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
109 (of 144)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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$ 128 (her quality of a field which is manured with cowdung is
noticed here), and is the mistress of all created beings.
15 14
She is immortal, and is held to be the goddess of all living
creatures!
16 *
The Grhya-sutras (BGS III.5, MGS II.13, of Ramgopal,
"India of the Vedic Kalpasutras", pp. 466-7), contain instructions
regarding ceremonies in honour of Sri and Sasthi on the fifth and
sixth lunar day of the bright fortnight respectively. - In this
manner Sri's association with some non-Aryan divinities supports
one aspect of her non-Aryan origin. In the MGS II.13, a hymn
invokes the goddess to come to the worshipper in the company of
the nagas and deities.
It can be seen that the people looked upon Sri as the
personification of an abstract idea connoting the attributes of
beauty, welfare and pleasing appearance and primarily plenty and
prosperity. She was invoked by the worshipper for granting them
favours, and also for bestowing prosperity on them. They consi-
dered her as their support, and regarded her as unassailable,
immortal, prosperous and the goddess of all living beings. She
played some role in the sacrificial ritual of the people too.
She is held throughout to be a minor goddess, in the Vedic pantheon.
14 Maha N Up I 1 47.
15 BSS I : 2:18.
16 MGS II : 13:6.
