Shakambhari
Encyclopedia
In Hinduism
, Shakambhari is an incarnation of Ishwari
, consort to Shiva
. She is the divine mother, called "The Bearer of the Greens."
comes down and gives vegan food to the hungry ("shaaka" comes from Sanskrit and means vegetables and vegan food; "ambari" means "one who wears or bears"). Actually the name Shakambhari comes from "shakam" joined with the root "bhri"("shaka" = vegetables or food and root "bhri" = to nourish)
The Demon Durgam had acquired all four books of total knowledge (The Veda) from Lord Brahma
through penance. He also received a boon from Lord Brahma that caused all the pujas, yajnas and havis that were offered to the gods to reach him instead, making him invincible. Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world. As a consequence, it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by a very severe drought.
The rishis and munis took refuge in the caves of the Himalayas, and meditated upon the Supreme Devi. The Goddess appeared in front of them bearing a wonderful form. She had countless eyes that gave her the name Satakshi, and was carrying grain, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs and because of this was called Shakambhari. The goddess was so moved by their plight that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tears became a river, which ended the drought. The rishis and munis and the gods then requested that she recover the Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam. Durgam discovered through his messengers that people were living happily and immediately attacked with a large army.
The goddess protected the frail rishis, munis, gods and others by putting up a huge wall of fire around them, and then let her discus hover around it. There ensued a tremendous battle between the Devi and Durgam. From her body manifested the ten most powerful powers who had never been in the universe before Dashamahaavidya and 64,000 other goddesses. At last the goddess Satakshi/Shakambhari killed Durgam with her trident and recovered the Vedas from his possession. At that very moment all the mantras and japas that the rishis, munis and gods had performed earlier but had been absorbed by the demon Durgam transformed into the bright light of a 10,000 suns and entered the Devi. She then handed over the Vedas to the deities. Ishwari is also knowns as Durga because she killed the demon Durgam.
The story of Shakambari is told in Chapter 28 of the Devi Bhagavatam Purana, titled, "On the glory of Shatakshi Devi". Also, in The Devi Mahatmyam, her story is told in Chapter 11 and in the artha murti rahasyam (The Secret of the Manifestations) an addendum to the Devi Mahatmyam.
. Since tears rolled out from the eyes of the goddess continuously for 9 days and nights the biggest worship practice is the celebration of Navratra Mahotasav, held in the months of Chaitra and Aasoj for nine days each. Two more Navratras are also celebrated but they are known as "Gupt Navratras."
Every year in Vijayawada Durga Temple they celebrate Sakambari Uvuschavas for three days. On these days the goddess is decorated with vegetables and fruits.
The major temples of Shakambhari include Shakambari Temple in Sakarai, Rajasthan, Banashankari Amma Temple
in Badami
and in Bangalore
, both in Karnataka
state. There are many more temples to Shakambhari in other parts of India
, such as in Nagewadi
, Maharashtra
; in Kumbhoj near Satara
; in Shakumbhri Devi
near Saharanpur
, Uttar Pradesh
, and in Sambhar
in Rajasthan
. According to a legend, the Sambhar Salt Lake
was given to the people of that area some 2,500 years ago by the Goddess Shakambhari. A small white temple in her honour stands under a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake. This temple is more than 200 years old.
Shakti Peeth Shakumbhri, meaning the abode of Shakti Goddess Shakambhari or Shakumbhri, is situated in the Jasmour village area, at a distance of 40 km to the north of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh state of Northern India. Perched in the midst of the Shivalik mountain range, this temple is believed to have been built during the rule of the Marathas. Twice a year, in the Ashwin and Chaitra months of the Hindu calendar (during the days of Navratra), the famous Shakumbhri Mela is organised. About one kilometer east of Shakumbari lies the Bhura Dev (BHAIRAV) temple which is considered to be the guard of Shakumbari Devi. Because of this all the devotees to Shakumbhri Devi first visit Bhura-Dev temple and then proceed to the temple of the goddess.
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, Shakambhari is an incarnation of Ishwari
Ishwari
This name is of the Goddess Durga, the Divine Mother.Ishwara means the supreme Lord who has a royal and ruling nature. Ishwari is His divine counterpart. She is God's force and infinite strength represented in a form as an all-powerful, sovereign Goddess who reigns over all the worlds....
, consort to Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
. She is the divine mother, called "The Bearer of the Greens."
Etymology
It is said that in times of famine, the goddess DurgaDurga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
comes down and gives vegan food to the hungry ("shaaka" comes from Sanskrit and means vegetables and vegan food; "ambari" means "one who wears or bears"). Actually the name Shakambhari comes from "shakam" joined with the root "bhri"("shaka" = vegetables or food and root "bhri" = to nourish)
Story
Brahma
Brahma is the Hindu god of creation and one of the Trimurti, the others being Vishnu and Shiva. According to the Brahma Purana, he is the father of Mānu, and from Mānu all human beings are descended. In the Ramayana and the...
through penance. He also received a boon from Lord Brahma that caused all the pujas, yajnas and havis that were offered to the gods to reach him instead, making him invincible. Durgam became very arrogant and started tormenting the whole world. As a consequence, it did not rain for one hundred years and the whole world was hit by a very severe drought.
