Parṇaśavarī

Parṇaśabarī /Paranasabari"Parnashavari" [1][2][3] / Paranasavari[1][4] (Hindi: पार्णशबरी) is a Hindu deity adopted as Buddhist deity of diseases, worship of which is believed to offer effective protection against out-breaks of epidemics.[5]

Statues of Paranasabari have been found in Pala period excavations in Dacca. Also in India, the Kurkihar hoard contains seven bronze images of Paranasabari belonging to 10th- 12th century AD.[2]

Tara is the only female goddess worshiped not only in Nepal, Tibet and India but also around South Asia and the Russian Empire too.[1] In Buddhism , Paranasabari is depicted as an attendant of the Buddhist deity of same name, Tara.[1] Some say that the term Paranasabari is an attempt to connect the deity with Vindya region, as Sabaras held a stronghold over the region.[1]

Paranasabari is also depicted in some images of the Pala period found in Dacca, as a main goddess and escorted by Hindu deities Jvarasura and Shitala.[3] Both of these escorts are again disease related Hindu deities.[3]

References
  1. Reflections on the Tantras. S̄udhakar Chattopadhyaya. p. 76.
  2. History of the tantric religion: a historical, ritualistic, and philosophical study. Narendra Nath Bhattacharyya. 1982. p. 394.
  3. Studies in Hindu and Buddhist art. By P. K. Mishra. 1999. p. 107.
  4. The social function of art by Radhakamal Mukerjee. Philosophical Library. 1954. p. 151.
  5. The Indian Buddhist Iconography art. 1958. p. 520. ISBN 9788173053139.
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