Images of Durga

Sakti is worshipped in many forms. They are depicted as Siva in three aspects the calm, the terrible and the ugly.^[1] She is considered to be as the source of energy.^[2] The expression Sakthi or Durga the word Sakti is of the feminine gender in Sanskrit or Durga. A religious sect worshipping her as the supreme deity is called Saktam.^[3]

Durga is one of the most impressive and formidable Goddesses of the Hindu pantheon.^[4] Durga a giver of victory is the independent manifestation of Parvati.^[5] Suprabhedagama mentions her as the dearly loved sister of Vishnu.^[6] In Markandeyapurana, it is stated that the Goddess killed the buffalo-demon (Mahishasura) the symbol of the lowest human passions by the fierce radiance of Siva, Vishnu and Brahma. All the other Gods contributed their powers for this ourpose.^[7] Her vehicle is lion.

Agama describes Navadurgas.^[8] They are Shemangari, Arasiddhi, Orudirasusadurgai, Vanadurgai, Agnidurgai, Suyadurgai, Vindyavasadurgai and Iribumari Durgai.

From the Sangam age Durga has been a popular deity in Tamil Country. During the Sangam period Durga was known by the name Kotravai^[9] as the presiding deity of the sandy desert land (palai) one of the five territorial divisions of ancient Tamilagam.She has been mentioned in the Sangam literature. Tolkappiyam, the earliest extant Tamil grammar refers to the sacrifice offered to Kotravainilai. The Sangam works like Tirumurukatruppadai^[10], Sirupanatruppadai^[11] Nedunalvadai and Kurunthogai^[12] give vivid references to the Goddess Durga. Silappadikaram^[13] belonging to the post Sangam age has also portrayed her.

Both in the Siva and Vishnu temples of the images of Durga are found. The Pallava sculptors engraved Durga in various forms which show the mythology relating to the manifestation of Durga. A number of her forms are seen in the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram. It is artistically presented in the Chola temples also.

An image of Vishnu Durga gracefully occupies the eastern devakostha of ardhamandapa in Munnur Adavalleswarar temple. She stands in a wonderful samapada pose on the padma pedestal as a young virgin with four hands. The front right hand is in abhaya hasta and the rear one holds a cakra. The front left hand is in katyavalambitahasta and the other hand at the back holds a sankha. A karandamakuta beautifies her head. A strand of curly hair creeps on either side of her shoulders. Makarakundalas adorn her ears. She has a well developed breast, big hip and stout thighs. The body is bedecked with necklaces, a sacred thread composed of several beads, pronged type armlets, bangles and anklets. A snake serves as a breast band tied across the breasts.

The lower garment is visible upto the ankles with folds. She wears a simhamukha girdle with hanging festoons and tassels. The sash goes round the waist in the form of a median loop with bows, and hanging ends occurring on the side. So it is belonged to the 12^thcentury A.D.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

H., Krishna Sastri, Op.Cit., p, 185.

[2]:

H. Krishna Sastri, Op.Cit., p. 184.

[3]:

D.N. Shukla, Vastu-Sastra, Vol. II, Bharatiya Vastu-Sastra Series, Vol. IX, Lucknow, 1958, p. 301.

[4]:

David Kinsely, Hindu Goddesses, Delhi, 1986, p.95.

[5]:

H. Krishna Sastri, Op.Cit., p. 196.

[6]:

Ibid., p. 117.

[7]:

H. Krishna Sastri, Op.Cit., p. 197.

[8]:

Kandagiridasan, Deiva Tirumeni Tattuvangal, (Tamil) Chennai, 1985, p. 159.

[9]:

S. Balasundaram, (ed.), Tolkappiyam-Porulathikaram, Thanjavur, 1989, Purathinai Iyal, v. 4, p. 140.

[10]:

P.V. Somasundaranar, ed., Tirumurugarruppadai, Kazhaga Veliyedu, 804, Chennai, 1960, 1. 258, p. 9.

[11]:

P.V. Somasundaranur, Sirupanarrupadai, Kazhaga Veliyedu; 659, Chennai, 1960,11. pp. 94-95, p. 4.

[12]:

Nedunalvadai, Kazhagaveliyedu, Chennai, 1984, 11. 167-168, p. 6.

[13]:

M.M. Shanmugam Pillai, (ed.), Kuruntokai, Tamil Palkalaikazhaga Veliyedu: 30, Tanjavur, 1985, v. 218, 11. 1-2, p. 195.