The entire universe rests on the energy of ‘creation’, from the creation of atoms to the creation of molecules to compounds and gases to massive dust clouds which further give birth to planets and stars. The very basis of the existence of life on Earth is because of this energy of replicating or rather reproducing. This supreme energy is the energy of giving birth which keeps the order of this universe. This is no ordinary energy, but divine energy, worshipped by humans across cultures over periods. This energy is often associated with feminine grace because according to biology, usually it is the female who is capable of giving birth or giving life. In Hinduism, worshipping feminine energy holds a significant position, so much so that it has developed into a separate cult as well. Worshipping ‘Devi’, a term for a respectable (honoured) woman, is very common in almost every Hindu household across different cultures in this subcontinent.
Devi's earliest known appearance is believed to date back to more than 8000 years ago in Paleolithic settlements. It was a phase when writing did not develop fully but few cult figurines and also cave paintings indicate the prevalence of a spiritual belief system in ‘Supreme Mother’, probably the one whose progeny people of that particular community shared. Though it was more of Proto-Devi Worship, worth noting here is the fact that even back then people respected the feminine energy which could give birth. Devi worship took a solid form in the era of Indus Valley Civilisation. The very famous terracotta figurine of the ‘Mother Goddess’ testifies to this fact. It was a very superstitiously orthodox society which believed in spells, chants, amulets, magic etc. Based on such superstitions, men and women applied elaborate eye makeup to ward off evil spirits while asleep. ( Similar practise was also prevalent in contemporary Egyptian culture as well, where elaborate eye makeups were very common among men and women, for a similar superstitious reason). Painting the eye, lips and cheeks became the part of lifestyle and mercury tinctures were applied on lips and partition of hair to cool the body temperature. These so-called early cosmetic products were also offered to Mother Goddess. It was at that time when feminine energy was for the first time associated with such a belief system based on spells and magic. Following this age came the Early Vedic Age where worshipping style significantly changed. It was the era of worshipping nature, many Gods and Goddesses emerged which were associated with some of the other elements of nature. It was during this time when the so-called ‘Hindu Pantheon of Gods and Goddesses’ emerged for the first time. Gods like Agni, Vayu, Indra, Chandra etc. were widely worshipped in this age along with female deities like Aditi and Usha. Aditi was the same Mother Goddess from the Indus Valley but this time, she wasn’t just the mother of the people of the community but even the mother Gods as well. In short, Aditi was like the present age’s Goddess Durga. Vedic Age is also peculiar for beginning the worship of rivers, a practice still prevalent in India. River Goddesses like Sindhu and Saraswati held a very prominent position in Early Vedic culture. Back then, the worship rituals involved a lot of sacrifices, and it was believed Goddess Aditi was more pleased by offering animal and even human sacrifices. There is no shred of evidence as to the fact whether the practice of human sacrifices existed in that age, but animal sacrifice was way too common and followed sharing of sacrificed animal meat among the members of the community. Sacrificial rituals intensified in Later Vedic Age but the prominence of Early Vedic Deities like Indra, Agni, Vayu, Usha and Aditi, faded. It was replaced by worship of Bramha (Creator of the Universe). Worth noting here is that this was also the period when ‘Varna System’ was replaced by ‘Jati System’. Almost every social evil that exists in present Hindu society, be it Caste, Child Marriage, Dowry etc. has its roots in this age. Goddess worship declined and it explains the degraded stature of women in this age. There's an old saying, “state of women reflects the state of society”, women empowerment suffered a setback, women were confined and so society recessed into a parochial one. This is also the age where Brahmanic domination was at its peak. Manusmriti was compiled and new laws were created, but this was still not the phase where Hinduism emerged. It was the Vedic Religion or rather Brahmanic Religion which needed reformation, which happened during the Gupta Age.
Gupta Age which lasted from roughly the 4th to 6th century is regarded as the golden age of India. It was during this time when Hinduism as a religion was institutionalised. A Trinity of Gods emerged, it included Bramha, Vishnu and Shiva, the trinity we even today worship. But also, a trinity of Goddesses emerged. This concept came out from ‘Wives of the Gods’. Every God was to be worshipped along with his wife. A very beautiful manifestation of this belief was seen in the development of rituals related to Sacrificial Fire or ‘Hawan’. Agni, which is the chief God of Hawan is supposed to accept the sacrifice only if the mantra ended with the name of his wife, Swaha. Worshipping the wives of Gods automatically strengthened the Goddess worship. The Trinity of Lakshmi, Parvati and Saraswati emerged and popularised widely. While the Trinity of Gods separated into different Cults like Shaivism or Vaishnavism, the Trinity of Goddess remained a single cult throughout as all three Goddesses are believed to be the manifestation of a single Goddess Shakti or Durga.
