Kaushiki

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Kaushiki
Goddess of Victory and War
Sattva-rupa.jpg
AffiliationShakti , Bhagavati, Adi Parashakti, Lakshmi, Parvati, Devi, Durga
AbodeVindhya Parvat, Himalayas
MantraOṃ Kauśikyai Namaḥ
WeaponTrishul, Bell, Bow & Arrow, Plough, Pestle, Conch, Discus
MountLion
TextsMarkandeya Purana, Devi Bhagwat Puran, Lakshmi Tantra, Shiva Purana, Devi Mahatmya, Skanda Purana

Maa Kaushiki (also sometimes referred to as Ambika , Mahasaraswati or Chandika) is a Hindu Goddess, who is the warrior and virgin shakti of Mahadevi who came out of sheath of Parvati. She went on to kill the demon brothers Sumbha and Nisumbha and was also the reason the Matrika comes into existence. Her beauty had attracted the 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.

History and texts[]

Pancharatra Agamas[]

In Lakshmi Tantra, Lakshmi Devi tells to Indra that she is the Shakti who came out of Gauri as Kaushiki and killed many demons including demons including Sumbha and Nisumbha.

O Sakra, during the period of Tamasa (Manu),
I, the supreme Mahavidya, was Kaushiki, who sprang from the body of Gauri
to slay all those notorious demons including Sumbha and Nisumbha.
Thereby I rescued the worlds and helped the gods.
O lord of all gods, when worshipped with devotion.
I, the goddess Kaushiki fulfiller of many desires, bestow omniscience(on the devotee).

– Lakshmi Tantra, Pancharatra Agama,[1]

Puranas[]

Story of Kaushiki is described in Devi Mahatmyam of Skanda Purana. Devi Mahatmyam describes Goddess Kaushiki appearing from the sheath (or Kosha) of Goddess Parvati’s body in order to kill the demons Sumbha and Nisumbha. Since Mahadevi radiated the dark Kaushiki from her skin, she as well turned dark-skinned as Kalika and as she sat upon the Himalaya mountains and waited for the demons to come to her, she ended up killing the demon brothers themselves, as well as their companion demons, with the help of the Matrika’s, Goddess Shivadooti, and Goddess Chamunda (Kali).

Kalika Purana describes Kaushiki as the Shakti that was born from the body of Goddess Matangi.

In Shiva Purana, after Lord Shiva mocks Goddess Parvati for her dark skin, she starts her penance in order to attain a fair complexion. She eventually sheds her dark skin, from which she reappears as the dark Goddess Kaushiki, slays the demons and turns fair again and returns to Shiva.

Devi Bhagavata Purana describes Kaushiki as the Shakti that came out from the body of Goddess Parvati, and she is called ‘Kaushiki’ in the beginning of Devi Bhagavata Purana.[2] [3][4][5][6]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Sanjukta Gupta (2000). Laksmi Tantra: A Pancharatra Text. Motilal Banarsidass Publishers. p. 50. ISBN 9788120817357.
  2. ^ Wangu, Madhu Bazaz (2003). Images of Indian goddesses : myths, meanings and models. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 185. ISBN 81-7017-416-3.
  3. ^ Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Virashaivas". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. New York, NY: Facts On File. p. 489. ISBN 978-0-8160-5458-9.
  4. ^ Sinha, A. K. (2009). Approaches to history, culture, art and archaeology. New Delhi: Anamika Publishers. p. 500. ISBN 9788179752487.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ Kinsley, David (1 December 1975). "Freedom from Death in the Worship of Kali". Numen. 22 (3): 183. doi:10.2307/3269544. JSTOR 3269544.
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