| Kaushiki | |
|---|---|
| Vengeance / Victory | |
| Affiliation | Avatar of Durga |
| Abode | In a palace in Kailash |
| Weapon | Trishula (trident), Chakram, Scimitar, Snake, Conch shell, Mace, Bow, Talwar (longsword), lotus, Thunderbolt |
| Mount | Tiger or lion |
Kaushiki is a Hindu Goddess. She is an affiliation of Shakti. 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.
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Kaushiki, according to the Matsya Purana, had emerged from the cells of Goddess Durga's body[1]. Kausha or Kousha means cells. It is believed that She emerged from Durga's third eye.
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, This Purana suggests that Goddess Parvati once performed austerities and meditation to become fair (Gouri). Pleased with her prayers Brahma granted her the boon. When the boon was granted, a Goddess emerged from Parvati’s body; whereas in the Markandeya Purana, Kaushiki Mata is believed to have emerged from the body of Goddess Durga. She emerged from the cells of Durga while she was fighting the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha.
Once Lord Shiva and His consort Durga ascended on Earth. But due to Lord Shiva's miracle, Durga turned black in complexion. She grew angry for that and upset with Shiva. She harshly meditated on the Kailash Parvata. She shed her skin and out appeared of Her third eye an elderly black-complexioned goddess, Kaushiki [2]. All this linked to the death of the 2 asura brothers Shumbha and Nishumbha. These 2 Asuras had driven away the devtas or gods away from heaven[3].
Kaushiki used to live in an amazing palace singing praises of Shiva. Shumbha and Nishumbha come to know about the goddess' beauty and decide to take her as their wife [4]. They send messengers to Kaushiki in order to take Her to the heavens, to the brothers. At first they send Chanda and Munda. Chanda is the brother of Munda, who has his head always banging from right to left and left to right. As usual, they too are attracted towards the goddess' uttermost beauty. But Kaushiki talks to them politely and asks them to deliver a message to the brothers that she shall marry the one who could defeat her strong attacks in the war.
But Shumbha and Nishumbha sent another miraculous demon from the hell, Raktavija or Raktabija, to Kaushiki's palace to deliver a last warning to marry the brothers. The demon was special for even if he was killed, by each drop of his blood would emerge another demon Raktabija [5][6]. 'Rakta' means blood, and 'bija' means seed. This matter was solved when Kali drunk up all the blood drops and Kaushiki killed the demon [7].