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
32 (of 125)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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chapter II Major goddesses Synonyms. 89 Two synonyms of the goddess Durg膩 as Katyayani and
Bharga are specially described in the Pur膩峁嘺s The goddesses Durg膩
appeared in the hermitage of the sage Katyayana and hence she is
known as Katyayani 103. She appeared for the destruction of the demon
Mahi峁 as a request to the prayer of the gods.
The goddess is known as Bharga as she because she scorches
and destroys the ignorance and sins of the humans 104.
Iconographic Details.
The goddess Durg膩 is said to have ten arms. She holds ten
different weapons in the ten different hands. They are a scimitar, a
discus, a mace, a bow, arrows, shield, a trident, a sling, a skull and an
axe 105. In almost all of the Siva temples house a separate temple for
艢iva's spouse, the goddess Durg膩 is housed on the northern direction
as a retinue of 艢iva's family gods and facing the direction south. She
is depicted as standing on the head of a buffalo which is in fact the
head of the buffalo-demon or Mahi峁Ｄ乻ura. Generally she has four
hands the lower two depicting the abhaya-varada gestures while the
above two hold the cultic weapons. On the basis of the cultic
weapons which she posseses, the Siv膩c膩ryas make a classification of
the goddess Durg膩 as Vi峁ａ箛udurg膩, Sivadurga and as Brahm膩durg膩.
103 K.P.Ch.61,V.5,6
104 DBP BK 9, Ch.L
105 DBP (P.1006)
