Devi

Devi (Sanskrit, f., देवी, devī, "goddess") is the general name for goddess in Hinduism, in a narrower sense for the consort of Shiva. The masculine form of the name is Deva. She plays a role in Shaktism as Shakti ("power, energy") and Adi-Parashakti ("original supreme power") and is regarded as Mahadevi ("great goddess"), the only goddess who unites all other goddesses in herself, because all goddesses appear accordingly only as manifestations of Devi's different natures. The Devi Bhagavata sees Maheshvari as the primordial Devi. The Devi Upanishad, on the other hand, sees Mahalakshmi as the supreme goddess. Kashmiri Shivaism recognizes a supreme Parashakti.

The forms of the Devi are manifold: She appears as Lakshmi, Sarasvati, Durga, Kali, Gauri and Parvati or as the Mahavidyas. Her manifestations as Matrikas also have a tantric meaning as a symbol of Sadhanas for the transformation of negative emotions, from which her Bija - Mantras are derived.

The first written source that reports Devi as the supreme being and all-goddess is a 6th century Purana, the Devi Mahatmya ("Praise of the Goddess"). In the Lalita Sahasranama, the goddess appears under many names, such as "root of existence" (Jagatikanda), "She who transcends the universe" (Vishvadika) or "She whom nothing equals" (Nirupama).

Devi is considered the creator and controller of the universe, she is the creative aspect of the Absolute (Brahman) and universal mother. Thus she is also called "Mata", mother. Devi is seen as an active force (Shakti) who manifests herself as the universe. She is the primordial cause and root of existence and existence itself and in this capacity also Maya. She is considered the highest reality and in this form is an active, creative and transcendent force. In some cults and myths she towers above the male gods, is considered superior to them and the highest manifestation of the absolute, absolute reality and absolute truth. In these myths, Devi is the primordial force from which the male gods receive instructions to create or destroy.

In the Devi-Bhagavata Purana she is described as an all-goddess as follows: "It is by thy power alone that Brahma creates, by which Vishnu sustains, and by which Shiva in the end destroys the universe again. Therefore without thy intervention they would be powerless, and for this reason thou alone art creator, sustainer, and destroyer of the world."

Devi in mythology

Devi's central role in mythology is that of creator and queen of the universe. She is usually described as a beautiful young woman seated on a throne in the highest heaven, surrounded by thousands of subjects. In one myth, the feet of Devi's throne are the four male Hindu gods, just as in most myths they appear as Devi's creatures. As the queen of the myriad universes and innumerable Brahmas, Shivas and Vishnus that spring from her, Devi's function is to create, preserve and destroy. It is said that the world is destroyed when Devi closes her eyes and rises again when she opens her eyes. Although she is the queen of the universe, Devi also takes an active role in it by protecting the world, maintaining cosmic order, and providing shelter and nourishment to her creatures. However, despite her function as a great mother, she often appears as a warrior as well. In this form she is identified with Durga.

Besides her warlike and benevolent forms, Devi also appears in terrible forms. In the Devi Bhagavata Purana, the gods want to see Devi in her cosmic form, whereupon they freeze in horror, for Devi appears with thousands of heads, thousands of eyes, and thousands of feet. Her body is covered in consuming flames and her eyes radiate light brighter than a thousand suns. Her teeth grind the universe, making horrible sounds, so the gods recoil in horror.

See also

• Devi Bhagavata Purana - the Goddess Maheshvari