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
52 (of 119)
External source: Shodhganga (Repository of Indian theses)
Download the PDF file of the original publication
170
Chapter 3. Minor goddesses
Temple.
The goddesses Bhuvane艣var墨 has a special temple
dedicated in her honour at Skand膩sram at Salem, Tamil
Nadu. The Up膩saka, Swami Sant膩nand膩 who was an
Avadhoota of the highest order used to lovingly address her
as Skandam膩ta. He also stated that the salient feature of the
Bhuvane艣var墨 mantra is that it is not a S盲poddh膩ra mantra.
碍腻濒墨.
The most popular of all the minor goddesses is 碍腻濒墨. In
fact K膩l墨 is a part manifestation of the major goddess Parvati.
K膩l墨 though makes an appearance in the Vedic literature; is
popular in the tantras, as well as in the folk cults.
Meaning.
The dictionary meaning of the term K膩l墨 or K膩la is in
the sense of colour ie. 'the black or the dark blue colour.'170
In the context of the Tantra-sastra, it is the name of one of
the most popular and powerful goddess/ for whom worship is
accorded. She is one of the important deities in the Dasa-
Mah膩-Vidya's. Such is the power and grace, of the goddess
Apte V.S. SSED, P.146
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