\|/ Doubts & Discussions about Maa Durga \|/

mnx12 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#1
Hello everyone,
JJMD being a Mytho show, we are going to come across many known & unknown aspects, stories about Maa Durga also known as Aadi Shakti, Para Shakti. She has many forms like Dash Mahavidya, Nav-Durga etc. Her incarnations are Sati, Paravti. All the characters involved in these stories are interesting too. We may be aware of some & would like to know about others.
This thread is dedicated to Mother Goddess, her various forms, incarnations, Shaktis, Matrikas & the other characters who are part of these stories. It is created for the like minded members to post questions, queries about their lives. We have one such thread in DKDM as,
some more are in Mythological Masti forum too.
Please remember while discussing, in Hindu Mythology, there are diverse texts with contradictory & conflicting versions of the same event, e.g. in JJMD Asuras are born to Kashyap & Diti while Madhu & Kaithabh were the first Asuras killed by Vishnu. But the former was after Srushti's creation & later was before the creation.
So while discussing it is prefered if you'll mention the source. But be open to other's explanations too as at times what you think is correct, may be wrong as per other version which may be more authentic.
Hope the discussion remains objective, healthy & as per the forum rules. This thread will remain in forum's Announcement section for an easy access. Do keep on coming back to know other's views & make them aware of your views.
Happy discussing😊
mnx12

Some links of online Puranas:

Devi Bhagavat
Edited by mnx12 - 11 years ago

Created

Last reply

Replies

52

Views

11k

Users

11

Likes

72

Frequent Posters

mnx12 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#2
The Ashta-Matrika as described in Devi-Mahatmya is given below.

Brahmi or Brhmani is the Shakti (power) of the creator god Brhma. She is depicted yellow in colour and with four heads. She may be depicted with four or six arms. Like Brahma, she holds a rosary or noose and Kamandalu (water pot) or lotus stalk or a book or bell and is seated on a Hamsa (identified with a swan or goose) as her vahana (mount or vehicle). She is also shown seated on a lotus with the hamsa on her banner. She wears various ornaments and is distinguished by
her basket-shaped crown called a mukuta.

Vaishnavi is the power of the preserver-god Vishnu, is described as seated on the Garuda (eagle-man) and having four or six arms. She holds Shankh (conch), Chakra (Discus), mace and lotus and bow and sword or her two arms are in varada mudra (Blessing hand gesture) and abhaya mudra ("No-fear" hand gesture). Like Vishnu, she is heavily adorned with ornaments like necklaces, anklets, earrings, bangles etc. and a cylindrical crown called a mukuta.

Maheshwari is the power of god Shiva, also known as Maheshvara. Maheshvari is also known by the names Raudri, Rudrani and Maheshi, derived from Shiva's names Rudra and Mahesh. Maheshvari is depicted seated on Nandi (the bull) and has four or six hands. The white complexioned,Trinetra (three eyed) goddess holds a Trishul (trident), damaru (drum), Akshmala (a garland of beads),Panapatra (drinking vessel) or axe or an antelope or a Kapala (skull-bowl) or a serpent and is adorned with serpent bracelets, the crescent moon and the ja?a muku?a (A headdress formed of piled, matted hair).

Indrani, Mahendri, Shakri and Vajri, is the power of the Indra, the Lord of the heaven. Seated on a charging elephant, Aindri, is depicted dark-skinned, with two or four or six arms. She is depicted as having two or three or like Indra, a thousand eyes. She is armed with the Vajra (thunderbolt), goad, noose and lotus stalk. Adorned with variety of ornaments,
Kaumari is also known as Kumari, Karttikeyani and Ambika is the power ofKumara Kartikeya or Skanda Kumara, the god of war. Kaumari rides a peacock and has four or twelve arms. She holds a spear, axe, a Shakti (power) or Tanka (silver coins) and bow. She is sometimes depicted six-headed like Kumara and wears the cylindrical crown.
Varahi is described as the power of Varah - the boar-headed form of Vishnu or Yama - the god of death, has a boar head on a human body and rides a ram or a buffalo. She holds a Danda (rod of punishment) or plough, goad, a Vajra or a sword, and a Panapatra. Sometimes, she carries a bell, chakra, chamara and a bow. She wears a crown called a mukuta with other ornaments.

Chamunda is also known as Chamundi and Chandika is the power of Devi Chandi. She is very often identified with Kali and is similar in her appearance and habit. The identification with Kali is explicit in Devi Mahatmya.The black coloured Chamunda is described as wearing a garland of severed heads or skulls (Mundamala) and holding a Damaru, trishula, sword and panapatra. Riding a jackal or standing on a corpse of a man (shava or preta), she is described as having three eyes, a terrifying face and a sunken belly.
Narsimhi is power of Narsimha (lion-man form of Vishnu), is a woman-lion and throws the stars into disarray by shaking her lion mane.




Edited by mnx12 - 11 years ago
.Reshama. thumbnail
Anniversary 13 Thumbnail Group Promotion 6 Thumbnail Networker 2 Thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#3
am so confused wiht the lion and varah form of durga..i always thought that only vishnu has those avatar..can u enlighten me plz
mnx12 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#4

Originally posted by: .Reshama.

am so confused wiht the lion and varah form of durga..i always thought that only vishnu has those avatar..can u enlighten me plz

Reshma, Varahi is Varah's & Narsimhi is Narsimh's shakti's, power. They are Matrikas who assist Durgama in various tasks.
Vishnu takes those avatars much later. These Shaktis are present much before those avatars.
These Matrikas have faught the war with Shumbh, Nishumbh, Chanda, Munda , RB etc.
.Reshama. thumbnail
Anniversary 13 Thumbnail Group Promotion 6 Thumbnail Networker 2 Thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#5
meena what are matrikas ???
704537 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#6
Im muddled about Brahma,Vishnu Maheshwar calling Durga as Maate...Can someone pls enlighten me
mnx12 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#7

Originally posted by: .Reshama.

meena what are matrikas ???

Matrikas are a group of Shaktis which are respective God's powers. They appear when needed in the World.
They are also essence of Language. Remember rishi Dandpani telling Kalkeya his knowledge is given by Matrikas.
mnx12 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#8

Originally posted by: Sunitha_Swayam

Im muddled about Brahma,Vishnu Maheshwar calling Durga as Maate...Can someone pls enlighten me

Here she is Goddess Parashakti, who created Tridev & Tridevis.
She takes various forms to accomplish various tasks. It is mentioned in Murti rahasya of Durga Saptashati that she has created them. That's why they are calling her Maate.
In Devi Puran there are stories of Tridevs going to her Dham to get answers, solutions for their problems.
Vr15h thumbnail
IPL 2024 Participants 2 Thumbnail Anniversary 16 Thumbnail + 6
Posted: 11 years ago
#9
Congratulations, Meenakshi, on launching this thread 👏

My opening question for this thread - is the Durga in all scriptures a form of Parvati, or are there any versions where she is not Mahadev's consort? In the version where she creates all 3 - Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva, is she still Shiva's wife?
mnx12 thumbnail
Posted: 11 years ago
#10
Vrish, thanks, am inspired from the one created by you in DKDM.😊
From what I know, she is not Shivji's wife in the version where she created Tridevas & Tridevis. After killing Mahishasur she merges in Paravti & comes out again on Deva's prayer to kill Shumbh, Nishumbh & other Asuras.
As ParaShakti, she is the main Shakti in the World. Doesn't have any consort. Her forms have their consorts.
Top