The female divine principle is identified with the name Devi or Mahadevi. Mahadevi is worshipped in two aspects: the tender appearances and the terrifying manifestation. Female gods play an independent role. Their origin traces back to the time before that of the male gods and before the arrival of the Aryans. When they act as wives, the goddesses are inferior. They lack the pronounced character as that of the male gods. They are always depicted smaller in the company of their husbands.
In the Vedas, the goddesses represent natural elements like the dawn and the night and also the aspect of fertility. According to popular belief, the Mother Goddess is a driving force of creation. There are a number of goddesses who are viewed as independent forces. In the Indian Puranas, the female divine principle has an important position. The Tantras attached great importance to the female divinity. On one hand, female strength is the source of all life and on the other hand, it also carries the destruction of life. Devi is seen as a symbol of fertility, maternal wealth, marital reliability, protector of religion and art. In her terrifying forms she is the protector who safeguards and maintains the cosmic order. She is identified with Goddess Durga, Kali and Lakshmi.
This article is a stub. You can enrich by adding more information to it. Send your Write Up to content@indianetzone.com
(Last Updated on : 14-03-2011)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Recently Updated Articles in Indian Religion
|
|
|
• | Varna System in Ancient India Varna System in Ancient India formed the basic structure of Hindu society. It is among the world’s oldest forms of surviving social stratification. Varna system divided the society into four major sections based on the occupation of the people.
| | • | Nadar Caste One of the most renowned castes of Tamil Nadu is the Nadar caste. The Nadar community is a mixture of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which came under one banner of Nadar caste gradually.
| | • | Concept of Ultimate Reality Concept of Ultimate Reality in Bhagavad Gita states that Brahman is ground of existence and all realities. As per the Concept of Ultimate Reality, Brahman is all-embracing, uncreated and infinite. Brahman is the reason and objective of all that exists in the world..
| | • | Elements of Vastu Vastu Shastra is traditional Indian systems of architecture originating in India. Elements of Vastu are Earth, Water, Air, Space and Fire.
| | • | Sati Sati is the wife of Lord Shiva and the Hindu goddess of marital felicity and longevity. She is known to have immolated herself unable to tolerate foul words for her husband, spoken by her father Daksha.
| | |
|
|
|
|