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.
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 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 ).
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.
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 ( warrior 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
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.
Durga - Durga or Mahisasura-mardini is the fierce 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.
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 beauty 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.
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
Marriamman - Marriamman is the goddess related to diseases 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 of 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 ( gujrat-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 ( gujrat - 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 im just an illusion, lets see how you and the rest of the world get along without me!'' saying this she dissapeared from the world.
The dissaperance 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 (Gujrat) where is is known as Umiya mata.
It is said that she does not eat a morsel unless her devotees have ben fed.
Nava Durga - These are the nine (nava) main forms of the Goddess. She is well known by these forms in the Vedas. Each goddess symbolises a specific source of Energy.
1. Shailputri - She is the daughter of the Himalayas and first among nine Durgas. In previous birth she was the daughter of Daksha. Her name was Sati - Bhavani. I.e. the wife of Shiv. Once Daksha had organized a big Yagna and did not invite Shivaji. But Sati being obstinate, reached there. Thereupon Daksha insulted Shiva. Sati could not tolerate the insult of husband and burnt herself in the fire of Yagns. In other birth she became the daughter of Himalaya in the name of Parvati - Hemvati and got married with Shivaji. As per Upnishad she had torn and the egotism of Indra, etc. Devtas. Being ashamed they bowed and prayed that, "In fact, thou are Shakti, we all - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are capable by getting Shakti from you."
2. Brahmacharini
- The second Durga Shakti is Brahamcharini. Brahma that is who observes panance and good conduct. Here "Brahma" means "Tapa". The idol of this Goddess is very gorgeous. There is rosary in her right hand and Kamandal in left hand. She is full with merriment. One story is famous about her. In previous birth she was Parvati Hemavati the daughter of Himvan. Once when she was busy in games with her friends. Naradaji came to her and predicted seeing her Palm-lines that, "You will get married with a naked-terrible 'Bhole baba' who was with you in the form of Sati, the daughter of Daksh in previous birth. But now you have to perform penance for him." There upon Parvati her mother Menaka that she would marry none except Shambhu, otherwise she would remain unmarried. Saying this she went to observe penance (tap). That is why her name is famous as tapacharini - Brahmacharini. But as she was engrossed in Tapa her mother told her, " Beti, please do not make penance." From that time her name Uma became familiar.
3. Chandraghanta
- The third Shakti is Chandraghanta. There is a half-circular moon in her forehead. She is charmful and bright. She is Golden colour. She has three eyes and ten hands holding with ten types of swords - etc. weapons and arrows etc. missiles. She is seated on Lion and ready for going in war to fight. She is unprecedented image of bravery. The frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the villans, demons and denavas.
4. Kushmanda -
The fourth Durga is Kushmanda. The Shakti creates egg. I.e. Universe by mere laughing she resides in solar systems. She shines brightly in all the ten directions as like Sun. She has eight hands. Seven types of weapons are shining in her seven hands. Rosary is in her right hand. She seems brilliant riding on Lion. She likes the offerings of "Kumhde." Therefore her name "Kushmanda" has become famous.
5. Skanda Mata
- The Fifth name of Durga is "Skanda Mata". The daughter of Himalaya, after observing penance got married with Shiva. She had a son named "Skanda." Skanda is a leader of the army of Gods. Skanda Mata is a deity of fire. Skanda is seated in her lap. She has three eyes and four hands. She is white and seated on a lotus.
6. Katyayani
-The Sixth Durga is Katyayani. The son of "Kat" as "Katya". Rishi Katyayan born in this "Katya" linege. Katyayan had observed penance with a desire to get paramba as his daughter. As a result she took birth as a daughter of Katyayan. Therefore her name is "Katyayani" on the bank of Jamuna for getting Krishna as a husband. It proves that she is prime deity of Vraj mandal. Her appearance is very sublime. She has three eyes and eight hands. These are eight types of weapons missiles in her seven hands. Her vehicle is Lion.
7. Kalratri -
The Seventh Durga is Kalratri. She is black like night. H hairs are unlocked. She has put on neckles shining like lightning. She has three eyes which are round like universe. Her eyes are bright. Thousands of flames of fire come out while respiring with nose. She rides on donkey. There is sharp sword in her right hand. Her lower hand is in blessing mood. The burning torch is in her left hand and her lower left hand is in fearless style, by which she makes her devotees fearless. Being auspicious she is called "Shubhamkari."
8. Maha Gauri
- The Eighth Durga is "Maha Gauri." She is as white as a conch, moon and Jasmine. She is of eight years old. Her clothes and ornaments are white and clean. She has three eyes. She rides on bull She has four hands. The above left hand is in "Fearless - Mudra" and lower left hand holds "Trishul." The above right hand has tambourine and lower right hand is in blessing style. She is calm and peaceful and exists in peaceful style. It is said that when the body of Gauri became dirty due to dust and earth while observing penance, Shivaji makes it clean with the waters of Gangas. Then her body became bright like lightning. There fore, she is known as "Maha Gauri" in world.
9. Siddhidatri - The Ninth Durga us Siddhidatri. There are eight Siddhis - Viz- Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Iishitva Vashitva. Maha Shakti gives all these Siddhies. It is said in "Devipuran" that the Supreme God Shiv got all these Siddhies by worshipping Maha Shakti. With her gratitude the half body of Shiv has became of Goddess and there fore his name "Ardhanarishvar" has became famous. The Goddess drives on Lion. She has four hands and looks pleased. This form of Durga is worshipped by all Gods, Rishis-Munis, Siddhas, Yogis, Sadhakas and devotees for attaining the best religious asset.
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