Kaushiki

Kaushiki(Mahasaraswati)
Vengeance / Victory
Affiliation Durga, Parvati and Saraswati
Abode In a palace in Kailash
Weapon Trishula (trident), Chakram,
Scimitar, Snake,
Conch shell, Mace,
Bow, Talwar (longsword),
lotus, Thunderbolt
Mount Tiger or lion
Consort Shiva / Bhrama

Kaushiki(a.k.a. Mahasaraswati), is a Hindu Goddess. She is an affiliation of Shakti and a form of Parvati Devi. Her beauty had attracted many asuras who met her as messengers in her glittering beautiful palace. She was a great woman warrior, raised on her fierce lion or tiger. This form of her fierce fire was the essence of her beauty. There are many temples for her worship. She also has 8 hands and sword, chakra, lotus, etc. in them.

Birth

The story of Kaushiki's birth is mentioned in the Matsya Purana and Markandeya Purana, with both the texts different. As in the Matsya Purana, Goddess Parvati once performed austerities and meditation to become fair (Gouri). It is said that from the skin She sloughed off from her body emerged the beautiful and dark-complexioned goddess Kaushiki.[1] After that, Kaushiki went to Vindhyas and slayed Shumbha and Nishumbha, two demons who had gained the boon of immortality from Brahma. The same is in the Shiva Purana.[2][3]

In the Markandeya Purana, once when the asuras (demons) drove the gods out of the heavens, they sought the help of Goddess Parvati. Pleased by them, she appeared, and from the cells (koshas) of her body emerged the beautiful goddess Kaushiki, who declared that she would marry him who managed to defeat her in battle. Later she slayed the demons and the gods could return to the heavens.[4][5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wangu, Madhu Bazaz (2003). Images of Indian goddesses : myths, meanings and models. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 185. ISBN 81-7017-416-3.
  2. ↑ Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Virashaivas". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. New York, NY: Facts On File. p. 489. ISBN 0-8160-5458-4.
  3. ↑ Sinha, A. K. (2009). Approaches to history, culture, art and archaeology. New Delhi: Anamika Publishers. p. 500.
  4. ↑ Mitter, Sara S. (1991). Dharma's daughters : contemporary Indian women and Hindu culture (2. print. ed.). New Brunswick, N.J.: Rutgers University Press. p. 78. ISBN 0-8135-1677-3.
  5. ↑ Kinsley, David (1 December 1975). "Freedom from Death in the Worship of Kali". Numen. 22 (3): 183. doi:10.2307/3269544.
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