Agaliha
November 9th, 2005, 07:17 PM
Now is time for some Hindu/Vedic Dieties starting with Devi, the Great Goddess. She is the Goddess which all other Goddesses sprang forth, all different yet all connected.
Here is some information and links:
देवी <--- Her name in Sanskrit
Who Is Devi
The Great Goddess, known in India as Devi (literally "goddess"), has many guises. She is "Ma" the gentle and approachable mother. As Jaganmata, or Mother of the universe, she assumes cosmic proportions, destroying evil and addressing herself to the creation and dissolution of the worlds. She is worshiped by thousands of names that often reflect local customs and legends. She is one and she is many. She is celebrated in songs and poems.
Devi is all-important in Hinduism, but there are also forms of female divinity in Buddhism and Jainism. Today millions of Hindu men and women conduct regular pujas to Devi through one of her many manifestations. For some she is their primary deity while for others she is part of a greater pantheon. All Hindu goddesses may be viewed as different manifestations of Devi. In some forms she is benign and gentle, while in other forms she is dynamic and ferocious, but in all forms she is helpful to her devotees.
Edited from: http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/whoisdevi.htm
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Devi is the great goddess of the Hindus, Mahadva. As the consort of Shiva, she is worshiped in various forms corresponding to her two aspects: benevolence and fierceness. She is Uma, "light"; Gauri, "yellow or brilliant"; Parvati, "the mountaineer"; and Jaganmata, "the-mother-of-the-world" in her milder guise. The terrible emanations are Durga "the inaccessible"; Kali, "the black"; Chandi, "the fierce"; and Bhairavi, "the terrible."
For the rest: http://www.themystica.com/mythical-folk/articles/devi.html
__
Devi is all-important in Hinduism, but there are also forms of female divinity in Buddhism and Jainsim. Today millions of Hindu men and women conduct regular pujas to Devi through one of her many manifestations. For some she is their primary deity while for others she is part of a greater pantheon. All Hindu goddesses may be viewed as different manifestations of Devi. In some forms she is benign and gentle, while in other forms she is dynamic and ferocious, but in all forms she is helpful to her devotees. . . .
*
By you this universe is borne, By you this world is created, O Devi, by you it is protected." (Devi-Mahatmya).
*
The Goddess is older than time, yet time itself. She is formless, yet to be found in all forms. Her presence is in all things, yet she transcends all things. She is ever-changing, yet eternally changeless. She is both the womb from which all life flows forth and the tomb to which all life returns. Devi the Shining One source of the life-giving powers of the universe, who is experienced by her ecstatic worshippers as the Primal Cause and Mother of the World....
*
Pre-dating the patriarchal Male Trinity by thousands of years, the Goddess was once worshipped throughout the ancient world. Now, only in India does her cult remain widespread and part of a vibrant, living tradition in which her presence empowers and stirs the hearts of her devotees with adoration and devotion....
*
The Goddess is multi-faceted, known by myriad names and personified in many forms. As well as responding to the names of Parvati, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Sakti, she also manifests under the titles of Gauri, Uma, Sati, Aditi, Maya, Ganga, Prakriti, Gayatri, Tara, Minaksi, Mahadevi, Kundalini, Durga, Kali, Chamunda and in many other guises....
FOR MORE read this great article where these snippets came from [there is more info than what I posted]:
Devi: The Great Goddess (http://www.adishakti.org/new_age_children/devi_the_great_goddess.htm)
__
Devi
The Divine Mother of the Hindu culture. Her name means "goddess." She has many names and forms; such as the warrior Durgha, the bloodthirsty Kali or Parvati, mother of the elephant god Ganesha and the consort of Shiva (the god of generation and destruction). Devi is the goddess of creative power and represents all women in the universe. Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, is another incarnation of Devi.
Devi is the "Mother Goddess," meaning she is the mother of all. In her hands she holds joy and pain, right hand; and life and death is held on her left hand.She is the goddess of nature and life because she brings rain and protects against disease; she is mild and loving. She is depicted with eight arms, only one wields a sword.
As the mother of death, she is terrible. When she is fighting against evil, she is usually mounted on a lion or a tiger. Devi is the warrior Durgha when she is the mother of death; a twelve-armed warrior goddess, created by Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva to slay Mahishasura, the shape-shifting monster who menaced the universe. She rode a lion into the fray and was victorious.
