Shakambhari
In Hinduism, Shakambari is an incarnation of Ishwari, consort to Shiva. She is the divine mother, called "The Bearer of the Greens.".In Hinduism any Vegetarian Item is considered as the Prasad of Shakambari Devi.
Story
The Demon Durgam had acquired all four books of total knowledge (The Veda) from Lord Brahma through penance. He also received a boon from Lord Brahma that caused all the pujas, yajnas and havis that were offered to the gods to reach him instead, making him invincible. Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world. As a consequence, it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by a very severe drought.
The rishis and munis took refuge in the caves of the Himalayas, and meditated upon the Supreme Devi. The Goddess appeared in front of them bearing a wonderful form. She had countless eyes that gave her the name Satakshi, and was carrying grain, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs and because of this was called Shakambari. The goddess was so moved by their plight that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tears became a river, which ended the drought. The rishis and munis and the gods then requested that she recover the Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam. Durgam discovered through his messengers that people were living happily and immediately attacked with a large army.
The goddess protected the frail rishis, munis, gods and others by putting up a huge wall of fire around them, and then let her discus hover around it. There ensued a tremendous battle between the Devi and Durgam. From her body manifested the ten most powerful powers who had never been in the universe before Dashamahaavidya and 64,000 other goddesses. At last the goddess Satakshi/Shakambari killed Durgam with her trident and recovered the Vedas from his possession. At that very moment all the mantras and japas that the rishis, munis and gods had performed earlier but had been absorbed by the demon Durgam transformed into the bright light of a 10,000 suns and entered the Devi. She then handed over the Vedas to the deities. Ishwari is also knowns as Durga because she killed the demon Durgam.
The story of Shakambari is told in Chapter 28 of the Devi Bhagavatam Purana, titled, "On the glory of Shatakshi Devi". Also, in The Devi Mahatmyam, her story is told in Chapter 11 and in the artha murti rahasyam (The Secret of the Manifestations) an addendum to the Devi Mahatmyam.
Worship practices
The ancient temple of the goddess Shakambari is situated at Sakarai about 15 km from Udaipur Wati, which is about 29 km from Sikar(Rajasthan). There is also one same sakambhari mata temple at Pakaur (Jharkhand)as same in sakarai Rajasthan 150 km from Kolkatta Two JAGRAN Night one in chaitra saptami night and one in durga puja saptami night every year, Also there are three temples of Mata Shakambari in Kolkata. Since tears rolled out from the eyes of the goddess continuously for 9 days and nights the biggest worship practice is the celebration of Navratra Mahotasav, held in the months of Chaitra and Aasoj for nine days each. Two more Navratras are also celebrated but they are known as "Gupt Navratras."
Every year in Vijayawada Durga Temple they celebrate Shakambari Utsavs for three days. On these days the goddess is decorated with vegetables and fruits.
Major temples
The major temples of Shakambari include Shakambari Temple in Sakarai, Rajasthan,Sakambhari Mata Temple same as in Sakarai Rajasthan now at Pakaur (jharkhand) 150 km from Kolkatta, Banashankari Amma Temple in Badami and in Bangalore, both in Karnataka state. There are many more temples to Shakambari in other parts of India, such as in Nagewadi, Maharashtra; near Satara; in Shakambari Devi near Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, and in Sambhar in Rajasthan. According to a legend, the Sambhar Salt Lake was given to the people of that area some 2,500 years ago by the Goddess Shakambari. A small white temple in her honour stands under a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake.[1] This temple is more than 200 years old.In some regions Maa Shakambari Devi is worshipped for nine festive nights with utmost devotion. In Vijayawada Kanaka Durga Temple, Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal Andhra Pradesh Shakambari Navratras are celebrated jubilantly. Ashada Navratri are celebrated as Guhya Navratri in Himachal Pradesh.
Shakti Peeth Shakumbhri, meaning the abode of Shakti Goddess Shakambari or Shakambari, is situated in the Jasmour village area, at a distance of 40 km to the north of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh state of Northern India. Perched in the midst of the Shivalik mountain range, this temple is believed to have been built during the rule of the Marathas. Twice a year, in the Ashwin and Chaitra months of the Hindu calendar (during the days of Navratra), the famous Shakumbhri Mela is organised. About one kilometer east of Shakumbari lies the Bhura Dev (BHAIRAV) temple which is considered to be the guard of Shakumbari Devi. Because of this all the devotees to Shakambari Devi first visit Bhura-Dev temple and then proceed to the temple of the goddess.
Further reading
- Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions ISBN 81-208-0379-5 by David Kinsley
- Shakambhari Temple in Badami
- Shakambari Temple in Pune.--Puranik Bunglow, Anand Park, Vadgaon Sheri, Pune..
- Shakambari Temple in Cuttack.
- Sakambhari Temple in PAKAUR.Jharkhand
- Ceres - Roman goddess related to agriculture
- Demeter - Greek goddess related to agriculture
References
| |||||||||||||||||
