Essay name: Devi Tantra, Mantra, Yantra (study)
Author:
Srider Basudevan Iyer
Affiliation: University of Mumbai / Sanskrit, University Department
This essay studies the history of Devi (the Goddess) in relation with worship using Tantra, Yantra and Mantra. The study explores the concept of the 'Female Principle' or Goddess, examining her role and significance in ancient Indian society.
Chapter 2 - The Maior Goddesses
8 (of 125)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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chapter II Major goddesses 65 Wallis holds that she simply denotes freedom from
bondage鹿s she is regarded as underlined in her personification either
16 by the eternal principle of celestial light ie. jyotismati, or sinless
ness鹿7 immortality'
immortality
18 and deathlessness" thus representing infinite
consciousness or universal coherence.
The JaiUpBr20 Commenting on RV21 States she is
Omnipotent and immense, a power superior to her divine creation
thus, marking her supremeness over the Gods.
The RV22 speaks of dawn as the face of religion and on the
basis of this Maxm眉ller holds that Aditi was one of the oldest names
of dawn23.
Aditi as mother.
Motherhood and motherly qualities of Aditi are seen in
excess. Aditi is seen associated with the other Vedic gods as their
mother. Among the sons of Aditi are Mitra and Varu峁嘺, Aryama24
Indra is her mighty son25. Among her other children are Bhaga
15 Cosmology of the RV, London 1887 P.57
16 RV I.115.5, 1.136.3
17 RV.I.162.22., II 27.14
RV I 24.I, VIII.101.15
18 19
RV. I. 24.1
20 JaiUpBr 1.41
21 RV 1.89.10
22 RV I.113.19
23 Max M眉ller, sacred books of the east- XXXII P.228 Varanasi, reprint.
24 RV VII.60.5
25 RV I.61.7, IV.18.1, VIII.42.2
26 RV,VII.41.2