Devi is in all the women's soul and she can also turn into the religious Uma. Devi's diagram is called her mansions. In the middle of her forehead, she has a Bindu (drop or dot) which in some ways seems to be masculine.
From: Avatars of the Goddess, India (http://www3.sympatico.ca/chartreuse/AvatarsOfTheGoddess/IndiaA.htm)
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The Devi Mantra
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Maa rupena samsthita
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Shakti rupena samsthita
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Buddhi rupena samsthita
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Laxmi rupena samsthita
Namestasyai Namestasyai Namestasyai
Namo Namah
-----------------
Meaning of Devi Mantra
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of universal mother
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of energy
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of intellegence
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of true wealth
We bow to her, we bow to her, continually we bow to her
From: http://www.indif.com/nri/Mantras/devimantra.asp
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108 Names of Devi, the Divine Mother
OM SHRI LALITAMBIKAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the great goddess Shri Lalitambika
OM SHRI MATRE NAMAHA
Salutations to the sacred Mother
OM SHRI MAHA RAGNYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the great Empress
OM BHAVANYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the consort of Shiva
OM BHAVANA GAMYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is reached through constant reflection on Truth
OM BHADRA PRIYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who loves to be benevolent
OM BHADRA MURTYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is the embodiment of benevolence
OM BHAKTI PRIYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is pleased by Her devotees' loving worship
OM BHAKTI GAMYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is reached by yearning service and meditation
OM BHAKTI VASYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is made one's own by loving acts of devotion
For the whole thing go here: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/108_names_of_devi.htm
__
Other Links:
Devi: The Great Goddess (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/) -- aspects, interpertations, and info
Conception and Evolution of The Mother Goddess in India (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/mother)
How do I identify Devi: the Hindu goddess? (http://www.asia.si.edu/pujaonline/puja/devi.html)
Pantheon.org's entry (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/devi.html)
Short summary (http://www.siamese-dream.com/reference/devi.html)
Devi (http://www.goddess.ws/devi.html)
The Devi Gita {Song of the Goddess} (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dg/)
I'm looking for some more to add :)
Hope you all enjoyed it, as always feel free to discuss and add any info, links and experiences.
Here is some information and links:
देवी <--- Her name in Sanskrit
Who Is Devi
The Great Goddess, known in India as Devi (literally "goddess"), has many guises. She is "Ma" the gentle and approachable mother. As Jaganmata, or Mother of the universe, she assumes cosmic proportions, destroying evil and addressing herself to the creation and dissolution of the worlds. She is worshiped by thousands of names that often reflect local customs and legends. She is one and she is many. She is celebrated in songs and poems.
Devi is all-important in Hinduism, but there are also forms of female divinity in Buddhism and Jainism. Today millions of Hindu men and women conduct regular pujas to Devi through one of her many manifestations. For some she is their primary deity while for others she is part of a greater pantheon. All Hindu goddesses may be viewed as different manifestations of Devi. In some forms she is benign and gentle, while in other forms she is dynamic and ferocious, but in all forms she is helpful to her devotees.
Edited from: http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/whoisdevi.htm
__
Devi is the great goddess of the Hindus, Mahadva. As the consort of Shiva, she is worshiped in various forms corresponding to her two aspects: benevolence and fierceness. She is Uma, "light"; Gauri, "yellow or brilliant"; Parvati, "the mountaineer"; and Jaganmata, "the-mother-of-the-world" in her milder guise. The terrible emanations are Durga "the inaccessible"; Kali, "the black"; Chandi, "the fierce"; and Bhairavi, "the terrible."
For the rest: http://www.themystica.com/mythical-folk/articles/devi.html
__
Devi is all-important in Hinduism, but there are also forms of female divinity in Buddhism and Jainsim. Today millions of Hindu men and women conduct regular pujas to Devi through one of her many manifestations. For some she is their primary deity while for others she is part of a greater pantheon. All Hindu goddesses may be viewed as different manifestations of Devi. In some forms she is benign and gentle, while in other forms she is dynamic and ferocious, but in all forms she is helpful to her devotees. . . .
*
By you this universe is borne, By you this world is created, O Devi, by you it is protected." (Devi-Mahatmya).
*
The Goddess is older than time, yet time itself. She is formless, yet to be found in all forms. Her presence is in all things, yet she transcends all things. She is ever-changing, yet eternally changeless. She is both the womb from which all life flows forth and the tomb to which all life returns. Devi the Shining One source of the life-giving powers of the universe, who is experienced by her ecstatic worshippers as the Primal Cause and Mother of the World....
