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
9 (of 125)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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chapter II Major goddesses 66 Amsa, Dak峁28 and Surya or M膩rt膩峁囜笉a29. Thus she is the mother of
seven 30 or eight sons 31. And thus she is attributed with eight yonis,
one for each son. And at the same time she is a virgin鲁虏 indicated by
the use of epithets such as anarv膩, apravit膩, yuvati, kany膩, yo峁Ｄ�,
kum膩r墨 etc...33.
Aditi is the great mother par excellence in the later vedic
samhitas and Br膩hma峁嘺 texts as well. She is eulogized as the Great
mother, whose sway is just and rule is strong 34. She is the archetype of
motherhood and all men are her children
.
35 Adity膩 vai Prajah鲁5,
With the passage of time and the development of religion
she is now a regular mother of the gods and the mother of the world鲁6.
When desirous of a son, she herself puts on an amulet鲁7 thus amulet is
described to be a ring which wards off evil and protects the progeny
as well鲁8 Thus it is evident from the AV that Aditi was offered
38 worship and propiated for favour on various occasions in the life of a
27 RV II 17.1, II. 41.2
28 RV X 72.4
29 RV X.88.11., VII.101.11., X.72.8,9
30 RV IX. 114.3
31 RV X.72.8,9
32 AV.VIII.9.21
33 V.S.21.5; AV VII. 6.2
34 VS 21.5; AV VII .6.2
35 TB 1.88.1 and SB -5.52.10, Tan Br 13.9.5, 18.8.12
36 AV III.22.1 also VP V.XXX.5, 24.
37 AV Vii.81.3
38 AV VI.81.2
