The Name of the Devi

EVERYONE KNOWS the story of Daksha and his sacrifice. In that connection, in this column, I will give you Devi’s 108 names, as stated in the Matsya Purana.

Sati was Daksha’s daughter. Daksha was Brahma’s son, born from Brahma’s right thumb. The name of Daksha’s wife varies from text to text. In some, she is named Prasuti. In others, she is named Asikni. The number of Daksha’s daughters also varies from text to text. But they all agree that Sati was one, and that she was married to Shiva to Rudra. Since she was Daksha’s daughter, Sati was known as Dakshayani. Twenty-seven of Daksha’s daughters were married to Chandra, the moon. These were the nakshatras and Chandra loved Rohini (Aldebaran) the most. Consequently, Daksha cursed Chandra that he would be overtaken by consumption. Other than the story of Daksha cursing Chandra, a famous incident is about Daksha’s sacrifice. Daksha felt slighted by his son-in-law, Shiva, and did not invite him to a sacrifice he was conducting. Nevertheless, Sati decided to attend, though uninvited. The story of the sacrifice, and how Shiva destroyed it, is described in great detail in the Puranas. It is a familiar story and there is no need to repeat it. Here is the succinct account, from the Matsya Purana, narrated to the rishis by Suta. (Notice the slight variations and the mention of Daksha’s different births.)

Daksha performed a sacrifice, with copious amounts of excellent dakshina. When all the devas were invited, Sati spoke to her father. “O father! What is the reason why my husband has not been invited to the sacrifice?” Daksha told her, “The wielder of the trident is not fit to be present at a sacrifice. Rudra is the destroyer and he indicates the inauspicious.” Sati became angry and said, “I will give up this body, born through you. You will be the only son of 10 ancestors. When you become a Kshatriya, at the time of a horse sacrifice, Rudra will destroy you.” Having said this, she resorted to yoga and a fire emerged from her own body. While all the devas, asuras, kinnaras, large number of gandharvas and guhyakas exclaimed, “What is this?” she burnt herself down in this. Daksha was miserable and approaching her, prostrated himself. He said, “You are the mother of the universe. You are the divinity who bestows good fortune on the universe. O Devi! Desiring to do me a favour, you became a daughter, born from my body. Without you, nothing mobile or immobile will remain in the cosmic egg. O one who knows about dharma! You should be placated and not ignore this.” Devi replied, “There is no doubt that I will complete the task I have embarked on. As a mortal, when you undertake a sacrifice, the wielder of the trident will certainly kill you. To obtain my favours and to create the worlds, you should perform austerities in my presence. As fruits, you will be born from the bodies of 10 fathers and will obtain the status of a Prajapati. You will have 60 daughters and they will be born as my portions. If you perform austerities in my presence, you will obtain excellent yoga.” Thus addressed, Daksha asked, “O unblemished one! Which are the tirthas where I can see you and what are the names by which I should praise you?”

Daksha felt slighted by his son-in-law, Shiva, and did not invite him to a sacrifice he was conducting. Nevertheless, Sati decided to attend, though uninvited. The story of the sacrifice is described in the puranas

