Mahadevi (, , IPA: /mɐɦɑd̪eʋiː/), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, and Mahamaya,
Shaktism often worship her as Durga, also believing her to have many other forms.
Epithets
Mahadevi is known by many names. She is commonly known as
Mulaprakrti ('she who is primordial matter') and
Mahamaya ('she who is beyond maya'). The Devi Bhagavata Purana and Lalita Sahasranama describe Mahadevi's numerous epithets. These names include her divine and destructive characteristics. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana she is described as 'the mother of all', 'the life force in all beings', and 'she who is supreme knowledge'. The Lalita Sahasranama also describes her as
Visvadhika ('she who transcends the universe'),
Sarvaga ('she who is omnipresent'),
Vishvadharini ('she who supports the universe'),
Raksasaghni ('she who slays demons'),
Bhairavi ('the terrible one'), and
Samharini ('she who destroys'). Mahadevi's destructive features are further described in a hymn called Aryastava, calling her
Kalaratri ('night of death') and
Nistha ('she who is death').
Attributes
Mahamaya
In the first episode of the
Devi Mahatmya, Mahadevi is referred as Mahamaya, meaning the one who controls maya.
Literature
Vedas
The
Vedas name numerous forms of goddess such as
Devi (power),
Prithvi (earth),
Aditi (cosmic moral order), Vāc (sound), Nirṛti (destruction),
Ratri (night) and
Aranyani (forest). Bounty goddesses such as Dinsana, Raka, Puramdhi, Parendi, Bharati, and Mahi are among others are mentioned in the
Rigveda.
[Kinsley, David (1988). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions. University of California Press, .]
The Devīsūkta of the Rigveda (10.125.1 to 10.125.8) is among the most studied hymns, declaring that the ultimate reality is a goddess.
Upanishads
Shakta Upanishads are a group of minor
Upanishads of Hinduism related to the
Shaktism theology. There are eight Shakta Upanishads in the
Muktika anthology of 108
Upanishads. The Shakta Upanishads are notable for declaring and revering the feminine as the Supreme, the primal cause and the metaphysical concepts in Hinduism called
Brahman and Atman (soul).
Shakta Puranas
Shaktas conceive the Goddess as the supreme, ultimate, eternal reality of all existence, or same as the
Brahman concept of Hinduism. She is considered to be simultaneously the source of all creation, its embodiment and the energy that animates and governs it, and that into which everything will ultimately dissolve. She has manifested herself as Shiva in male form. Her half is Shiva.
Devi Bhagavata Purana
The Devi Bhagavata Purana describes Mahadevi in her form of
Bhuvaneshvari. It is stated that
Shiva worshipped and meditated on the goddess for thousands of years using the bīja mantra
hrīm. The goddess is described to possess both the aspects of
Para Brahman,
nirguna (without form) and
Saguna brahman (with form). In her form of
saguna, she is extolled as the mother of the universe, residing upon the highest abode named Manidvipa. All the gods and goddesses are described to be her various forms. In the
Devi Mahatmya, the
Trimurti and the demigods praise the goddess.
In the third canto of the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Devi addressed the Trimurti as follows:
In the Devi Gita of Devi Bhagavatam, it is suggested that before incarnating as Parvati, she appeared to King Himalaya and revealed divine, eternal knowledge to him. She explained herself, in the words of the Vedas, as having neither beginning nor end. She is the only, eternal truth. The whole universe is her creation. She is the only victor and the manifestation of victory itself. She is a manifested, un-manifested, and transcendent divinity. She then displayed her scarcely seen form to him: Satyaloka was located in her forehead; the created universe were her hairs; the sun and moon were her eyes; in her ears were the four directions; the Vedas were her words; death, affection and emotion were her teeth; Maya was manifested by her smile.
According to the Tripura Rahasya, only Mahadevi was existed in her form of Tripura Sundari before the beginning of the universe. She is supposed to have created the Trimurti, and began the creation of the universe.
Shaiva Puranas
The Shiva Purana says Adi Parashakti incarnated in materialistic form as
Parama Prakriti from the left half of Shiva (Parabrahman) during the beginning of the universe. The
Linga Purana states that Adi Shakti brings forth the evolution of life in every universe through the union of every Shiva and Parvati in all of the Universes.
[Shiva Mahapurana | Gitapress Gorakhpur]
Vaishnava Puranas
The goddess
Lakshmi is revered as manifestation of Mahadevi in the
Vaishnavism tradition, extolled to possess a thousand names and qualities.
Various texts like the
Garuda Purana,
Bhagavata Purana, and
Lakshmi Tantra refer to Lakshmi as form of Mahadevi. According to Devdutt Pattanaik, "Lakshmi is worshipped as
maya, the delightful delusion, the dream-like expression of divinity that makes life comprehensible, hence worth living. She is true
shakti, energy, boundless and bountiful".
