Raktadantika
AffiliationDevi, Avatar of Durga
MantraOm ram raktadantikayai namaha
WeaponSword, pestle and plow

Raktadantika was the fierce form of the goddess Durga. Rakta-dantika means “one whose teeth are red in colour”.[1] She incarnated to destroy the asura Vaiprachitta. According to Devi Mahatmya, Devi Raktadantika was the incarnation of Goddess Durga. Her other beings are Nandadevi, Shakambhari, Bhramari and Bhimaa. Another account describes her as a form of Kali, with an entirely red body.[2]

Legend

Once upon a time, a demon named Vaiprachitta, and the devas were defeated by the demon. So, the Asuras shook the universe. To get over this, Goddess Durga incarnated as Raktadantika and killed him and his 13 sons.[3]

She has been described as living in a pomegranate tree.[4] Her red teeth are analogous to red pomegranate seed pods. Therefore she is a member of Navpatrika, and resides in Pomegranate tree.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Rodrigues, Hillary. Ritual Worship of the Great Goddess The Liturgy of the Durga Puja with Interpretations. State University of New York Press. pp. 45, 56, 130, 182, 200, 264. ISBN 9780791488447. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  2. ↑ Gupta, N.B. Sen (162). Sri Sri Chandi. University of Virginia. pp. 97, 119, 132. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  3. ↑ www.wisdomlib.org (2014-09-12). "The Devī-Māhātmya: The Eulogy of the Goddess [Canto XCI]". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 2022-06-17.
  4. ↑ Cultus Arborum - A Description Of Phallic Tree Worship. Read Books LTD. 2013. ISBN 9781473380097. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
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