Devi

Lakshmi

A goddess probably Parvati as Durga riding on a lion present Wellcome V0045026

Ravi Varma-Lakshmi

Saraswati

Durga Mahisasuramardini

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Kali by Raja Ravi Varma

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Other names	Shakti, Mahadevi, Parvati, Durga, Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi
Name in hieroglyphs
Name in Old Norse
Devanagari
Sanskrit transliteration
Tamil script
Tamil transliteration
Kannada script
Kannada transliteration
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Devi (Sanskrit: देवी) is the Sanskrit word for "goddess." She is the female counterpart to Deva, the male aspect of the divine. Devi is an all-encompassing term for the many forms of the goddess in Hinduism, representing the feminine aspect of the divine. She is worshipped in various forms and names, including Shakti, Mahadevi, Parvati, Durga, Kali, Saraswati, and Lakshmi.

Forms of Devi

Devi manifests in multiple forms, each representing different aspects of life and the universe. Some of the most prominent forms include:

• Shakti: The primordial cosmic energy and the dynamic forces that move through the entire universe.
• Mahadevi: The Great Goddess, considered the sum of all other goddesses.
• Parvati: The goddess of love, fertility, and devotion; the consort of Shiva.
• Durga: The warrior goddess, who combats evils and demonic forces that threaten peace and prosperity.
• Kali: The fierce aspect of Devi, representing time, change, and destruction.
• Saraswati: The goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning.
• Lakshmi: The goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity.

Worship and Festivals

Devi is worshipped through various rituals, prayers, and festivals. Some of the major festivals dedicated to Devi include:

• Navaratri: A nine-night festival celebrating the different forms of Devi, particularly Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
• Durga Puja: A major festival in West Bengal and other parts of India, celebrating the victory of Durga over the buffalo demon Mahishasura.

Sacred Texts

Several sacred texts in Hinduism are dedicated to Devi or include significant references to her. These include:

• Devi Mahatmya: A text from the Markandeya Purana that describes the victory of the goddess over the demon Mahishasura.
• Devi Bhagavata Purana: A text that extols the virtues and stories of Devi.
• Mahabharata: An ancient Indian epic that includes hymns and stories dedicated to Devi.
• Ramayana: Another ancient Indian epic with references to Devi.

Related Pages

• Shaktism
• Hinduism
• Shiva
• Navaratri
• Durga Puja
• Devi Mahatmya
• Devi Bhagavata Purana
• Mahabharata
• Ramayana