Kaushiki
| Kaushiki | |
|---|---|
| Vengeance / Victory | |
| 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.
Birth
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, Goddess Parvati once performed austerities and meditation to become fair (Gouri). It is said that from the skin She sloughed off from her body emerged the beautiful and dark-complexioned goddess Kaushiki.[1] After that, Kaushiki went to Vindhyas and slayed Shumbha and Nishumbha, two demons who had gained the boon of immortality from Brahma. The same is in the Shiva Purana.[2][3]
In the Markandeya Purana, once when the asuras (demons) drove the gods out of the heavens, they sought the help of Goddess Parvati. Pleased by them, she appeared, and from the cells (koshas) of her body emerged the beautiful goddess Kaushiki, who declared that she would marry him who managed to defeat her in battle. Later she slayed the demons and the gods could return to the heavens.[4][5]
Legend
Goddess Parvati had done penance to please Lord Brahma. And as a reward for the penance, She requested for the recovery of her fair complexion, as She had become dark by Shiva's magic. Brahma gave the desired boon and the darkness of the Goddess got separated from her and took the form of another Goddess. That Goddess was considered as the daughter of Parvati and as she had taken birth from the Kaushik (dark cell) of her mother, she was named Kaushiki [3]. Kaushiki had incarnated for the killing of the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, who had got a boon that they would be killed by anjanmi (unborn) girl. And as Kaushiki had not taken any biological birth from her mother, She was the Ajanma girl according to the boon; and also she had supernatural powers, being the daughter of Goddess Shakti i.e. Parvati. Parvati, being a concerned mother, took part in the war against the demons. Henceforth, Parvati incarnated as Chandika and Chamunda(Kali)to kill the demons Dumralochan and Chanda & Munda respectively. These demons were sent by Shumbha and Nishumbha, who were finally killed by Kaushiki in her divine form.
See also
- Chamunda
- Shumbha
- Nishumbha
References
- ↑ Wangu, Madhu Bazaz (2003). Images of Indian goddesses : myths, meanings and models. New Delhi: Abhinav Publications. p. 185. ISBN 81-7017-416-3.
- ↑ Jones, Constance A.; Ryan, James D. (2007). "Virashaivas". Encyclopedia of Hinduism. New York, NY: Facts On File. p. 489. ISBN 0-8160-5458-4.
- ↑ Sinha, A. K. (2009). Approaches to history, culture, art and archaeology. New Delhi: Anamika Publishers. p. 500.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Kinsley, David (1 December 1975). "Freedom from Death in the Worship of Kali". Numen 22 (3): 183. doi:10.2307/3269544.
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