The rishis and munis took refuge in the caves of the Himalayas, and meditated upon the Supreme Devi. The Goddess appeared in front of them bearing a wonderful form. She had countless eyes that gave her the name Satakshi, and was carrying grain, cereals, vegetables, greens, fruits and other herbs and because of this was called Shakambhari. The goddess was so moved by their plight that tears rolled down from her eyes for nine continuous days and nights. The tears became a river, which ended the drought. The rishis and munis and the gods then requested that she recover the Vedas, which were in possession of Durgam. Durgam discovered through his messengers that people were living happily and immediately attacked with a large army.
The goddess protected the frail rishis, munis, gods and others by putting up a huge wall of fire around them, and then let her discus hover around it. There ensued a tremendous battle between the Devi and Durgam. From her body manifested the ten most powerful powers who had never been in the universe before Dashamahaavidya and 64,000 other goddesses. At last the goddess Satakshi/Shakambhari killed Durgam with her trident and recovered the Vedas from his possession. At that very moment all the mantras and japas that the rishis, munis and gods had performed earlier but had been absorbed by the demon Durgam transformed into the bright light of a 10,000 suns and entered the Devi. She then handed over the Vedas to the deities. Ishwari is also knowns as Durga because she killed the demon Durgam.
The story of Shakambari is told in Chapter 28 of the Devi Bhagavatam Purana, titled, "On the glory of Shatakshi Devi". Also, in The Devi Mahatmyam, her story is told in Chapter 11 and in the artha murti rahasyam (The Secret of the Manifestations) an addendum to the Devi Mahatmyam.
Worship practices
The ancient temple of the goddess Shakambhari is situated at Sakarai about 15 km from Udaipur Wati, which is about 29 km from Sikar(Rajasthan). Also there are three temples of Mata Shakambhari in KolkataKolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
. Since tears rolled out from the eyes of the goddess continuously for 9 days and nights the biggest worship practice is the celebration of Navratra Mahotasav, held in the months of Chaitra and Aasoj for nine days each. Two more Navratras are also celebrated but they are known as "Gupt Navratras."
Every year in Vijayawada Durga Temple they celebrate Sakambari Uvuschavas for three days. On these days the goddess is decorated with vegetables and fruits.
Major temples
Banashankari Amma Temple
Banashankari Amma Temple or Banashankari temple is a Hindu shrine located at Cholachagudd near Badami, in Bagalkot district, Karnataka, India. The temple is popularly called Banashankari or Vanashankari since it is located in the Tilakaaranya forest...
in Badami
Badami
Badami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
and in Bangalore
Bangalore
Bengaluru , formerly called Bengaluru is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. Bangalore is nicknamed the Garden City and was once called a pensioner's paradise. Located on the Deccan Plateau in the south-eastern part of Karnataka, Bangalore is India's third most populous city and...
, both in Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
state. There are many more temples to Shakambhari in other parts of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, such as in Nagewadi
Nagewadi
Nagewadi is a small village in Tasgaon tahsil of Sangli district . This village is easily accessible from Miraj-Pandharpur state highway just about 6 km away....
, Maharashtra
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a state located in India. It is the second most populous after Uttar Pradesh and third largest state by area in India...
; in Kumbhoj near Satara
Satara
Satara is a city located in the Satara District of Maharashtra state of India. The town is 2320 ft. above sea-level, near the confluence of the Krishna and its tributary river Venna. The city was the capital of the Maratha empire in the 17th century, hence one of the the historical cities of...
; in Shakumbhri Devi
Shakumbhri Devi
Shakti Peeth Shakumbhri , meaning the abode of Shakti Goddess Shakambhari or Shakumbhri, is situated in the Jasmour village area, at a distance of 40 km to the north of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh state of Northern India...
near Saharanpur
Saharanpur
Saharanpur is a city and a Municipal Corporation in the state of Uttar Pradesh in northern India. It is the administrative headquarters of Saharanpur District as well as Saharanpur Division...
, Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
, and in Sambhar
Sambhar Salt Lake
The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake, sits 96 km south west of the city of Jaipur and 64 km north east of Ajmer along National Highway 8 in Rajasthan.- Mythology :...
in Rajasthan
Rajasthan
Rājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. According to a legend, the Sambhar Salt Lake
Sambhar Salt Lake
The Sambhar Salt Lake, India's largest inland salt lake, sits 96 km south west of the city of Jaipur and 64 km north east of Ajmer along National Highway 8 in Rajasthan.- Mythology :...
was given to the people of that area some 2,500 years ago by the Goddess Shakambhari. A small white temple in her honour stands under a rocky outcrop jutting into the lake. This temple is more than 200 years old.
Shakti Peeth Shakumbhri, meaning the abode of Shakti Goddess Shakambhari or Shakumbhri, is situated in the Jasmour village area, at a distance of 40 km to the north of Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh state of Northern India. Perched in the midst of the Shivalik mountain range, this temple is believed to have been built during the rule of the Marathas. Twice a year, in the Ashwin and Chaitra months of the Hindu calendar (during the days of Navratra), the famous Shakumbhri Mela is organised. About one kilometer east of Shakumbari lies the Bhura Dev (BHAIRAV) temple which is considered to be the guard of Shakumbari Devi. Because of this all the devotees to Shakumbhri Devi first visit Bhura-Dev temple and then proceed to the temple of the goddess.
Further reading
- Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions ISBN 81-208-0379-5 by David Kinsley
- Shakambhari Temple in BadamiBadamiBadami , formerly known as Vatapi, is a town and headquarters of a taluk by the same name, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka, India. It was the regal capital of the Badami Chalukyas from 540 to 757 AD. It is famous for rock cut and other structural temples...
.