Questions tagged [devi]

Devi is the feminine form of the Divine worshipped as Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati and many other forms. Also, known as Shakti.

Filter by
Sorted by
Tagged with
27 votes
1 answer
4k views

Do any Deities, other than the Pancha Mahadevatas, have Swayambhu representations?

The Pancha Mahadevatas are Ganapaty,Shiva,Vishnu,Devi(Ambika) & Surya. There is a Smarta tradition of worshiping them together in the Panchayatana Puja..In this Puja instead of idols or images of ...
Rickross's user avatar
  • 111k
20 votes
8 answers
18k views

Is the ritual of killing an animal as offering to Maa Kali correct?

I personally believe that a mother would never ask someone to kill her own children; moreover she would ask to kill the wrong and the negative things within each individual. I have been told in my ...
mano's user avatar
  • 1,148
20 votes
2 answers
4k views

In which scriptures can we find the original stories of the Mahavidyas?

The Dash Mahavidyas are an enigmatic group of goddesses worshiped majorly in the Tantrik disciplines but except Kali, the origins of most are unclear. In which scriptures can we find more about the ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
15 votes
7 answers
4k views

Is Mahishasura Mardini Lakshmi or Durga?

Who is the killer of Mahishasura? Is it Durga or Lakshmi? My confusion arises after finding out that Lakshmi killed Mahishsura in the Devi Mahatmaya. Goddess Mahalakshmi is the presiding Goddess of ...
user avatar
15 votes
2 answers
1k views

What is the meaning of Uma?

Consort of Lord Shiva is mostly known by her name 'Parvati'. But in Vedas, Upanishads, and Puranas we find the name of 'Uma' being used. Right from the 5th Anuvaka of Sri Rudram which starts with 'नमः ...
Tezz's user avatar
  • 48.2k
15 votes
3 answers
1k views

Is there any hierarchy for Devi's incarnations?

In this question's answer, the hierarchies of Lord Vishnu's incarnations are listed. Is there a similar hierarchy for Devi's incarnations? If yes, what is that hierarchy?
user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
3k views

What is the importance of Goddess Radha in Shaktism?

The 39th Chapter of the 9th Book of Devi Bhagavatam mentions the following about the origin of both Radha and Lakshmi from Krishna: 4-33. Nârâyana said :-- Of old, in the beginning of the Prâkritik ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
368 views

What is the Lalitha Sahasranaamam?

What is Lalitha Sahasranaamam? Why is it important? During what times of day can one recite it? What are the important verses in it? What is the history of it?
jeevan kumar's user avatar
14 votes
1 answer
439 views

Who is Sarasvati's daughter Kotara?

According to this extract from the Uttarakhanda of Padma Purana there is a Goddess named Kotara/Kotaraksi that was worshiped by Aniruddha (Krishna's grandson) during his battle against Banasura. ...
Arya's user avatar
  • 4,430
11 votes
5 answers
4k views

Was Goddess Durga really an avatar of Shiva's wife Goddess Parvati?

When Goddess Durga comes out from Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva & other goddesses, where was Goddess Parvati then? I am asking this question because Parvati was an avatar of Goddess Adi Parashakti and ...
Shivam's user avatar
  • 291
11 votes
1 answer
1k views

Where does the Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana state that it is the best among the 18 main Puranas?

The importance of the Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana can be ascertained from the following two passages: The Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, also known as Devi Purana, was composed into 12 chapters, ...
Rickross's user avatar
  • 111k
11 votes
0 answers
123 views

Was Seeta ji born as a blessing from Shiva?

We know that Shri Rama took birth to rid the three worlds of the tyranny of Ravana. But I recently came across a verse in the Valmiki Ramayan that says that Seeta was also born for the same purpose! ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
10 votes
4 answers
5k views

Who is devi in devi suktam?

Is the goddess of devi suktam Durga? is she same as adi shakti, or is adi shakti the goddess of devi suktam different from Durga.
Anisha's user avatar
  • 2,531
10 votes
1 answer
2k views

What is Turīyasandhyā mentioned in Devi Atharvashirsha?

Yesterday, there was Amrit-Siddhi yoga, also called Bhaumāśvini yoga. Chanting of Devi Atharvashirsha on this day has great significance as mentioned in the text itself: "Bhaumāśvinyāṃ ...
Pandya's user avatar
  • 26k
10 votes
1 answer
483 views

What do we know of the lives of Parvati's sisters Ekaparna & Ekapatala?

The Vayu Purana mentions Parvati as having four sisters: मैनाकचैव दौहित्रो दौहित्री च तथा ह्युमा । एकपर्णा तथा चैव तथा या चैकपाटला ॥ ४ ॥ गङ्गा चैव सरिच्छ्रेष्ठा सर्वासां पूर्वजा तथा । पूर्वमेव मयो...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
9k views

Who killed Banasura - Lord Krishna or Devi?

There seems to be some confusion between different accounts of the Banasura fight - some state that Krishna killed him while others mention that he let him live when Shiva interceded on the demon's ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
382 views

Who are these goddesses?

