The various deities of Saktism

The deities of Saktism are classified into two categories. The peaceful, modest, sweet and handsome form of the Goddess under which comes Laksmi, Saraswati, Lalita, Gauri, Vaisnavi, Minaksi, Sarada, etc. Another is the aweful and even fierce form of Goddess under which comes Kali, Durga Dhumavati, etc. Arjuna is said to have seen the fierce aspect of Shakti in the Visvarupas andar sanayoga in Bhagavadgita text. The Visvasara text mentions deities numbering about 27 like Nila, Tara, Bherunda, Mahadurga, Tvarita, Kamala, Dhanada, etc. Nityasodasikarnava refers to nine cakresvaris. Among the fierce and aweful form of Goddesses, that of -38 Chinnamastaka 6 is pictured as holding Her own head in Her left hand, severed from Her body, right hand holding a sword, the tongue from the severed head stretched out, to lick the blood; Her two attendants standing on both sides, drinking blood in streams. Uechistacandalini 39 is in an impure state, surrounded by impure objects, covered with red cloth, decorated with red ornaments with a skull and a small sword. Karnapisaci is black complexioned, pot bellied, red-tongued and bearing skulls in hands. Dhumavati is found as quarrelsome widow, 37. See Monier Williams Sanskrit English Dictionary., p.1044 38. See T.S.R. & L., pp.85-88. 39. Ibid.

111 : fearful, covered with dirty clothes, with protruding tongue, few teeth and discoloured hair, holding a winnowing fan, seated on a chariot with a crow on its top. Nilasaraswati is supposed to endow one with good speech. The text Yoginihrdaya 40 depicts various forms of the Goddess. Brahmani is yellow complexioned with four faces showing the mudras (positions or intertwinings of fingers) of varada (blessing), Abhaya (refuge), Kundika (a pot) and Aksa (rosary). Maheswari, is white complexioned, three eyed bearing sula (trident) and mudras of Kapala (skull), Ena (antelope) and Parasu (axe) in her four hands. 40. "Brahmani pitavarna ca catur bhih sobhita mukhaih var adabhayahasta ca kundikaksalasatkara mahesvari svetavarna trine tra suladharini kapalamenam parasum dadhanam panibhih priye. a kumari pitavarna ca sakti tomaradharini varadabhayahasta ca dhyatavya paramesvari vaisnavi syamavarna ca sankhacakravarabhayan hastapadmaistu bibhrana bhusita divyabhusanaih varahi syamalacchaya potracakrasamujjvala halam ca musalan khadgam khetakam dadhati bhujaih aindri syamavarna ca vajrotpala lasatkara camunda krsnavarna kasulan damarukan tatha".

: 112 : Kaumari is yellow complexioned bearing Sakti (spear) Tomara (lance or javalin), Varada (blessing) and Abhaya Mudras (Refuge). Varahi has dark complexion with potra (soma vessal) Cakra (discus) hala (plough) musala (pestle), ) khadga (sword) khetaka (club) etc., in hands. Camunda is black in complexion bearing kasula damaru (drum), khadga (sword) > vetala (ghost) in right hands and Naga (serpent) khetaka (club) khanda (sugar cane) and krpala 41 (sword) in left hands. The undesirable tantric rituals had invaded the worship of not only Sakti, but also other Gods like Ganapati, Surya, etc. Sankara during his visit to Kanci had reconstructed the Murti of the temple casting away the blood-thirsty form of Goddess Kamaksi. The Universal practice in which the undesirable ritual of animal sacrifice was included, also was done 42 away with.