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
56 (of 144)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Prabhu Desai (Devikosa 1.76), Sinivall is a form of the goddess Ila the Adisakti. He however does not put forth 2939 any evidence for his conclusion.
40 She is beseeched to grant progeny to her devotees, and is
41 75
invoked to bestow womb on the bride. She is supplicated to place
42 the embryo in the womb of the bride. She inspires her husband
43 Visnu to grant boons to her worshippers?
44 With her grace, Viraj
becomes favourable towards Bhaga. She is prayed to bring for her
followers fame, food and glory.
45 Sinival is often prayed to for successful conception.
Kausika 35.5 enjoins an elaborate ceremony to be performed for the
sake of successful conception, wherein the entire garbhadh膩no-sukta
AV 5.25 is employed and sinivali is invoked. Commenting on
'
CB 1.47, Gunavisnu considers her to be capable of removing barrenness
of a woman. In a ceremony called Putramanthakhyakarman SB 14.9.4.20
艢叠
(= BA Up 6.4) enjoins the mantras mentioned in BA Up 6.4 to be recited.
In the agnicayana ceremony 40 sinivali is asked to soften the clay
46 used for preparing the sacrificial fire-pot (ukha) and to hand it
over to Aditi so that she might receive Agni smoothly like a mother
47 receiving a child 7 The pot symbolises the womb. This indicates
that Sinivali prepares the womb for conception.
39 J.R. Joshi, op. cit., pp. 246-247.
40 MS IV : 12:155, VS XXXIV:10, TS III : 1:ll,
AV XIV: 2:15 & 21, VII: 4611.
41 CB I : 4:7.
42 AV V : 25:3.
43 AV VII: 46.3.
44 AV XIV: 2:15.
45 CB II : 612, II : 6:3.
46 MS II.75.
47 TS IV.15.3.