In the Devi Bhagvata Purana, in the rules for performing the Kumari Puja, it said that girls embody certain goddesses according to their age: 41-43. The virgin aged two years is named the Kumârî ; ...
user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
234 views

Does Devi wear the sacred thread? And do any dhyana shlokas of her mention her wearing it?

I want to know if Devi wears the Janeu. I've seen pictures of her with it, I want to know if any scriptures mention her wearing one.
Kamakshidasa's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
381 views

What are the purposes of Devi's five main forms from the Devi Bhagavata Purana?

The purposes of Shiva's Pancha Bramha Avatars are stated here. However, what are the purposes of Devi's five forms? On a side note, what is the need for five devi's when there already are the Tri ...
user avatar
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is there a concept of Triple Goddess in Hinduism according to stages of life?

All Devi worshippers are aware of the three main forms of the goddess - Ma Kali, Ma Lakshmi & Ma Saraswati. They can be considered as triple goddesses that correspond to the male Holy Trinity. A ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
1 answer
415 views

Is Goddess Kali ever represented in the form of a child?

We know that Goddess Parvati is worshiped in her child or Kumari form and in north India Kanya-pujan is done at the end of Navratri as a symbolic offering to the goddess. To some extent the ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
368 views

Who is the goddess Ahoi worshipped on Ahoi Ashtami?

Today is Ahoi Ashtami in northern India in which women keep fasts for their children's well-being just like they do for their husbands on Karva-chauth. While they break the fast on Karva-chauth after ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
9 votes
0 answers
227 views

Are there more than one origins of Ma Kali?

There are multiple stories related to the origin of Goddess Mahakali: The Rudra Samhita 2.53 of the Shiva Mahapuran mentions that when Nandi informed Shiva about Sati's death, he became very furious. ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
588 views

Is it true that Durga had problems with a demon that only created clones? What is this story?

Someone said that in a YouTube Comments that Devi Durga had problems with a demon that only created clones. I don't know if this is true. What is the story related to it?
Mikael 777's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
13k views

Meaning of साम्ब ("Samba") with Sadashiva

In some prays to God Shiva, Like "Shiva Aksharmala", there is prefix "Samba" (in Sanskrit सांब) is mentioned. It seems the meaning of word "Samba" (सांब) is "attended by ambA" Source: This Link Now,...
AADHinduism's user avatar
  • 3,521
8 votes
3 answers
3k views

Who is Ratri devi? Is she same or different from Devi Kaali?

Here is Ratri Suktam from Rig Veda CXXVII 1.WITH all her eyes the Goddess Night looks forth approaching many a spot: She hath put all her glories on. 2 Immortal. she hath filled the waste, ...
Karmanya Nanda's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
549 views

Neela Saraswathi and Nila Devi

I came across some websites that mention that Goddess Neela Saraswathi and Nila Devi, the third wife of Lord Vishnu, could be the same. The websites are here and here. Is this fact mentioned in any ...
Manoj Gowda's user avatar
  • 1,298
8 votes
1 answer
2k views

Reflection of "Yada yada hi dharmasya..." in Durga Saptashati?

Bhagvad Gita is a 701 versed text which is inside Mahabharata. And similarly Durga Saptashati (Sapta =7 and Shat =100) is also 7×100= 700 versed text which is inside Markandeya Purana which is also ...
Tezz's user avatar
  • 48.2k
8 votes
2 answers
1k views

What are the differences between "Deva", "Bhagavan", and "Ishvara"?

All that I know is that "Deva"/"Devi" refers to individual Gods and Goddesses, but we also use the term "Ishvara" and "Bhagavan". Aren't these two terms just ...
learner's user avatar
  • 965
8 votes
2 answers
4k views

Is there a connection between the Navadurga and the Dashmahavidya?

Navratri festival is going on and we are told about the nine forms of the Goddess also called Nava-Durga that are worshipped in these 9 days. However, I just recently came to know that some people ...
Amrit Dhara's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
249 views

Looking for scriptural reference of Shanta Durga

There is a form of mother Durga by name Shanta Durga which is worshiped almost everywhere in Goa. In fact, many houses names are after mother's name. When we enquire there about it from local people, ...
TheLittleNaruto's user avatar
  • 7,247
8 votes
2 answers
390 views

Is there an official list of Shaktipeeths?

Is there an official list of Shaktipeeths? If yes, please provide the list and source.
curiousseeker's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
4k views

What is Siddha Kunjika Stotra?

While reading i came across name of a Devi-Stotra called "Siddha Kunjika Stotra"(सिद्धकुन्जिका स्तोत्रं ) ,it's said that lord Shiva himself told this stotra to godess parvati. So i would like to ...
SwiftPushkar's user avatar
  • 31.9k
8 votes
1 answer
544 views

Is there any reincarnation of Ma Saraswati?

