Mahadevi

Mahadevi
Greatest goddess of all three citadels and mother Goddess
महादेवी माता
Devanagari	महादेवी
Sanskrit transliteration	Mahādevī
Affiliation	Devi, Adi Parashakti, Parvati, Saraswati , Mahalakshmi, Tridevi, Durga[1]
Abode	Manidvipa
Mantra	Sarva Mangala Mangalye Shive Sarvaartha Saadhike Sharanye Trayambake Gauri Narayani Namostute
Weapon	Sudarshana Chakra, conch, trident, bowl, noose, goad, spear, Vajra, bow, arrow, sword, shield, rudraksha, kamandal, staff, bell, mace, lotus,
Mount	Varies by iconographic form
Consort	Shiva

In Hinduism, Mahadevi (Sanskrit: महादेवी, IAST: Mahādevī) or "Great Goddess" is the goddess or Devi that is the great goddess of all other devis – an all-encompassing female deity^[2] as the consort of Mahadev [Lord shiva] or the Ultimate Reality (Brahman) in Shaktism.

She is identified with Parvati, Mahalakshmi, or the Tridevi. These changes on who her consort is are related to the rivalry between Shaivism and Viahsnism and the mixture of Shaktism and Shaivism through the popular form, though there are texts which state it is [Vishnu] who is regarded brother of the Goddess and consort of goddess lakshmi. However, it is canon that Mahadevi, is none other than an incarnation of Adi Parashakti, the only controversy that arises from it is if the supreme Goddess is Parvati, Lakshmi, the Tridevi, or an entire sperate being.

Mahadevi is the supreme force that creates, preserves and destroys the universe. She is the highest intelligence referred as Brahmavidya. Mahadevi is the soul of the universe and the universe itself. She is the source of wealth, knowledge, forgiveness, peace, faith, fortitude, fame, modesty and mercy. The purans mention her as Nirguna Maheshwari Devi Mahamaya, meaning "the absolute truth", and mother of all. Along with Nirguna form Mahadevi is also mentioned as Sarguna (attributes) and Vagdevi (speech).

See also

• Devi Mahatmya
• Great Mother
• Shakti
• Tridevi

Notes

References

• Seeking Mahadevi: Constructing the Identities of the Hindu Great Goddess (ISBN 0-7914-5008-2) Edited by Tracy Pintchman
• Encountering The Goddess: A Translation of the Devi-Mahatmya and a Study of Its Interpretation (ISBN 0-7914-0446-3) by Thomas B. Coburn
• In Praise of The Goddess: The Devimahatmyam and Its Meaning (ISBN 0-89254-080-X) by Devadatta Kali
• The Triumph of the Goddess: The Canonical Models and Theological Visions of the Devi-Bhagavata Purana (ISBN 0-7914-0363-7) by C. MacKenzie Brown
• The Srimad Devi Bhagavatam (ISBN 81-215-0591-7) translated by Swami Vijnanananda