The idea came to me simply through a conversation with my friend, we were discussing spirituality, self worth and how we can reach our goals. They explained they'd recently found motivation through ancient Hindu beliefs, something about an entity within that us that strives to do well, so we respect this other being by doing so. A detachment from self I find really interesting, going through the notions of depression I find it hard to motivate myself 'for me', but to believe you're doing it for someone else would give me a greater sense of reward.
In order to see which Goddess I want to focus on, whoever I relate to most perhaps or admire and strive to be like I must explore them historically and visually.
10 Goddesses:
Radha
Radha or Radhika/ Radharani, is a milkmaid known for her devotion to Krishna. She is always seen by his side and is regarded as higher even than Rukmini, Krishna's wife. Her devotion has elevated her to goddess status and gained her worshippers; she taught Krishna selfless love and surrender and is known as the Goddess of Kindness, Love and Beauty. She is also named Jagat Janani, mother of the whole universe. Radha is often considered as a metaphor for soul; her longing for Krishna metaphorically representing ones longing for spiritual enlightenment, the divine.
She is an avatar of the Goddess Lakshmi: Goddess of wealth fortune and prosperity (wife of Vishnu one of the principle deities of Hinduism). She's worshipped in some regions of India, particularly by Gaudiya Vaishnavas (religious movement 1486-1534 'who worship Vishnu or Krishna'), Vaishnavas in West Bengal, Assam, Manipur and Odisha.
The nature of Radha's relationship previous to Krishna is debatable, some texts say she was married, therefore in some Hindu sub-traditions she is conceptualised as a goddess who breaks social conventions and strives to be with her soul mate. This love story is a metaphor for divine human relationship, when Radha (the soul) finds new liberation and true love with Krishna (the divine).
Kamadhenu
Kamadhenu is the "mother of all cows and the goddess of plenty". Her iconography describes her as a cow but with a human head and breasts, or as a cow with a multitude of deities inside her. The legs of the cow body are representative of the four Vedas, the horns symbolic of the gods and the hump stands for the Himalayas. This is why cows are revered in Hinduism as precious, thanks to the Goddess Kamadhenu, the cow is worshipped as the mother of the earth as humans get nourishment from her milk.
Unlike other goddesses , Kamadhenu does not have temples in her honour, rather she is honoured by the veneration of cows, throughout the Hindu population. Every Friday cows are fed and worshipped outside temples, and on special occasions. She was supposedly born out of the churning of the cosmic ocean (series of battles), however some say she is the daughter of the creator god Daksha (God of Kings). The scared cow denotes purity and non erotic fertility, ... sacrificing and motherly nature, and sustenance of human life." Kings would often try to steal her, but only to face dire consequences.
Tulsi
Tulsi, interestingly enough takes the form of a basil plant, as the herb is used for medicinal reasons; it also has mythological importance in Hinduism. Jalandhar who was born through the third eye of Lord Shiva, became so powerful thanks to the devotion and fidelity of his wife Vrina (devotee of Vishnu), it threatened the Gods existence. In order to defeat Jalandhar, Vishnu took the form of Jalandha and approached Vrinda and laid with her, causing her to commit infidelity against her husband. Thus, Jalandhar's powers were stripped from him, saving the Gods and the Earth itself.
personification of Tulsi
Vrinda upon realising it was Vishnu and not her husband she lay with, cursed Vishnu to be born as a stone: the Shaligram. Vrinda then throws herself into the pyre and is then reborn as Tulsi, basil. In Hinduism it is common to worship the plant, it is mixed with water and given to those on their death bed to help ascend their souls to heaven. It is taboo to urinate, excrete or throw waste water away near the plant.
Ganga
Ganga is the daughter of Parvat Raj Himalaya or Himavan and sister of the goddess Parvati, she is the personification of the river Ganga. She ascended towards heaven in order to cleanse the sins spread by demon king Tarkasur. She was requested by Shiva to descend back to Earth in order to rinse away the sins of humankind, she flowed back down to earth in Shiva's hair, in order to protect mother Earth, Bhumi Devi, as the rains from heaven would destroy her. The river Ganga flows through the Himalayas to this day and is thought to have healing properties, washing away sins and negativity from loyal devotees who dip in it's waters.