Does any reference of Ma Sarswati being reincarnated as another Devi? Ancient Sharada Peeth in Pakistan’s Azad Kashmir is one of the oldest surviving temples of Saraswati. Is there any other temple ...
Talk is Cheap Show me Code's user avatar
8 votes
3 answers
676 views

Is there a mention of Nava-Durga in Vedic scriptures?

The Wikipedia page on Ma Katyayini mentions: She is first mentioned in the Taittiriya Aranyaka part of the Yajurveda. Skanda Purana mentions her being created out of the spontaneous anger of Gods, ...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
1k views

What are the activities of Lalita devi in Mani dvipa?

As far as I know, in Vaikuntha there is concept of kainkaryam (service), is there a similar concept in Mani dvipa? What are the activities of Lord Shiva and Devi there? Is it that the goal of ...
user avatar
8 votes
1 answer
557 views

What is non-Brahman said in Devi Atharvashirsha?

There is Bhaumashvini (भौमाश्विनि) Yoga also known as Amrit Siddhi Yoga Today. (Ashvini Nakshatra on Tuesday). Chanting of Devi Atharvashirsha (also known as Devi Upanishad) has great significance as ...
Pandya's user avatar
  • 26k
8 votes
1 answer
450 views

What is the story behind the legendary temple of the virgin Goddess, Kanya Kumari?

As the question title says I would like to read references from some authentic resources (scriptures, if possible) about the story behind the legendary temple of the virgin Goddess, Kanya Kumari, like ...
Just_Do_It's user avatar
  • 8,860
8 votes
1 answer
892 views

Was Goddess Gayatri really a cowherdess?

According to this Skanda Purana stoy Goddess Gayatri was actually a milkmaid who was married to Brahma when Saraswati took time to get ready for a Yagna that they were supposed to perform together: &...
Dr. Vineet Aggarwal's user avatar
8 votes
2 answers
504 views

Are there any list of Nagardevta/gramdevta of famous Indian cities?

A Nagardevta/Gramadevta is guardian deity of village who is worshipped by people of that Grama(village) and the deity protects the village. I am wondering who are the Nagardevta/gramadevta of famous ...
Himanshya Bhardwaj's user avatar
8 votes
0 answers
501 views

Reconciling the Kalpa Bheda between Devi Sati and Devi Parvati taking basis from the Puranas, including Srimad Bhagavata Purana

According to the Skanda Purana, Dēvī Sati was born in the previous Kalpa (Pitri Kalpa) before the present Śvetavārāha Kalpa and after self-immolation was reborn as Goddess Pārvatī near the end of the ...
Adiyarkku's user avatar
  • 10.9k
7 votes
3 answers
3k views

Is Radha really a Hindu goddess or not? [duplicate]

I am confused about Goddess Radha's existence in the Hindu Puranas. A few books that I read mention her as Lord Krishna's lover and that she is an incarnation of Goddess Lakshmi while some others ...
GAYATHRI SHETTY's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
326 views

How many Devi Sahasranamas are there in scriptures?

How many Sahasranamas dedicated to Devi are there in scriptures?
user avatar
7 votes
1 answer
687 views

Is Goddess Brahmacharini an avatara of Mata Durga?

The second day of Navaratri is observed on the Dwitya Tithi. On this day Goddess Brahmacharini is worshiped. Who is Goddess Brahmacharini and what is the mythological story behind worshiping ...
Devendar Agarwal's user avatar
7 votes
2 answers
3k views

Who is Goddess Tvarita?

Recently I have heard about goddess named "Tvarita" and I want to know this form of goddess. So my questions are: Who is goddess Tvarita and why she is called so? How she is depicted in the ...
SwiftPushkar's user avatar
  • 31.9k
7 votes
1 answer
304 views

What are the Mahavidya deities?

Where did the 10 forms of Durga known as the Mahavidyas originate from? Why are they lesser known and not worshipped as much as the traditional 'Navadurga'?
Aditya K's user avatar
  • 1,249
7 votes
1 answer
5k views

Maa Tara Tarapith prayers and chants in Sanskrit

i would like to ask if someone knows some chants or prayers to worship Tarapith Maa Tara , if possible transliterated into english (not translated). Thank you in advance
Lucky Pashu's user avatar
  • 2,104
7 votes
1 answer
107 views

Are Shiva, Parvati, and their children, the only Gods who dwell on Earth?

I was referring to Mount Kailasha. Among the Trimurti, Vishnu, along with Lakshmi, and Brahma, along with Sarasvati, appear to dwell in other realms. So do the other Gods.
learner's user avatar
  • 965
7 votes
1 answer
4k views

Why Divine Mother's (Kali) tongue is out of mouth?

Why always it is seen Maa Kali's tongue out side from mouth ?
J.S.R's user avatar
  • 171
7 votes
1 answer
130 views

Is there any relation between Kolasura killed by Devi and Kola-viddhangshi mentioned in Devi Mahatmya?

Is there any relation between Kolasura who was killed killed by Devi and the 'Kola-viddhangshi' group mentioned in the Devi Mahatmya?
user avatar

1
2 3 4 5