Essay name: Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study)
Author:
Srider Basudevan Iyer
Affiliation: University of Mumbai / Sanskrit, University Department
This essay studies the history of Devi (the Goddess) in relation with worship using Tantra, Yantra and Mantra. The study explores the concept of the 'Female Principle' or Goddess, examining her role and significance in ancient Indian society.
Chapter 2 - The Maior Goddesses
99 (of 125)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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chapter II Major goddesses 156 work, we find the full personification of 艢r墨 and also is she allotted an
important place 241. It is only in the Upanishads that these two distinct
deities 艢r墨 and Laksmi are seen to merge with each other and became
synonyms and it is clear from the 艢r墨 S奴kta of their synchrony 242
It is evident from the study of the Vedic lit that 艢r墨 as
opposed to Lak峁i finds more important either used as a common
man or as a proper name of the goddess. On observing the several
phenomena and functions related with 艢r墨 - Laksmi, we find her
myths, icons etc... show a variety of traits, characteristic with fertility
and prosperity in general. The importance of this goddess was in the
ascending and that has to be accepted from the fact that a full hymn to
艢r墨 came to be added to the eigth mandala of the RV as a part of its
khila or supplement.
艢r墨 and Laksmi were dual deity but drawn to each other
into a single form of Sri- Laksmi. In the Vir膩taparva of the MBh, 艢r墨
is associated with Vi峁ａ箛u, Laksmi with Damodara, Sachi with Indra,
Rudrani with Sambha, Savitri with Brahm膩, and 峁峁ａ弓ii with Graha虏43
Padma 艢r墨 standing on lotus is often mentioned in the
R膩m膩ya峁嘺 and Mah膩bh膩rata. In the Santiparva it is said that goddess
Padma-艢r墨 wears ornaments of stars and garland of starry designs and
in this form she appeared in a lotus lake
244 241 S'B 11.43.1, 2.6,3.2,14.9.3.8
242 RV.KhIl膩-end of Mandala VIII
243 MBh. Virataparva, Poona ed. p.77, Sloka 347
244 MBh. Santiparva 218.14