Legend has it that Ganga's birth came about when Vaman (an incarnation of Vishnu) set out to measure the universe, he did so by extending his left foot, piercing a whole in the surface with the nail of his big toe. Through this hole flowed the pure water of the Diving Brahm-Water, entering the universe as the Ganges river, having washed the lotus feet of the Lord which are a reddish saffron colour, the water of the Ganges acquires it's pink colour. Another name of the Ganges is Bhagavat-Padi or Vishnupadi which means Emanating from the lotus feet of the Bhagavan (God).
Sita
Sita, also known as Janaki, is the incarnation of Lakshmi. Daughter of Janak the king of Janakpur, as well as the daughter of mother Earth, she was evolved from Bhumi. Sita is the consort of Ram, in the tales of Ramayana she follows him in his 14 years exile from Ayodhya but she is abducted by the king of the demons of Lanka, Ravana. This then leads to the battle in which Ram kills Ravana, saving Sita. She then proves her chastity to Ram through the Agni Pariksha; she steps into a fire and the fire God saves her and she emerges unburnt, the Gods come from heaven and further convince Ram Sita is pure, he then accepts her. Another variation of this story goes that Ram doubts too much his wife has remained faithful so banishes her to forest, where she then gives birth to his two children, as the children grow older and Ram accepts them as his own, Sita asks mother Earth to swallow her up. Sita is the representation of feminine power and virtues in Hinduism, she is often pictured looking lovingly at her husband and is a symbol of a wife's devotion.
Women throughout history have questioned Ram, as his treatment towards Sita seems unjust, her abduction, trial by fire and exile to the forest where she raised their children herself.
Kali
Goddess of time, creation, destruction and power. Kali is the fierce representation of Shakti, an incarnation of Parvati/Durga, she was born to defeat the demon Raktabeech. Bearing the khatvanga (skull-topped staff) decorated with a garland of skulls, wearing tiger skin Kali slays Raktabeech. Every time a drop of Raktabeech's blod was shed on the floor, it would produce a clone of the powerful demon, so Kali armed with a knife and a bowl in her hands would fill her bowl with his blood and drink. Doing so, the demon blood drove her to a wild state of aggression, in order to calm her down and save the universe her husband lay down under her feet, the legend has it she bit her tongue in embarrassment upon realisation of her mistake, hence the iconography has Shiva laying beneath her, with Kali biting her tongue.
Kali is portrayed in two forms, one with four arms, one with ten (this includes ten heads and legs). She is described as being black but shines like a blue stone and is often depicted in Hindu art as having blue skin, her eyes red intoxicated with rage. Some depictations even have small fangs protruding from her open mouth, with tongue always out. She wears a skirt made of human arms, a garland round her neck of human heads. Accompanying her are serpents and a jackal, with Shiva her husband underneath her, calm and subdued. Kali has her right foot forward on her husband, this is symbolic of the more popular Dakshinamarga (right-handed path), as opposed to the more infamous and transgressive Vamamarga (left-handed path).
Saraswati
Saraswati also known as Sharada is the goddess of wisdom, music and learning. She is part of the trinity of Saraswati, Lakshmi and Parvati; all three forms aid the trinity of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva to create, maintain and regenerate the universe. Saraswati is wife of Brahma, her vahana ("that which carries, that which pulls" referring to a mythical entity or animal) is a swan or goose. The earliest known mention of Saraswati as a goddess is in the Rigveda (ancient Indian hymns), some HIndus celebrate the festival of Vasant Panchami (the fifth day of spring) in her honour, celebrated through teaching children how to write alphabets. She is revered even in some Buddhist sects, as well as believers of the Jain religion of west and central India.
अम्बितमे नदीतमे देवितमे सरस्वति
— Rigveda 2.41.16[11]
— Rigveda 2.41.16[11]
Best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses, Sarasvatī.
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth, abundance and fertility born from the churning of the primordial ocean. She is worshipped during the festival of lights, Diwali; the cleanest and most beautiful house will be chosen by Lakshmi on the night of the festival. All houses are adorned with lights and garlands of flowers, the festival recognises the triumph of good over evil. Lakshmi is the wife of Vishnu and reincarnates alongside her consort on Earth. She represents not only materialistic wealth, but joy, honour and glory. Her vahana is the owl and the white elephant, Airawat. Lakshmi is also called Sri or Thirumagal as she is endowed with six divine qualities (or gunas) and is the divine strength of Vishnu.
