DEVI

Devi

Commonly known as Devi (goddess), Vaishnodevi (देवी, Devī in Hindi and Sanskrit) is the Divine Mother of Hinduism. Some of her other names include Jai Mata Di and Mata Rani. She is known as the goddess of strength, the female aspect of divinity, usually considered to have an equal role with the male aspect as energy or the driving force (Shakti), without which the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, is impotent.

Vaishnodevi's main temple is situated in Jammu region of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Her main scripture, adored by Hindus, is the Devi Mahatmyam (also known as Chandi Path and Durga Saptashati), in which an allegorical telling of the binding force of Maya and ego is represented through devotional stories about the Divine Mother slaying demons who afflict the world.

In Sanskrit grammar, the Devi inflection is named after the goddess Devi.

Devi's appearance

Unlike most Hindu gods, Vaishnodevi has 8 arms. She holds many items including a sword, bow, shield and conch. She sits on a tiger who is in a passive position.

She comes in many aspects. Devi is the mother of all living things. Her right hand holds joy and pain and her left hand holds life and death. She is a goddess of fertility, rain, health and nature, and holds the entire universe in her uterus. She is also a goddess of death.

Shakta

Devi is widely worshipped in Hindu traditions. The most famous festival dedicated to Her is Navratri. There is a separate tradition within Hinduism devoted to her worship called shakta. Hindu Tantra is practically inseparable from Shaktism. She is visualised in three forms as Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati.