There are hundreds of goddesses in the Hindu religion. Some of them are the daughters of Prajapati, some are of Syambhu and some are the wives of some other deity. Here we will know the secret of Goddess Parvati who is called Ambe, Jagdambe, Sherawali, Pahadawali, Chamunda, Tulja, etc. Who is said to be the slayer of Mahish Mardini and Shumbh-Nishumbh, Chand-Mund, Raktabeej, etc? But are all these goddesses the same or different?
Birth of Adi Shakti Maa Jagdambe
According to Shivpuran, that imperishable Parabrahma (Kaal) expressed the desire of the second after some time. The resolve to become many from one arose within him. Then that formless God imagined the form with his Leela Shakti, which is the formless Supreme Brahman. Param Brahm means Ekakshar Brahm. Param Akshar Brahma. That Supreme Brahman is Lord Sadashiv. Being lonely, Sadashiv, who wandered everywhere voluntarily, created Shakti from his Deity (body), which was never going to be separated from his own body.
That Parashakti of Sadashiv has been described as Pradhan Prakriti, a virtuous Maya, the mother of the intellect element and free from vices. That Shakti has been called Ambika (not Parvati or Sati). She is also called Prakriti, Sarveshwari, Tridev Janani as mother of Brahma, Vishnu, and Mahesh, Nitya, and Moola Karan. That power manifested by Sadashiv has 8 arms. Parashakti Jagatjanani, that goddess is endowed with different types of movements and holds many types of weapons.The consort of that Kalrup Sadashiv is called Amba Jagdamba.
When the goddess took Yogmaya’s avatar
In Dwapar Yuga, Shri Krishna was born from the womb of Devaki in Kansa’s prison, and on the other hand, from the womb of Yashoda ji at Nand Baba’s place in Gokul, Mother Goddess was born in the form of Yogmaya from Yashoda ji’s womb. At that time Yashoda ji was in deep sleep. Vasudev reached Gokul with the child Krishna from Kansa’s prison and kept Krishna with Yashoda ji and picked up the little girl from there and returned to Mathura’s prison and kept the girl with Devaki.
When Kansa got the news about Devaki’s eighth child, he immediately reached the prison. Kansa picked up that little girl near Devaki and as soon as Kansa tried to kill her, the girl left his hand and went away. Before leaving, the goddess had announced in front of Kansa that the one who killed you had taken birth. Mother Vindhyavasini is also the name of Yogmaya Devi.
How Mother Durga broke the pride of the gods?
Once the gods had become proud of their power. When Mother Durga saw the arrogance of the gods, she appeared in the form of a beam of light. Indra sent Pawandev to know the secret of Virat Tejpunj. Pawandev described himself as the most powerful deity. Then Tejpunj placed a straw in front of Vayudev and challenged him to blow the straw.
Pawandev could not move that straw even after applying all his strength. When Agnidev reached after him, he challenged him to show this straw by burning it, but Agnidev failed. After the defeat of these two deities, Devraj Indra’s pride broke and he worshiped Tejpunj. Mother Durga appeared there and advised them not to be proud. She came to be known as Adhyashakti.
Shakambhari appeared with innumerable eyes
Once due to the terror of the Asuras, there was drought and famine on the earth for many years. Then goddess Shakambhari appeared with innumerable eyes to remove the miseries of the devotees. The goddess had showered thousands of her tears for nine consecutive days, due to which the earth had become green again. Shakambhari is also known as Shatakshi.
When the goddess took the incarnation of Bhramari Devi
A demon named Arun did penance to please Lord Brahma. Brahma ji appeared after being pleased with his devotion. Arun asked for a boon that no one can kill me in battle, no weapon can kill me, no man or woman can kill me, neither two and four legs can kill me, I am victorious over the gods. I can Brahma Ji gave him all these boons. He had become very powerful with the boon. His panic started increasing. All the gods were troubled.
That’s why it was said in the sky that God should please Goddess Bhagwati. Hearing the Akashvani, all the gods did penance for the goddess. Pleased with the penance, the goddess appeared. The goddess had six legs. The goddess was surrounded by innumerable bhramaras, ie a special kind of big bee. Being surrounded by illusions, the gods named her Bhramari Devi. Devi Maa ordered her illusionists to kill Arun Asura. In a few moments, innumerable illusionary demons stuck to Arun’s body and started biting him. Even after a lot of effort, he could not escape from the attack of the illusionists and he was killed.
