Sati is the goddess of marital felicity and longevity in Hinduism. In Hindu legend, both Sati and Parvati, successively play the role of bringing Shiva away from ascetic isolation into creative participation with the world. Sati is known as Adishakti.
Sati was born to Daksh and Prasuti. As the daughter of King Daksha, Sati is also known as Dakshayani.It was natural that Sati, even as a child, adored the tales and legends associated with Shiva told by sage Narada and grew up an ardent devotee. As she grew to womanhood, the idea of marrying anyone else, as intended by her father, became unfair to her.To win the regard of the ascetic Shiva, the daughter of king Daksha forsook the luxuries of her.Her prayers finally bore fruit when, after testing her resolve, Shiva finally acceded to her wishes and consented to make her his bride.Daksha, depicted in legend as an arrogant king, did not get on with his renunciative son-in-law and basically cut his daughter away from her natal family. Daksha organized a yagna ritual and invited all the Gods, Goddesses and princes. But he did not invite Shiva or Sati because he was unhappy that his daughter had married Shiva. Sati learnt about the yagna and asked Shiva to go with her.When Shiva refused, Sati insisted upon going and was escorted by Shiva's troops to her father's kingdom. Upon reaching, Daksha got angry on seeing her and yelled at her telling her she was not welcome.It is said that when Daksha did not stop yelling, the angered Sati took the form of the goddess, Adi Parashakti.Adi Parashakti introduced herself as the Eternal Power to Daksha and cursed him to be killed by Shiva, inclusive of all the Gods, princes and Goddesses.
She gave her final salutations to her husband Lord Shiva, and the mother of this mortal body, and then she prayed, hoped, that she be reborn to a father, whom she could respect.So saying, Devi Sati immolated her mortal body through the invocation and provocation of her yogic powers.
Known for her Shakti, Uma Parvati is the hindu goddess of love, devotion, energy and power. Being born to Parbat (lord of mountains) she was named as Parvati, the mother goddess having different attributes and aspects. She is adressed with different names all over the Hindu society as representing her different forms and aspects.She is known as Gauri(fair skined) as well as Kali(dark skined).Wife of Shiva (the destroyer, protector and regenerator), she herself is known for being the epitome of energy and power. She not only is the mother of Kartikeya and Ganesha,but, of all creatures existing and is their protector, looking out for them as a mother for her children. She also is the embodiment of divine knowledge. Parvati is known as one of most gentle and nurturing goddess but, can destroy anything in her way if needed to.
Parvati from her early days was fascinated by the tales of Shiv and worshipped him. She wished to have him as her husband and was ready to fight all the obstacles of the way. It is said that Sati herself was Parvati and had taken a rebirth. Parvati meditated for Shiv and passed different tests set by time and fate. After going facing various struggles, Parvati finally was able to win her lord and they both got married. She mothered Kartikeya( the warrior god) and Ganesha(the first worshipped).
Sarvamagalamgaly iv sarvrthasdhik . aray tryambak gauri nryai nam'stu t.
O jayant mangala kl bhadrakl kaplin . durg ksam iv dhtr svh svadh nam'stut.
Kali means black or dark coloured. It also shares the meaning of "time" as "changing aspects of nature that brings life and death." It is the feminine form of Kal, epithet of Shiv and thus the consort of Shiv. Kali is often regarded as the Shakti of Shiv. The Kalika Purana describes Kali as possessing a soothing dark complexion, as perfectly beautiful, riding a lion, four-armed, holding a sword and blue lotuses, her hair unrestrained, body firm and youthful.
Her most well known appearance on the battlefield is in the sixth century Devi Mahatmyam. Chanda and Munda attacked the goddess Parvati. Parvati responded with such anger that her face turned dark and Kali appeared out of her forehead. Kali's appearance is black, gaunt with sunken eyes, and wearing a tiger skin and a garland of human heads. She immediately defeated the two demons as rage and power ran in her. Later in the same battle, the demon Raktabija came up to fight and was left undefeated because of his ability to reproduce himself from every drop of his blood that touched the ground. Countless Raktabija clones appeared on the battlefield. Kali eventually defeated him by sucking his blood before it can reach the ground, and eating the numerous clones. Kali represents "Durga's personified wrath, her embodied fury." It said that after drinking the demon's blood, she was yet blinded by fury and set out to destroy every single thing in her sight. At that, Shiva laid before her and when she stepped on him did she only realise herself. She bites her tongue in shock and thus is often seen in the same posture in many paintings and idols.
In spite of her seemingly terrible form, Kali Ma is often considered the kindest and most loving of all the Hindu goddesses, as she is regarded by her devotees as the Mother of the whole Universe. And because of her terrible form, she is also often seen as a great protector.
Mahakali : Mahakali, literally translated as Great Kali, is sometimes considered as a greater form of Kali, identified with the Ultimate reality of Brahman.
The Dark appearance of Kali represents the darkness from which everything was born.Kali is standing calm on Shiva ,her appearance represents the preservation of mother nature. Her free, long and black hair represents nature's freedom from civilisation. Under the third eye of kali, the signs of both sun, moon and fire are visible which represent the driving forces of nature. She is referred to as a great and loving primordial Mother Goddess in the Hindu tantric tradition.
Shrishti Sthiti Vinasham Shakti Bhute Sanatane
Guna Shaye (Devoid of all attributes i.e. Nirgun) Gana maye (Having all the attributes) Narayani Namaustute
Meaning: We bow to the first female (Narayani), The eternal energy who creates, sustains and destroys all the elements i.e. tatva and the one who is truly supreme spirit (Nirgun) at the time who encapsulate all the attributes for Generation, Observation and Destruction.
According to Shaktism and Hindu mythology, Adi Para Shaktithe Goddess, Deviis the Supreme Being. The Devi Bhagavata Mahapurana states that Adi Parashakti is the original creator, observer and destroyer of the whole universe. Adi Parashakti means "The Eternally Limitless Power". That is, she is the Power beyond this universe. She is the active energy that both creates and dissolves the entire universe. Shiva Purana says Adi Parashakti incarnated in complete materialistic form as Param Prakriti from the left half of Lord Shiva. Linga Purana states Adi shakti's sagun swaroop i.e. Parvati assumed the form of Yoni and Shiva assumed the form of Linga and their union brings evolution of life. The Goddess Adi Para shakti is also considered to be the truly supreme spirit without form (Param Atman). She is the Great Goddess, and all other goddesses and even all the gods are her various forms, says the Devi Gita from Shakti Mahabhagawat Purana.
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