma to grant him a boon that he would be a very strong warrior that would never die being slayed from any Gods of the trinity nor any animal or creature and if he was to be killed it would be done by the hands of a Kanya-kumari ( female virgin ).

Brahma gave him the boon and Mahisasura became very selfish and begun to cause chaos in the world, he begun to harm and hurt the people, rushis and munis (sages) who worshipped Shiva and Parvati and the other Gods.

By this corruption a point came where Mahisasura along with many other evil demons and beasts were rocking the whole cosmos with chaos.

The three Gods of the trinity ( Brahma, Vishnu Shiva ) were terrified and helpless therefore they went to the mother goddess Parvati who had a solution, the three goddesses Parvati, Mahalakshmi and Saraswati got together and created a new Mother goddess.This was Durga mata. All the gods came and gave her gifts of various weapons arms and powers to kill the demon. The goddess was so fierce that the gods stood back as she shouted ‘Pralay ho!’ ( saying she was ready for the battle ).

Durga mounted on a Lion and left for the battle. Not only Mahisasura but she slayed and killed all the other demons and beasts and her lion ate their meat. She sliced the heads of demons and burnt them into ashes in the ‘homa kunda’ ( vessel of fire ) which she holds on her top right. The battle lasted for nine days and nine nights.It is believed that Mahisasura was slayed on the eighth day which is known as (Ashtami ).

The slaying of Mahisasura is the reason behind why hindus and sikhs celebrate Navratri. ( which symbolises celebrating the victory of good over evil )

Kamakshi - Kamakshi is the supreme goddess of beautty and the embodiment of tranquillity.She is the godess who sits in the Shri Chakra which is a ( Yantra ) spiritual diagram made of many quadrilaterals used to view and concentrate during yoga meditation.

She is also known as Lalitambika and Tripurasundari.

She is seen in a glamorous and beautiful form seated in a lotus dressed in red and adorned with golden jewels with gems and pearls. The four armed goddess has a noose and goad on the top left and top right, a lotus and a bow of sugar cane ( which symbolises sweetness in life ) on her bottom left and right.

The appearance of this goddess took place when Kamadev ( god of love ) was burnt into ashes by the opening of Lord Shivas third eye.Lord. Chitra karma ( god of art ) collected the ashes and drew a picture of a man from the sprinkling. Shiva glanced at the ash figure which leaped into life.Chitra Karma advised the man that he was born due to the glance of lord Shivas merciful eyes hence he should do penance to Lord Shiva and recite the Shata Rudriya. ( mantra ).

After Lord Shiva was pleased he blessed the man with overlordship of the world for sixty thousands years.Hearing this Lord Brahma feared that there would be havoc and chaos in the world he cried out in despair ‘Bhand! hey Bhand! Therfore the man was known as Bhanda. He took over Lord Indras heaven and earth and caused great havoc.Due to this Lord Indra decided to do a Homa (sacrifical fire) to please ‘Shakti’ the mother goddess, From this fire arose a Beautiful Shri Chakra from which appeared the Mother goddess known as Kamakshi. Mother Kamakshmi told the gods and goddesses not to fear and that Bhand will soon come to an end. There was a big battle which lasted for four days and the Goddess Kamakshi killed Bhanda with all his kinsmen.Indra came back to heaven and thanked the goddess and peace was spread all over earth.

Bhagwathi Randal - Randal Maa is the Goddess who appeared as the daughter of Vishwakarma (God of Architecture). She is known as Sandhya and Chhaya in the Vedas. She came down to earth as a form of a girl when the earth dried upand there was no granary and fruit growing due to no rain. She made the clouds thunder and the clouds burst out with rain, the soil became rich as her feet touch the earth. Soon all the fields and gardens begun to bloom green. She was no ordinary girl but had super natural powers from which she healed the sick and cured them including the blind. Couples who could not give birth to children beared fruit due to the powers of Randal Maa. She is known to be the wife of Surya (God of the Sun).

Randal Maa once took a form of a horse (Ghodi) and came to earth. Surya wanted her to stay with her, Thus she divided herself into two forms Sandhya (twilight) and Chhaya (Shadow) She is also worshiped today and her miraculous powers still exist as she is possesed by many. People get healed from her possesed spirit and seek her for guidance in relationships and other matters in life. Her main Temple is located in Dadva (Saurashtra in Gujarat).

Marriamman - Marriamman is the goddess related to disseases such as chicken pox, small pox and fevers especially to the lethal affliction of feverish clinging to the illusions of an ego-oriented way of life. She is also known as Sheethala and Gowri. She is another form of the goddess Parvati herself. She embodies the sacred energies and evolutionary forces of Mother Earth. She is related to the Kundalini fire raising up from the Muladhara Chakra.