This is how the incarnation of Maa Chamunda happened
In ancient times there were two Asuras named Shumbha and Nishumbha. Both of them drove out Devraj Indra and all the gods from heaven and took control of heaven. The deities prayed to Mother Parvati to end the terror of Shumbha-Nishumbha. Then a goddess appeared from the body of Mother Parvati, whose name was Shiva. Ambika is also the name of Shiva Devi. When Chand-Mund, the servants of Shumbha-Nishumbha, saw Ambika Devi, they were fascinated.
When Chand-Mund praised the goddess in front of Shumbha-Nishumbha, Shumbha-Nishumbha ordered them to bring the goddess to his palace. Chand-Mund reached in front of the goddess along with the army. At that time another goddess appeared from the body of Goddess Ambika, who was very terrible in appearance, known as Kalika or Mahakali. Kalika killed Chand-Munda. Due to this, the goddess got the name Chamunda. Shumbha-Nishumbha sent Raktabeej after Chand-Munda. Wherever a drop of Raktabeej’s blood fell, demons were born there. Then Goddess Chandika swallowed the Raktabeej whole. After Raktabeej, the goddess also killed Shumbha-Nishumbha.
Raktadantika incarnation to destroy the demons
According to the eleventh chapter of Durga Saptashati, Bhagwati told the deities “In the twenty-eighth yuga of Vaivasvata Manvantara, two more great giants named Shumbha and Nishumbha would arise. Then I will destroy both the demons by taking birth from the womb of his wife Yashoda in Nanda’s house. After that, incarnating on earth, I will kill the two Asura sons of a demon named Vaiprachiti. Because of having red teeth after devouring those giants, then the gods in heaven and humans on earth will always praise me by calling me ‘Raktadantika‘. This is how the Goddess took the incarnation of Raktadantika.
Then in anger, the goddess took this incarnation
According to mythology, Bhima Devi is the protector of those who do penance in the Himalayas and Shivalik mountains. When the tyranny of the Asuras increased in the Himalayan mountain. Then the devotees worshiped the Goddess. Pleased by his worship, the goddess incarnated as Bhima Devi. This was the most terrifying form of the Goddess. The character of the goddess is blue, with four arms, and holding a sword, skull, and damru in all. After incarnating as Bhima Devi, the goddess killed the asuras.
The mystery of Navadurga
It is important to know which of the goddesses are related to whom during the nine days of Navratri. The first goddess Shailputri is said to be Sati who was the son of Daksha, who burnt herself to ashes by jumping into the fire of Yagya. After this, she took second birth as Brahmacharini and she was later called the mother of Skanda (Kartikeya). When his complexion turned black due to harsh penance, then Shiva was pleased and washed his body by rubbing it with the holy water of Gangaji, then he became extremely radiant like an electric light. Since then she was named Mahagauri.
This mother was called Parvati because of being the daughter of Himalaya. This proved that Shailputri, Skandamata, and Mahagauri are the wives of Lord Shiva and all the rest are forms of Adi Shakti Jagdamba who is the mother of Lord Shiva. Katyayani was named Katyayani because the famous Maharishi Katyayan, born in the Katya gotra, had performed severe penance for Bhagwati Paramba. He wished that he should get a daughter. Then mother Bhagwati took birth in his house as a daughter. That’s why this goddess is called Katyayani. Katyayani Devi used to guard the palace of Ravana’s kingdom.
The secrets of ten Mahavidyas
Kali, Tara, Chhinnamasta, Shodashi, Bhuvaneshwari, Tripurabhairavi, Dhumavati, Baglamukhi, Matangi, and Kamla. Now the question arises whether all these are forms of Mata Sati or Parvati or are they forms of Mata Ambika or are they all different goddesses.
1.Kali: In this, Kali Mata has been called the wife of Lord Shankar. It was he who killed the demon Raktabeej.
2.Tara: The second mother is Tara who was the second daughter of Prajapati Daksha. This star is the sister of Mata Shailputri (Sati). Tara Devi is worshiped by all three Hindus, Buddhists, and Jains. This is the main goddess Tara of Tantrikas.
3.Tripurasundari: She has four arms and three eyes. It is also known as Lalita, Raj Rajeshwari, and Tripura Sundari. The Shaktipeeth of Tripura Sundari is located in the Indian state of Tripura. Clothes and jewelry had fallen here. Being the mother of the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, Maheshwar Shiva), Jagdamba is Tripura.
4.Bhuvaneshwari: Mother Bhuvaneshwari, the owner of fourteen Bhuvans, is Mahalakshmi Swarupa in the order of Shakti creation. He has got fourth place in Mahavidyas. This Bhuvaneshwari Devi is responsible for the upbringing of the entire world, as a result, she is also known as Jagan Mata and Jagat Dhatri.