Every woman is an embodiment of you.
You exist as little girls in their childhood,
As young women in their youth
And as elderly women in their old age.
As young women in their youth
And as elderly women in their old age.
— Sri Kamala Stotram[10]
Ancient Indian scripts declare all women are embodiments of Lakshmi, the marriage of Lakshmi and Vishnu set the paradigm for rituals and ceremonies in Hindu weddings.
Parvati
Pavarti is the embodiment of Sakthi and wife of Shiva, mother of Kartikeya and Ganesha. She has 108 different names, each with special significance, devotees will be blessed if they chant her names, she is also referred to as the Divine mother. Parvati is the reincarnation of Sati who was once wife of Shiva but was plunged into the fire due to her father's insulting behaviour towards her husband.
Pavarti and Shiva's union was forged to create a son capable of defeating evil demons and restore the balance in heaven. Lord Shiva retreated to a cave after Sati's death, to meditate. Then Shaki was born as an incarnation of Goddess Parvati to help the God's defeat the demons, after penance and devotion from Parvati she won the love of Shiva and married him. Her vahana is depicted as a lion or tiger.
There are ten depictations of Parvati:
- Kali is the first representation of Goddess Parvati and she was known as the destroyer. She is also known as the Goddess of time.
- Tara is known as the source from which the universe evolves as she is known to represent the power of the golden embryo. Boundless space or void is the other thing that she is known to represent.
- Sodasi is the third representation of Goddess Parvati and is known to represent perfection and fullness. The literal meaning of the term “Sodasi” is one who is sixteen years of age.
- The forces of the material world are represented by Vidya Bhuvanevari
- Desires and temptations that often lead to destruction and death are represented by the fifth form of Goddess Parvati known as Bhairavi.
- Vidya Chinnamasta is the sixth form of Goddess Parvati and is known to represent the created world in a continuous cycle of creation and destruction. She is often shown as holding her own severed head and drinking blood from it.
- Destroying the world by fire is the seventh form of Goddess Parvati and is known as Dhumavati. After the world is destroyed by fire only the smoke and ashes will remain
- Vidya Bagala is the eight form of the Goddess and is known to represent cruelty, hatred and jealousy. These are the negative aspects of any individual.
- The power of domination is represented by the ninth form of Goddess Parvati and is known as Matangi.
- Vidya Kamala is also known as Goddess Lakshmi and she is said to be the Goddess of fortune.
Durga
Durga is one of the most well-known manifestations of Shakti. Durga has many limbs and in most depictations she has 18 arms each holding a symbolic object for example a conch which is symbolic of the mystic word Om which indicates her holding onto God in the form of sound. Durga is one of the principle deities worshipped in Dashain/Navaratri, one of the most popular festivals in Hindu. This festival is also a celebration of Mahisasur, a powerful demon god. He believed a goddess could never be powerful enough to kill him, thus Durga is known as Mahisasur Mardini (the slayer of Mahisasur. Durga is representation of the feminine power and roles in the universe, her vahana is a lion or tiger.
Her iconography is depicted holding the Trishul; which is a symbol of three qualities: Satwa (inactivity), Rajas (activity), and Tamas (nonactivity). Deva uses these to alleviate physical, mental, and spiritual suffering. She is often depicted riding the tiger, with the dead body of the demon king, defeated as she stabbed him with her Trishul.
Conclusion
God Vishnu
Having explored all the Hindu Goddesses, I found Kali to be the most fascinating and brutal. This idea of a Goddess of destruction doesn't align with most preconceived notions of what a Goddess is, I for one was under the assumption that all the Goddesses would have traits that are typically considered good, holy and caring, which destruction simply does not align with. The fact her husband Shiva had to calm her down before she destroyed the universe proves the absolute infinite power this Goddess bestowed, she destroyed the evil demons and even wore their heads as a fashion accessory.
This makes me think I should extend my research into Goddesses of destruction, which initially makes me think of Medusa which furthermore has beautiful iconography as does Ravi.
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