Sushmajee
Dictionary Of Hindu Religion | Dictionary
| Dictionary-D | |
| Devee |
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P-Q R S T-U V-W-X Y-Z See also Devee; Das Mahaavidyaa; Devee Mahaatmya; Nityaa Devee in Chandramaa's 16 Kalaa Devee means Goddess -
female form of god. There are five Devee - (1) Umaa (Shiv's wife), (2) Ushaa
(goddess of dawn), (3) Vaidehee (Raam's wife), (4) Ramaa (Vishnu's wife Lakshmee),
and (5) Gangaa (River). But if somebody says "Devee", he means Durgaa.
There are three main Devee of the Vaidik times - Ilaa, Bhaaratee, and Saraswaee; and
there are three main Devee of Pauraanik times - Lakshmee, Durgaa and Saraswatee
. Lakshmee is remembered by many names - Shree, Kamalaa, Ramaa, Indiraa etc. Durgaa
is worshipped under hundreds of names - Paarvatee, Kaalee,
Gauree, Ambaa, Umaa, Bhavaanee, Girijaa. Devee, when used alone, signifies Durgaa and
her roles. All Devee are considered the Shakti (power) of God. Since God cannot be
imagined without His power, He must be accompanied by His female counterpart - Devee
to complete Him; such as - Vishnu-Lakshmee, Shiv-Paarvatee, Krishn-Raadhaa, Raam-Seetaa
etc. Mahaanirvaan Tantra
On p 49-50 of the same Mahaanirvaan Tantra, Shiv himself says to Paarvatee - "Thou
the Supreme Yoginee dost, moved by his mere desire, create, protect, and destroy this
world with all that moves and is motionless therein. Mahaakaal, the Destroyer of the
Universe is thy image. At the Dissolution of things, it is Kaal who will devour al and
by reason of this He is called Mahaakaal, and since thou devourest Mahaakaal Himself,
it is Thou who art the Supreme Primordial Kaalikaa. Because Thou devourest Kaal, Thou
art Kaalee, the original form of all things and because Thou art the Origin of and
devourest all things, Thou art called the Aadyaa Kaalee." On p 139, According to
Padm Puraan, Devee is worshipped as Kalyaanee in the Malaya Parvat. Kumaaree Poojaa -
The Kumaaree (unmarried girls) Poojaa, or the worship of virgins, is very common in
Bangaal. The worship is by men, whereas the Sadhavaa Poojaa or worship of married
woman is one by women. A girl in her 8th year is called Gauree. The Devee as
Paarvatee was married to Shiv in her 8th year. Girls of 8 years are considered
Gauree and forms of Devee. Lalitaa Sahastra Naam gives the following explanations -
As play she creates the Universe, hence she is Kumaaree; or she destroys the ground
of the Great Illusion, hence she is Kumaaree. Kumaaree is the enjoyer, and not to be
enjoyed, as she is One with the Yogee who is the enjoyer. In the Puraan, Gaayatree is represented as Consort of
Brahmaa. She, when worshipped three times a day, is worshipped in
the morning in her Saatwik form represented as Vaishnavee, at midday in
her Raajasik form representing as Braahmee, and in the evening in her
Taamasik form representing as Shaivee. --Brahmaa is generally pictured as a red man and she with four hands, seated on a swan
dressed in white.
Padm Puraan, 1/13
mentions the following names of Devee attending Brahmaa's Yagya -
Agni Puraan, 21/35-26 says that while worshipping Soorya, one should
worship his 9 Shakti (Powers, or Devee) - (1) Deeptaa, (2) Sookshmaa, (3)
Jayaa, (4) Bhadraa, (5) Vibhooti, (6) Vimalaa, (7) Amoghaa, (8) Vidyutaa and
(9) Sarvatomukhee.
Agni Puraan, p 102, lists the following 8 Devee as "Ambaashtak"
Brahm Vaivart Puraan, on p 85 (Gita Press, Gorakhpur) in Prakriti Khand, Bhagavaan Naaraayan
says to Naarad Jee that there are five Devee, called Prakriti, on which this Universe is
dependent. These five Devee are : (1) Durgaa (who is the mother of Ganesh), (2)
Lakshmee (consort of Vishnu), (3) Saraswatee (consort of Bramaa), (4) Saavitree,
and (5) Raadhaa (consort of Krishn). Paarvatee's Names Nava Durgaa
During these day nine forms of Devee are worshipped. There are endless aspects of
Durgaa described in the Puraan and Aagam and the iconography is also consequently
very varied. She is usually pictured as having ten arms holding Sword, Conch, Discus,
Rosary, Bell, Wine cup, Shield, Bow, Arrow, and Spear. She is most often shown riding
a lion from which comes her august name, Sinh Vaahinee (she who stands astride the king
of beasts lion). She is gorgeously dressed in royal red cloth and has several ornaments
decorating Her personage. Her hair is dressed up in a crown (Karand Mukut) which then
flows out in long luxuriant tresses that are darkly luminous and soothing to the eye.
The various tools reflects the eminent supremacy that helps in controlling the universe
and obey her will.
(3) The name of 3rd Shakti is Chandraghantaa. There is a half-circular moon in
her forehead. She is charming and bright. She is golden color. She has three eyes and
ten hands holding with ten types of swords and weapons and arrows etc. She is seated
on lion and ready for going in war to fight. She is unprecedented image of bravery.
The frightful sound of her bell terrifies all the villains, demons and Daanav.
(4) The name of the 4th Durgaa is Kooshmaand. The Shakti creates egg, ie Universe,
by mere laughing .She resides in solar systems. She shines brightly in all the ten
directions like Sun. She has eight hands. Seven types of weapons are shining in her
seven hands. Rosary is in her right hand. She seems brilliant riding on Lion. She
likes the offerings of "Kumhde." Therefore her name "Kooshmaand"
has become famous. The gods then gifted the goddess with their weapons and other divine
objects to help her in her battle with the demon, Mahishaasur. Lord Shiv gave her a
trident while Lord Vishnu gave her a disc. Varun, gave her a conch and noose, and
Agni gave her a spear. From Vaayu, she received arrows. Indra, gave her a thunderbolt,
and the gift of his white-skinned elephant Airaavat was a bell. From Yam, she received
a sword and shield and from Vishwakarmaa (god of Architecture), an axe and armor. The
god of mountains, Himavant gifted her with jewels and a lion to ride on. Durgaa was
also given many other precious and magical gifts, new clothing, and a garland of immortal
lotuses for her head and breasts.
(6) On the 6th day is worshipped Kaatyaayanee Devee - The son of "Kat"
as "Katya". Rishi Kaatyaayan was born in this "Katya" lineage.
Kaatyaayan had observed penance with a desire to get Paramba as his daughter. As a result
she took birth as a daughter of Rishi Kaatyaayan. Therefore her name is "Kaatyaayanee".
She has three eyes and eight hands. There are eight types of weapons missiles in her
seven hands. Her vehicle is Lion.
Das Mahaa Vidyaa There are five primary forms of Prakriti or Devee - Raadhaa, Durgaa, Lakshmee, Saraswatee and Saavitree. Durgaa destroyed Madhu and Kaitabh through Vishnu. As Mahaa Lakshmee, she destroyed Mahishaasur; and as Saraswatee, she destroyed Shumbh and Nishumbh with their companions Dhoomralochan, Chand, Mund and Raktbeej.
|
Created by Sushma Gupta on 3/15/06
Contact: sushmajee@yahoo.com
Updated on 12/10/12