Forms
According to
Shakta traditions, Mahadevi is the ultimate goddess while
Brahma,
Vishnu,
Shiva are her subordinates who cannot function without her power. Whatever deity one is worshiping, they are ultimately worshiping Devi. According to the Srikula tradition in Shaktism,
Tripura Sundari is the foremost of the Mahavidyas, the highest aspect of Mahadevi and also the primary goddess of
Sri Vidya. The Tripura Upanishad places her as the ultimate
Shakti (energy, power) of the universe. In
Vaishnavism, Lakshmi is traditionally worshipped as secondary to her consort Vishnu, and represents the bliss of a settled and domestic life. In
Shaivism, the goddess Parvati is the complete incarnation of Devi.
Pancha Prakritis
According to the
Devi Bhagavata Purana, Mahadevi is worshipped in five distinct forms: Ganesh Janani Durga (Parvati), Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Savitri, and Radha, collectively referred to as the Panchadevis or Panchaprakritis and are regarded as forms of goddess Bhuvaneshwari.
Ganesh Janani Durga or Parvati, the mother of Ganesha and consort of Shiva, is revered as the primary, supreme, eternal, all-powerful force upholding dharma. She is both the giver of happiness and the remover of sorrows for devotees seeking refuge in her.
Lakshmi, as the sublime form of the universal soul, embodies wealth, beauty, compassion, and all goodness. She is revered in various realms, serving Vishnu in Vaikuntha, adorning heaven with glory, and manifesting prosperity in households.
Sarasvati, the embodiment of knowledge, arts, and intellect, is considered the deity of learning. She bestows intellect, poetic skill, reason, and logic to her devotees, being the source of fine arts and every branch of knowledge.
Gayatri or Gayatri, identified as the mother of the four Vedas, represents the essence of truth, existence, and supreme bliss. She grants salvation and forms the core of the universal soul, purifying the world with her sacred presence.
Radha, the fifth of the Panchaprakriti, presides over the five Prana. She is described as exceptionally beautiful, the consort of Krishna, and possesses divine attributes.
Amsharupa
The
Devi Bhagavata Purana also mentions about Amsharupa (s), who are partial manifestations of the Devī, distinct from the five complete forms discussed earlier. There are six Amsharupa(s) of the Devi, born from specific parts of her divine being — Ganga, flowing in the form of water, serves to cleanse individuals of their sins; Tulasi, who acts as both a lover and servant of Vishnu, purifies individuals of their sins and promotes their well-being;
Manasa, the daughter of Kashyapa, she holds a unique position in learning, erudition, and is associated with Mantras;
Devasena, also known as
Shashthi Devi, grants offspring to living beings and provides protection; Mangalachandika, born from the face of Prakriti, ensures the recipient of all favorable outcomes such as sons, grandsons, wealth, reputation, and general welfare; and Bhumi, who serves as the origin of the vegetable kingdom, the repository of gems, and embodies compassion and sympathy.
The ten Mahavidyas
The Mahavidyas are ten
Tantric Buddhism goddesses, or aspects, of Mahadevi that show her nature and ability to manifest in different forms for various purposes. The word
Mahavidya means 'Great Knowledge' and the epithet
'Dasamahavidyas', the ten great mantras, is also used to refer to them.
The Mahavidyas have been identified as a group since the tenth century CE
and usually includes, in order,
Kali, Tara,
Tripura Sundari,
Bhuvaneshvari,
Chhinnamasta,
Bhairavi,
Dhumavati,
Bagalamukhi,
Matangi, and
Kamalatmika.
Texts such as
Guhydtiguhya-tantra, T
odala-tantra, and
Mundamala-tantra compare the ten Mahavidyas to the
Dashavatara of Vishnu. According to Kinsley, though the Mahavidyas serve less cosmic roles than the avatars of Vishnu, their purpose is to show that through her various forms Mahadevi pervades all aspects of reality.
Iconography
Adi Parashakti is generally seen as an abstract goddess but her appearance is described in the Devi Bhagavata Purana,
Kalika Purana, Markandeya Purana-
Devi Mahatmya,
Brahmanda Purana-Lalita Sahasranama, and the
Tripura Rahasya. According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the goddess once invited the
Trimurti to
Manidvipa. The Trimurti saw the supreme goddess
Bhuvaneshvari sitting on a jeweled seat on a throne. Her face contained the radiance of millions of stars and her celestial beauty was so great, that the Trimurti were not able to look at her. She carries the Abhaya and Varada Mudra, Pasha, and Ankusha.
Citations
Works cited
Further reading
