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 3 - Minor Goddesses
116 (of 119)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
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Chapter 3. Minor goddesses According to the local traditional practice followed in South-India, the goddess Manasa, the M膩t峁沰膩s as well as 峁峁i and J膩tah膩rin墨 are pacified by honouring small children and by feeding them with curd rice which was previously offered to the goddess as an offering. Dasa-Mah膩-Vidy膩 Devatas. 298 'Da艣a-Mah膩-Vidy膩' means the 'Ten great Knowledges'. In
the introduction, it stated that Vidya is a term used to denote the
mnenomic formulae of the goddesses. Thus the Da艣a-Mah膩-
Vidya are infact the ten important mantras which are especially
sacred to the goddesses. In the tantra belief and practice, ten
goddess are known as Da艣a-Mah膩-Vidy膩s .These, according to
the adepts, are the ten forms of the supreme goddesses. They
have their own role and functions to perform and thus they are
relevant for the success of that task at a micro level. At the
macro level, these goddesses help in the realization of the
supreme knowledge and the attainment of the supreme
goddesses.
322 Origin.
The earliest reference of the Da艣amahavidy膩 s occurs in the
SP322. It is stated that the demon durgama took control of the
vedas and therby of the whole universe. The gods besought the
2 SP V.50
