| Shivaduti | |
|---|---|
| Affiliation | Devi, Parvati |
| Mantra | Oṃ Śivadūtyaya Namaḥ |
| Weapon | Scimitar |
| Mount | Jackal |
Shivaduti (Sanskrit: शिवदूति, romanized: Śivadūti) is a manifestation of the Hindu mother goddess Adi Parashakti.[1]
Iconography
In the Kalika Purana, Shivaduti is described as having a dark complexion, with long matted hair, three eyes, and holding a scimitar, while her right foot rests on the back of a jackal and her left foot tramples a corpse of an asura. She possesses ten incarnations (yoginis): Kshemankari, Shanta, Devamata, Mahodari, Karali, Kamada, Bhagasya, Bhagamalini, Bhagavaha, and Subhaga.
Legend
According to the Devi Mahatmyam, during the battle against the asuras Sumbha and Nisumbha, Shivaduti emerged from the body of the goddess Chandi and tasked Shiva to deliver an ultimatum to the asuras: if they did not surrender the three worlds that they had usurped from Indra and the devas, they would be devoured by her jackals.[2] Since the goddess had sent Shiva as her messenger, she was named Shivaduti. A similar legend is described in the Markandeya Purana.[3]
References
- ↑ Dasgupta, Prof Sashi Bhusan; Math), Advaita Ashrama (A Publication House of Ramakrishna Math, Belur. Evolution of Mother Worship in India. Advaita Ashrama (A publication branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math). p. 43. ISBN 978-81-7505-886-6.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Vanamali (21 July 2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Simon and Schuster. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-59477-785-1.
- ↑ The Markandeya Purana. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. 24 October 2019. p. 403. ISBN 978-93-5305-671-1.