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Devi replied, “I am always seen everywhere on earth, in all beings. There is nothing in all the worlds that does not have my presence. Nevertheless, a person who desires siddhi should see me in these places. One should remember my manifestation and conduct in these. I will tell you the truth about these. (1) Vishalakshmi in Varanasi; (2) Lingadharini in Naimisha; (3) Lalitaa Devi in Prayaga; (4) Kamakshi in Gandhamadana; (5) Under the name of Kumuda in Manasa; (6) Vishvakaya in Ambara; (7) Under the name of Gomati in Gomanta; (8) Kamacharini in Mandara; (9) Madotkata in Chaitraratha; (10) Jayanti in Hastinapura; (11) Gouri in Kanyakubja; (12) Rambha in Mount Malaya; (13) Kirtimati in Ekamraka; (14) known as Vishva in Vishveshara; (15) Puruhuta in Pushkara; (16) Margadayini in Kedara; (17) Nanda on the slopes of the Himalayas; (18) Bhadrakarnika in Gokarna; (19) Bhavani in Sthaneshvara; (20) Bilvapatrika in Bilvaka; (21) under the name of Madhavi in Shrishaila; (22) Bhadra in Bhadreshvara; (23) Jaya in Mount Varaha; (24) Kamala in Kamalalaya; (25) Rudrani in Rudrakoti; (26) Kali in Kalanjara; (27) Kapila in Mahalinga; (28) Mukuteshvari in Markota; (29) Mahadevi in Shaligrama; (30) Jalapriya in Shivalinga; (31) Kumari in Mayapuri; (32) Lalita in Santana; (33) Utpalakshi in Sahasraksha; (34) Mahotpala in Kamalaksha; (35) under the name of Mangala in Ganga; (36) Vimala in Purushottama; (37) Amoghakshi in Vipasha; (38) Patala in Pundravardhana; (39) Narayani in Suparshva; (40) Bhadrasundari in Vikuta; (41) under the name of Vipulaa in Vipula; (42) Kalyani in Mount Malaya; (43) Kotavi in Kotitirtha; (44) Sugandha in Madhavavana; (45) Trisandhya in Kubjagraka; (46) Ratipriya in Gangadvara; (47) Sunanda in Shivakunda; (48) Nandini on the banks of Devika; (49) Rukmini in Dvaravati; (50) Radha in the forest of Vrindavana; (51) Devaki in Mathura; (52) Parameshvari in Patala; (53) Sita in Chitrakuta; (54) Vindhyavasini in the Vindhyas; (55) Ekavira in the Sahyadris; (56) Chandrika in Harishchandra; (57) Ramana in Ramatirtha; (58) Mrigavati in Yamuna; (59) Mahalakshmi in Karavira; (60) Umadevi in Vinayaka; (61) Aroga in Vaidyanatha; (62) Maheshvari in Mahakala; (63) Abhaya in Ushnatirtha; (64) Amrita in the caves of the Vindhyas; (65) under the name of Mandavi in Mandavya; (66) Svaha in the city of Maheshvara; (67) Prachanda in Chhagalanda; (68) Chandika in Makarandaka; (69) Vararoha in Someshvara; (70) Puskharavati in Prabhasa; (71) Devamata in Sarasvati; (72) held to be Para along the banks of Para; (73) Mahabhaga in Mahalaya; (74) Pingaleshvari in Payoshni; (75) Simhika in Kritashoucha; (76) Yashaskari in Kartikeya; (77) Lola in Utpalavartaka; (78) Subhadra at the confluence of Shona; (79) the mother Lakshmi in Siddhapura; (80) Angana in Bharatashrama; (81) Vishvamukhi in Jalandhara; (82) Tara in Mount Kishindha; (83) Pushti in the forest of Devadaru; (84) Medha in the region of Kashmira; (85) Bhima Devi in the Himalaya mountains; (86) Pushti in Vishveshvara; (87) Shuddhi in Kapalamochana; (88) Mata in Kayavarohana; (89) under the name of Dhara in Shankhodvara; (90) Dhriti in Pindaraka; (91) Kala in Chandrabhaga; (92) Shivakarini in Acchoda; (93) under the name of Amrita in Vena; (94) Urvashi in Badari; (95) Oushadhi in Uttara Kuru; (96) Kushodaka in Kusha-dvipa; (97) Manmatha in Hemakuta; (98) Satyavadini in Mukuta; (99) Vandaniya in Ashvattha; (100) Nidhi in Vaishravana’s abode; (101) Gayatri in the mouth of the Vedas; (102) Parvati in Shiva’s presence; (103) Indrani in the world of the devas; (104) Sarasvati in Brahma’s mouth; (105) under the name of Prabha in the solar disc; (106) under the name of Vaishnavi among the matrikas; (107) Arundhati among virtuous women; (108) Tilottama among beautiful women; (109) under the name of Brahmakala in consciousness; and (110) Shakti in all those with bodies. These are said to be the 108 excellent names. I have also spoken about the 108 tirthas. If a person remembers this, or hears it, he is freed from all sins. If a man bathes in these tirthas and sees me thereafter, he is cleansed of all sins. For a kalpa, he resides in Shiva’s city. If a man acts in this way until the end of his life, he passes through Brahma’s abode and obtains a supreme destination with Shankara. On tritiya and ashtami, if a man makes these names heard in Shiva’s presence, he has many sons. If a learned person reads this at the time of donating a cow or donating on the occasion of a shraddha, or if a learned person reads them every day, after duly worshipping the devas, he obtains Brahma.”

(As stated, the number is 110, not 108. We have refrained from attempting any geographical identification. In some cases, like Varanasi or Prayaga, it is obvious. In others, it will at best be tentative and speculative. Towards the end, some are also not geographical places.)

Suta continued, “After saying this, she immolated herself. After some time, Svayambhu’s son, Daksha, was born as the son of the Prachetas. (There were 10 Prachetas.) Devi was born as Parvati, through Mena’s womb, and became half of Shiva’s body (That is, she married Shiva). She is the one who bestows objects of pleasure and emancipation. Performing japa on her, Arundhati (Vasishtha’s wife) attained excellent yoga. Doing this, Pururava obtained a position in the world of rajarshis. Yayati obtained a son, while Bhargava obtained wealth. (It is not obvious which Bhargava is meant.) In that way, many devas, daityas, Brahmanas, Kshatriyas, Vaishyas and Shudras obtained the desired siddhi. When these names are written down, or if a person worships them in the presence of the devas, he never suffers from misery or hardships.”

There is a listing of Devi’s names and her tirthas in Devi Bhagavata Purana too. In fact, one could say that the listing in Devi Bhagavata Purana is a more complete one. I gave those names in an earlier column.

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Bibek Debroy

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