Female Hindu deities – the Tridevi
Tridevi, or three goddesses, is a term used in Hinduism to describe the three main female One god or goddess. In Hinduism, the word for gods and goddesses that many Hindus believe are different aspects of the one Supreme Spirit (Brahman).. These are Saraswati (who is linked to A Hindu deity, considered one of the Trimurti, and in charge of creative power; not to be confused with Brahmin or Brahman. Not widely worshipped by Hindus.), Lakshmi (who is linked to Vishnu is the aspect of Brahman responsible for the preservation of the world. Vishnu forms one part of the Trimurti, along with with gods, Brahma and Shiva.) and Parvati (who is linked to A Hindu deity. The aspect of Brahman responsible for destruction and renewed creation. Some Hindus regard Shiva as the one Supreme Deity.).
Saraswati
Saraswati is the goddess of learning, arts and music. She shows the power of knowledge and pure thought. She is the wife of Brahma. Saraswati is pictured holding a veena (a stringed musical instrument), prayer beads (also known as mala), a book and a pot of water. The prayer beads signify the importance of Thinking quietly as a spiritual or religious exercise. Connection of the mind and soul with the Divine using breathing and other techniques. In Buddhism, using one of a set of techniques or exercises for calming the mind, developing positive emotions and understanding the way things are. while the water shows that Saraswati helps to purify people’s thoughts. Saraswati’s four arms represent the mind, the imagination, reasoning and self-understanding. She is portrayed wearing white.
Like Brahma, she is often portrayed on a swan, which is a symbol of elegance and purity for Hindus. She is also sometimes pictured seated on a stone, indicating that the pursuit of knowledge can be hard, like the surface of a stone.
The The oldest and most sacred Hindu scripture. describes Saraswati as the best of mothers, best of rivers, best of goddesses (Rig Veda 2.41.16).
Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the goddess of good fortune and wealth. Wife of Vishnu, she is said to be his strength. She is shown either standing or sitting in a lotus flower. For Hindus, the lotus represents spirituality, self-understanding and success.
Lakshmi is shown with four hands, which represent the four goals of a Hindu’s life:
- dharma – or good conduct
- kama – longing or desire in life
- artha – earning money legitimately
- moksha – liberation from birth and death (samsara)
Parvati
Parvati is the wife of Shiva. She is depicted as seated high in the Himalayas by Shiva’s side. Parvati represents the continuity of life. She is the mother of Ganesha, who is the god of good fortune and intelligence and Kartikeya, who is the commander of the divine army of devas, or male deities.
Parvati is a form of In Hindu belief, the absolute reality that is the true essence of all existence, God. also known as The Hindu term for female representations of the ‘Supreme Spirit’ – literally means ‘strength’.. The name Shakti refers to the power that continually brings the universe into existence. Therefore, this power is thought of as feminine.
Shiva and Shakti rely on each other. Neither one can fully exist without the other. They are twin features of the one Brahman.
Parvati and Ganesha
Parvati is also famous for her role in a Hindu story about her son Ganesha. One of the trimurti (three gods), the aspects of Brahman responsible for creation, preservation and destruction. Lord Shiva presides over destruction and renewed creation. For some Hindus he is the one Supreme Deity. did not want children so he instructed Parvati to make a doll from some cloth to ease her desire for a child. She shed tears of longing while holding the doll, and the power of the tears transformed the doll into a real child, her son Ganesha.
Parvati ordered her son to guard the cave she was living in with instructions not to let in strangers. When Lord Shiva came to visit one day, full of regret about the way he had behaved towards Parvati, he came across Ganesha, who refused him entry. Lord Shiva was furious and chopped off the boy’s head.
Parvati was devastated. Lord Shiva vowed to make Ganesha whole again and find him a head, but he could only find an elephant’s head. Ganesha was then reborn. He became known as the god of good fortune and is believed by many Hindus to be the ‘Remover of obstacles’.