It is believed that this deity was once installed at the Sri Rangan temple near Tiruchirapalli. As the chief priest felt that he was suffering from some malevolent effect from the Goddess, he asked the workers at the temple to remove the idol from the temple. The workers carried the idol northwards and put it down in a place called Kannanoor and left it there. Some people passing by who saw this idol left unattended in the middle of the village informed the local villagers who named the idol Kannaoor Mariamman and established a shrine there.

Her temples are located in Samaypoorum - Tiruchirappalli (South India), also in Singapore and Malaysia.

Khodiyaar Maa - Khodiyaar Maa is the goddess oof super natural powers. Maamaldev and his wife were childless. Maamaldev could not bear being called a childless. Often people in the village would not even look at the couples faces.There was such hate. Although Maamaldev was a childless he had extreme love and faith in Lord Shiva. He told his wife that oneday surely Lord Shiva will grant us a boon.

Oneday a group or hermits and sages came to their house for a meal. As soon as they found out that the couple wer childess (auspicious) they refused to take their meals and left. Maamaldev could not bear it now, He decided to go to Lord Shiva's temple to do penance and if he didnt grant him a boon of a child he'd slice his head and sacfrice it above the Lingam of Lord Shiva. He begun to do hard penance with love and affection. As soon as he put his Sword above his neck to slice it, Lord Shiva appeared as a flash of thunder in front of the altar. Maamaldev was full of such emotion and begun to cry. Shiva told him and his wife to go to the caves of Naagdevata ( Lord of the Cobras)and that Naagdevata will fulfil their wish, and thats what they did.

The next early morning as the village was asleep. Maamaldev and his wife saw a mysterious illusion, seven cobras appeared from the golden sky slowly coming towards them and landend in front of them, they turned into six baby girls and one baby boy.Infact It was no illusion but a reality. In which baby Khodiyaar was the girl who had super natural powers.

She came to protect people from witchcraft and black magic. She gave boons of children to the childless, helped the poor and healed the sick. She also healed her brother 'Merakhiyo' from a snake bite. The people in the village were shocked and changed. Now they began to respect Maamal dev and to worship Khodiyaar Maa.

Her main temple is in Maatel (Gujarat - India) She is also possesed by many today.

Bahuchara Mata - Bahuchara mata is the goddess worshiped by transexuals. She is seated on a rooster which symbolises innocence. Bahuchara mata teaches us that killing of all animals and creatures is a sin and that there should be nonviolence. She carries a sword on her top right, a text of scriptures on her top left, She shows the abhay hasta mudra on her bottom right (showering of blessings) and carries a trident on her bottom left.

In one of the many folk stories associated with Bahuchara mata, the goddess was once a princess who castrated her husband because he preferred going to forest and 'behaving as a woman' instead of coming to her bridal bed. In another story, the man who attempted to molest Bahuchara mata was cursed with impotency. He was forgiven only after he gave up his masculinity, dressed as a woman and worshipped the goddess.

The temple of Bahuchara mata is located in Shankhalpoor (Gujarat - India). This holy place is today known as Bahucharaji.

Abhirami - Abhirami is the goddess of the full moon, Her legend is associated with Abhirama Bhattar and Abhirami Ammal. Abhirama Bhattar was an ardent devotee of the goddess and his favourite saying was that the mother is all powerful and can do everything. When the King heard this, he was incensed.

He told the poet if he could bring out the full moon on that very Amavasya night. When he heard this Abhirama Bhattar didn't know what to do - he prayed to his goddess to save him from his predicament. The devi, the kind mother, took out her nose ring, which sparkled so bright and tossed it into the sky. The brightness of the Goddess's ring was so much that everyone took it to be the full moon. Thus, the Goddess saved Her devotee.

Her Temple is located Thirkadayur (south India).

Annapoorna - Annapoorna is the mother of all materials and food, Once when lord Shiva told Parvati that, ''The world is an illusion - Nature is an illusion. Matter is a mirage, here one moment - gone the next. Even food is just maya.''

By hearing this Parvati lost her temper and said ''If I'm just an illusion, let's see how you and the rest of the world get along without me!'' saying this she dissapeared from the world.

The dissappearance caused havoc in the cosmos. Time stood still, seasons did not change, the earth became barren and there was a terrible draught. There was no food to be found anywhere in the three worlds. Gods, demons and humans suffered the pangs of hunger. They wept like children who seek their mothers. Sages cried, ''Salvation makes no sense to an empty stomach!" After a long period of time news reached Shiva that Parvati had reappeared at Kashi and had set up a Kitchen there for the benefit of the world. He ran there as fast as he could, along with every other hungry creature in the world. As he presented his bowl to her and said, ''Now I realise that the material world, like spirit, cannot be dissmissed as an illusion.''

Parvati smiled and fed Shiva with her own hands.Since then Parvati has come to be known as Annapoorna, the goddess of food. The image of her serving food to Shiva is still worshipped at Kashi and Vaaranasi in Uttar Pradesh (North India). She is also worshiped in Unja (Gujarat) where is is known as Umiya mata.

It is said that she does not eat a morsel unless her devotees have ben fed.

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