She is ‘Maa’, the mother, fierce yet feminine. Her strength can be seen in her picturisation of ten arms, nine forms, a Trishul and a Lion. Durga is the assimilation of all the phases of womanhood that stands true even today despite being her origin since the Vedic times. She is known to be born to slay the buffalo demon Mahishasur. She was born as Shailputri, the daughter of the Mountain King Himavat. When she grew up as Parvati, she was hell-bent on marrying Shiva. Shiva, an ascetic, wanderer, got convinced after seeing her practising Tapas. Solah Somvar still is popular to the day to satisfy the feminine urge to meet a Shiva-like figure as a soulmate. In this form, she was called Brahmcharini. Later as she finally married Shiva, she started applying moon-shaped vermilion above her eyebrows and hence came to be called Chandraghanta. Later, Kushmanda or Ushma-Anda (cosmic egg) came to be the source of the beginning of the universe. Then she took the form of Skandmata, who helped her son to fight the demon Tarakasur. Katyayini herself slayed demons as she represented the anger energies of the Gods. Kaalratri, a dark-skinned and terrifying form of goddess to slay Chanda and Munda came to be known as Raktpipasini. Gauri took the form of unmarried Parvati as she dipped in Ganga and the final form Siddhidatri is known to be the one that forms Ardhanarishwar (a form of half Shiva, half Parvati).
The demons that Durga kept fighting represent our inner demons like ignorance, greed, and pride. The Durga represents the energies that were required to fight back in different forms in the metaphysical realm. Every woman can relate to the physical and spiritual aspects of the Durga that we know today. Her shapes and her characteristics kept changing with the forms, but the word ma remained attached to her end to end. Durga later became the central figure in Shaktism and in Shaivaism too to some extent. She is the core energy of the Shakti Peethas. The numbers kept changing as per the Puranas but the most famous legend revolves around the burnt Sati whose 51 body parts were cut by Vishnu’s Sudarshan Chakra. Shiva became Bhairava and became associated with this incident. Sati’s self-immolation defined the desire of a girl wishing for the due respect from her family for the Shiva in her life. The rise of Durga started way back when Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva gave power to the woman goddess for the first time and probably has continued ever since. Durga is not just a deity, she is a character that kept adding details and defining each and every aspect of womanhood.
Goddess worship today is often linked to the Tantric traditions. Lord Shiva is known as the creator of the Tantric System along with Adishakti (the mighty Goddess). This tradition combines the elements of Yoga, Siddha and extreme self-control as a path of devotion, usually to please the Devi. Tantric culture is the alternative to the Vedic Culture, and is supposed to be more helpful in ‘Kali Yuga’ when ‘Tamsik Gunas’ overtakes ‘Satvik Gunas’ and human lives will be controlled by ‘Kama’. It is now a preconceived notion that Tantric methodology involves orthodox principles, stereotyped with belief systems in magic and sacrifice. Sadly, this practice is often linked with sexual activity and without even bothering to understand the truth, Tantric methodology is being adopted into pornographic content. Not only is this view parochial, but is also demeaning. Indeed, Tantric culture often involves worshipping ‘Linga’ and ‘Yoni’ which is based on the union of the male and female species symbolising the eternal process of creation and regeneration. Tantra in Sanskritic culture refers to text, theory, system, method, instrument, technique or practice. This cult has expanded beyond Hinduism and is perhaps more followed by Buddhists. It is widely practised in the Himalayas and is known as Vajrayana Buddhism. Vajrayogini is one of the most depicted figures in this sect of Buddhism. It is very rare to find female worship in Buddhism, but Vajrayana is primarily driven by female worship. Vajrayogini is an adaptation of the mighty and ferocious Goddess Chinnamasta, third of ten ‘Mahavidyas’, who are revered Tantric Goddesses. Understanding Goddess Chinnamasta’s form is considered one of the most difficult among all other deities. She stands on a copulating couple, with her severed head in one of her hands and her two friends drinking from the blood sprouting from her neck. Sadly, Western scholars have negatively portrayed this cult as the most radical form of spirituality and the ‘archaic heart of aboriginal India’. They view Tantric tradition as ‘the most transgressive and violent path to the sacred’.
Often in the wild, female species are more ferocious and powerful than their male counterparts. They have to guard their nests, raise their offspring and keep them fed. Goddess is ‘Shakti’ which means power and she is the guardian of every being on Earth. Even Earth is also manifested as Goddess Vasundhara which itself is the form of Goddess Shakti. She beholds the Trishul of Shiva, Sudarshan of Vishnu and Knowledge of Bramha, her power and ferociousness need no explanation. The Goddess cult is widely adopted in Indian art and culture. Often depicted as a warrior alongside a mighty lion, slaying a buffalo demon ‘Mahishasura’, Durga symbolises the victory of good over evil. This scene is most depicted on the walls of temples of every sect of Hinduism. Mahavidyas and Saptmatrikas are other common depictions. While anthropomorphic icons of her, such as those showing her riding a lion and holding weapons, are common, the Hindu traditions use aniconic forms and ‘Yantras’ to remember and revere what she symbolises.
Author Mrinal Pande in her book ‘Devi’ wrote, “A woman empowered is a Goddess incarnate”. Indeed, the status of women in society speaks loudly about society, without words. Gender inequality is a global concern, and a more pressing issue today is women's safety. Despite being a country where Goddess is worshipped, feared and respected, India still has a long way to excel in this domain.
Further Reading
· “Devi” by Mrinal Pande
Co-Authored by Prashansa Sachan
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