5.Chhinnamasta: This is a form of Goddess Parvati. Devi’s head is severed, that’s why she is called Chinnamasta. He is accompanied by his companions Jaya and Vijaya. All three together are shown eulogizing the three streams of blood that came out of his torso. Maa Chinnamastike Temple, known as the second largest Shaktipeeth in the world after Kamakhya, is very popular.
6.Tripurabhairavi: According to Narad-Panchratra, this is the form of Mother Kali. This is the sixth power in the form of Mahavidya. Tripura means three worlds. According to Durga Saptashati, Goddess Tripura Bhairavi is associated with the time of the killing of a demon named Mahishasura. Tripura Bhairavi is the deity of upward movement. Mother has four arms and three eyes. They are also called Shodashi. Shodashi is also considered Srividya. Devi is famous by her other names and all these are Siddha Yoginias:- 1. Tripura Bhairavi 2.Kaulesh Bhairavi, 3.Rudra Bhairavi, 4.Chaitanya Bhairavi, 5.Nitya Bhairavi, 6.Bhadra Bhairavi, 7.Shamshan Bhairavi, 8 Sakal Siddhi Bhairavi 9. Sampat Prada Bhairavi 10. Kameshwari Bhairavi etc.
7.Dhumavati: Seventh Mahavidya Dhumavati has been considered as the form of Parvati. Once Goddess Parvati was sitting on Mount Kailash with Lord Shiva. He suddenly felt very hungry and expressed his desire to eat something to the Taurus-flagged Pashupati. Due to the delay in presenting the food items by Shiva, Parvati, who was suffering from hunger, swallowed Lord Shiva in anger. As a result of this, smoke started emanating from Parvati’s body, which Lord Shiva told Goddess Parvati through his illusion, because of the smoke-filled body, she will be named Dhumavati.
According to another legend, at the time of Mahapralaya, when everything is destroyed, Mahakal Shiva himself also disappears, Mother Dhumavati stands alone and expresses the power of time beyond time and space. At that time neither the earth, nor the sun, the moon, or the stars remain. Only smoke and ashes remain – that is the ultimate knowledge, formless – no good. not bad; neither pure nor impure; Neither auspicious nor inauspicious – mother Dhumavati alone in the form of smoke. She is left alone, everyone leaves her side.
8. Baglamukhi: Baglamukhi is made up of a combination of two words, first ‘Bagla’ and second ‘Mukhi’. Goddess Bagalamukhi sits on a throne adorned with priceless jewels on Manimay Island, situated in the middle of the ocean. The goddess is Trinetra, wearing a half moon on the head, yellow body color, the goddess is wearing a yellow dress and a garland of yellow flowers, other ornaments of the goddess are also yellow and studded with priceless gems.
According to Swatantra Tantra, in Satya Yuga came the terrible Vatakshoma (storm, fierce blind) that destroyed the whole world. Seeing the crisis in the whole world, Lord Vishnu, the maintainer of the world, became extremely worried. Thereafter, Lord Vishnu went to Saurashtra province and went near Haridra Sarovar and started doing penance to please Goddess Shri Vidya Maha Tripura Sundari for his help. At that time Goddess Sri Vidya used to reside in a Haridra Sarovar in Saurashtra. Satisfied with the penance of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Adya Shakti, in the form of Bagalamukhi, incarnated in front of Lord Vishnu and found out from him the reason for doing penance. Immediately using her powers, Goddess Bagalamukhi pacified the destructive storm and protected the entire world.
9.Goddess Matangi: Goddess Matangi is the ninth of the ten Mahavidyas. Hanumanji’s teacher was Matang Muni who belonged to the Matang community. The goddess is related to nature, animals, birds, forests, forests, hunting, etc., and is worshiped by the tribals and tribes living in the forest. Goddess Matang is also known as the daughter of Muni. Once Matanga Muni, to subdue all living beings, worshiped Goddess Srividya Tripura in a forest full of different types of trees. Satisfied by the difficult practice of Matang Muni, Goddess Tripura Sundari assumed the form of a beautiful dark-skinned girl with her eyes. He was called Raj Matangi and he is also a form of Goddess Matangi. That’s why Goddess Matang is also known as Kanya.
The goddess originated from the leftover food of Shiva and Parvati. That’s why another famous name for the goddess is Uchchishta Chandalini as well and the goddess is associated with various types of tantra activities. According to the Shakti Sangam Tantra, once Lord Vishnu and his consort Lakshmi went to Mount Kailash to meet Lord Shiva and Sati, the place where Shiva and Sati reside. Lord Vishnu took some food items with him and presented them to Lord Shiva.