*
Pre-dating the patriarchal Male Trinity by thousands of years, the Goddess was once worshipped throughout the ancient world. Now, only in India does her cult remain widespread and part of a vibrant, living tradition in which her presence empowers and stirs the hearts of her devotees with adoration and devotion....
*
The Goddess is multi-faceted, known by myriad names and personified in many forms. As well as responding to the names of Parvati, Lakshmi, Sarasvati and Sakti, she also manifests under the titles of Gauri, Uma, Sati, Aditi, Maya, Ganga, Prakriti, Gayatri, Tara, Minaksi, Mahadevi, Kundalini, Durga, Kali, Chamunda and in many other guises....
FOR MORE read this great article where these snippets came from [there is more info than what I posted]:
Devi: The Great Goddess (http://www.adishakti.org/new_age_children/devi_the_great_goddess.htm)
__
Devi
The Divine Mother of the Hindu culture. Her name means "goddess." She has many names and forms; such as the warrior Durgha, the bloodthirsty Kali or Parvati, mother of the elephant god Ganesha and the consort of Shiva (the god of generation and destruction). Devi is the goddess of creative power and represents all women in the universe. Lakshmi, the consort of Vishnu, is another incarnation of Devi.
Devi is the "Mother Goddess," meaning she is the mother of all. In her hands she holds joy and pain, right hand; and life and death is held on her left hand.She is the goddess of nature and life because she brings rain and protects against disease; she is mild and loving. She is depicted with eight arms, only one wields a sword.
As the mother of death, she is terrible. When she is fighting against evil, she is usually mounted on a lion or a tiger. Devi is the warrior Durgha when she is the mother of death; a twelve-armed warrior goddess, created by Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva to slay Mahishasura, the shape-shifting monster who menaced the universe. She rode a lion into the fray and was victorious.
Devi is in all the women's soul and she can also turn into the religious Uma. Devi's diagram is called her mansions. In the middle of her forehead, she has a Bindu (drop or dot) which in some ways seems to be masculine.
From: Avatars of the Goddess, India (http://www3.sympatico.ca/chartreuse/AvatarsOfTheGoddess/IndiaA.htm)
__
The Devi Mantra
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Maa rupena samsthita
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Shakti rupena samsthita
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Buddhi rupena samsthita
Ya Devi Sarva Bhutesu Laxmi rupena samsthita
Namestasyai Namestasyai Namestasyai
Namo Namah
-----------------
Meaning of Devi Mantra
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of universal mother
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of energy
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of intellegence
To the Divine Goddess who resides in all existence in the form of true wealth
We bow to her, we bow to her, continually we bow to her
From: http://www.indif.com/nri/Mantras/devimantra.asp
__
108 Names of Devi, the Divine Mother
OM SHRI LALITAMBIKAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the great goddess Shri Lalitambika
OM SHRI MATRE NAMAHA
Salutations to the sacred Mother
OM SHRI MAHA RAGNYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the great Empress
OM BHAVANYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the consort of Shiva
OM BHAVANA GAMYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is reached through constant reflection on Truth
OM BHADRA PRIYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who loves to be benevolent
OM BHADRA MURTYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is the embodiment of benevolence
OM BHAKTI PRIYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is pleased by Her devotees' loving worship
OM BHAKTI GAMYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is reached by yearning service and meditation
OM BHAKTI VASYAYAI NAMAHA
Salutations to the Mother who is made one's own by loving acts of devotion
For the whole thing go here: http://www.stephen-knapp.com/108_names_of_devi.htm
__
Other Links:
Devi: The Great Goddess (http://www.asia.si.edu/devi/) -- aspects, interpertations, and info
Conception and Evolution of The Mother Goddess in India (http://www.exoticindiaart.com/article/mother)
How do I identify Devi: the Hindu goddess? (http://www.asia.si.edu/pujaonline/puja/devi.html)
Pantheon.org's entry (http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/devi.html)
Short summary (http://www.siamese-dream.com/reference/devi.html)
Devi (http://www.goddess.ws/devi.html)
The Devi Gita {Song of the Goddess} (http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/dg/)
I'm looking for some more to add :)
Hope you all enjoyed it, as always feel free to discuss and add any info, links and experiences.