Essay name: Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras
Author:
Rajeshri Goswami
Affiliation: Jadavpur University / Department of Sanskrit
This essay studies the Goddesses from the Samhitas to the Sutras. In short, this thesis examines Vedic goddesses by analyzing their images, functions, and social positions. It further details how natural and abstract elements were personified as goddesses, whose characteristics evolved with societal changes.
Chapter 1
49 (of 144)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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68
the period that goes between two full-moon days with that
which goes between two menstruations. He also points out
that, on the full-moon day, blood circulation has higher
speed. On the other hand, Kelkar (Jyotirbhava ed. Jakatdar,
p. 162), on astrological grounds, show how the moon is
closely connected with human progeny. He adds that, as
far as the desire for sexual indulgence is concerned, the
full-moon causes some favourable bodily changes in a woman.
Side by side, it is significant that in New Zealand, we
have the name for the full-moon night : Rakau-nui; the same
name is found among the inhabitants of the Chatham Islands.
In Tahili, it is Raau-mua, in
In Man gaia, it is Rakau.
�
Hawai it is Ka'au
on the other hand, it is important that
on the rakhi-pūrṇimā day, a Bengali perpetuates the old
.
She gives a thousand-fold wealth to her devotees. She gives
riches to the follower who gives her oblations. She is very favou-
rable, and kind towards her worshippers. She is invoked to listen
to her worshippers, and to sew their work with a needle that is
unbreakable, she is approached to give a hero who is of a hundred-
-fold value and is also praiseworthy, to her devotees. She is also
beseeched to give them a courageous son?
1 J.R. Johsi, "Rākā, Sinīvall, Anumati and Kuhū, Journal of
the Oriental Institute, M.S. University of Baroda, Vol. XXII;
2 RV II : 32:5, V, 42:12, MS IV: 12:154, TS III : 3:11,
AV VII : 48:2, CB I:513 & 4; KGS III : 219. �
3 CB I : 584.
4 MS IV : 12:154, CB I # 5:3 & 4.
STS III : 3:11.
6 AV VII: 48:1, TS III : 3:11.
7 CB I: 813.