Shiva and Sati ate the things received as a gift while eating some parts of the food fell on the ground. As a result, a dark-complexioned maiden was born from those fallen food parts, who came to be known as Matangi. The Goddess was first worshiped by Lord Vishnu, only then Lord Vishnu is happy, prosperous, blessed, and enthroned in a high position.
10. Goddess Kamala: The story of the origin of Goddess Kamala is in the eighth skanda of Shrimad Bhagwat. Goddess Kamala, the last of the ten Mahavidyas, is also known as Tantrik Lakshmi. She is the wife of Lord Vishnu, the sustainer of the world. Goddess Kali and Kamala are worshiped on the day of Diwali. Shaivites worship Kali and Vaishnavas worship Kamala. Kamala itself has been called Mahalakshmi.
Goddess Durga
Generally Goddess Durga is known in two forms, in one she is ten-armed, and in the other eight-armed. The vehicle of the goddess is a lion or a tiger and she is killing an asura or a demon.
A very powerful demon was born in the lineage of Hiranyaksha, who was the son of Ruru, whose name was Durgamasura. As a result of Brahmaji’s hard penance to become powerful and defeat the gods, everyone in Trilok started getting angry. He also demanded all the mantras and Vedas from Brahmaji. A fierce war broke out between the inaccessible demon and the goddess, after which his fierce powers appeared from the body of the goddess to help the goddess.
Kali, Tarini or Tara, Bala, Tripura, Bhairavi, Rama, Bagla, Matangi, Kamakshi, Tuljadevi, Jambhini, Mohini, Chinnamasta, Guhyakali, Tripurasundari and herself with ten thousand hands, first these sixteen, then thirty-two, again sixty-four and then infinite Goddesses appeared holding weapons in their hands. In ten days, all the armies of Daityaraj were destroyed and on the eleventh day, a fierce war started between Devi and Durgamasura. Struck by the arrows of the Goddess, Durgamasura, performing the Vamana of Rudhira, died in front of the Goddess and came out of her body, and entered into the body of the Goddess.
Adi Shakti Mahishasura Mardini
Once the mighty Mahishasura, born from the womb of Mahishi, defeated the deities and established supremacy over the three worlds. He removed all the Lokpalas and also banished the deities from heaven. Mahishasura was surrounded by his commander-in-chief Chikshura and fierce warriors like Yama-Raj like Durdhara, Durmukha, Bashkala, Tamra, and Vidalvadana. With her eyes red with anger, the goddess killed all the warriors. After this, Mahishasura ran around the goddess in anger and fear and Mahishasura started fighting with the goddess in different types of illusional forms the goddess also destroyed all those illusional forms and finally cut off Mahishasura’s head with her dagger. Thus she became famous by the name Mahishasura Mardini.
The goddess who killed Shumbh-Nishumbh, Chand-Munda, Dhumraksha and Rakta Beej
Two Asura brothers named Shumbha and Nishumbha were terrible tyrants. With his immense power, he established his rule over all three worlds and expelled the deities from Amaravati Puri. There were powerful demons like Dhumraksh, Chand, Munda, and Raktabeej in his army. During the battle of Shumbh Nishumbh, Brahmi appeared from the body of Brahma, Vaishnavi from Vishnu, Maheshwari from Mahesh, and Chandika from Ambika.
In a moment the whole sky was covered with innumerable goddesses. Brahmani sprinkled water from her Kamandal which caused the demons to lose their luster, Vaishnavi with her Chakra, Maheshwari with her Trishul, Indrani with Vajra, and all the goddesses were attacking with their respective weapons. The demon army started running. Maa Mahakali again started moving in front of them on the entire battlefield, piercing the enemies with the attack of her shoe and crushing them with Khatwang. After killing all the demons Chand Mundadi he also killed Raktabeej.
Goddess of Madhu and Kaitabh
When there was an excess of water on the earth. Everything else was water and Lord Vishnu was sleeping on the bed of Sheshnag. Then two mighty demons named Madhu and Kaitabh were born from the dirt of his ear. According to the Markandeya Purana, Uma killed Kaitabh, due to which she was called ‘Kaitabha’. The Mahabharata and the Harivansh Purana state that the earth was named ‘Medini’ because of the pile of flour of these Asuras. According to Padma Purana, he was on the side of Hiranyaksha in Devasur Sangram.
Logically and Basically all this are the roop, swaroop and avatars of Mata Parvati, the better half of Shiva, also known as Shakti. Other then this Goddess has many forms like Mata Lakshmi, Saraswati, Gayatri, Siddhidhatri, Kushmanda, Kaalratri, Sheetla mata, Vaishnodevi, Santoshi mata, Annapurna Maa, Bhudevi, Dasha mata, Ganga and all rivers, 64 yogini mentioned in Durga Saptashati etc. They are countless.
