7 Secrets of the Goddess by DEVDUTT PATTANAIK

Author:DEVDUTT PATTANAIK [PATTANAIK, DEVDUTT]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2014-09-19T18:30:00+00:00

Unlike Durga, who is associated with the entire universe, the grama-devi is restricted to her neighbourhood. She makes the universal particular. She embodies the settlement: she is Mumba-devi of Mumbai, Chandika of Chandigarh, Kali of Kolkata. Her image is often just a rock that marks either the navel of the village, or the periphery. Eyes are painted on the rock to indicate she is sensitive to the condition of villagers. She is shown wearing a nose-ring, indicator of her domestication. Her palms are either raised to indicate she offers protection, or lowered to indicate she offers bounty. Rarely does she have a body: the village is her body. She is sometimes accompanied by a twin-goddess, identified as her sister or as her friend or just a companion who takes care of her devotees when she wants to rest. Her attendants are brave men, the viras, often with moustaches to emphasise their masculinity, and riding horses in the company of hunting dogs. In south India, the vira is often a Muslim cavalry officer indicating close association with village realities. He is the guardian god who forms a complementary pair with the fertility goddess. He protects; she provides.

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