Goddesses of Hindu Mythology is based on ancient scriptures such as the Vedas, Puranas and Upanishads. These enormous scriptures cover approximately 330 million gods and goddesses, which is confusing yet fascinating to non-Hindus. Furthermore, the Hindu trinity of deities consisting of Brahma the creator, Vishnu the Preserver, and Shiva the Destroyer are amongst the most famous in Hinduism all over the world.
The significance of male deities strengthens by their feminine counterparts, such as goddess Saraswati, the wife of Brahma, Lakshmi, the wife of Vishnu, and Parvati, the wife of Shiva. These three goddesses are famous all over the world throughout the Hindu scriptures.
However, many other female deities or goddesses are often just a part of the vast array of scriptures. These goddesses are not talked about often, and their stories or significance are not emphasized enough throughout Hindu culture. This article attempts to give readers a list of lesser-known Hindu goddesses to keep their stories alive.
Kotravai; the goddess of war and victory
Korravai is sometimes also known as Durga, the goddess of war and victory in Tamil literature. Since Korravai is equated with the goddess Durga, it forms part of Hindu mythology. She is a goddess who represents victory, success and bravery. The goddess Kotravai is a part of Tamil Literature, and through those roots, it finds its way into the most influential culture of India, i.e., the Hindu religion. The body of the goddess represents power, boldness, courage and truth. She is a fighter and a warrior. She is a warrior of love and truth, and wisdom. Her bravery and determination is her biggest strength. She symbolizes standing up for your rights in the face of loss and betrayal.
Ushas; the goddess of dawn
Another significant goddess is Ushas. She is the goddess of the mornings. Sunrise happens at the beginning of a day, and that time marks the beginning of a new life. She shows the importance of a first breath, a new day and acknowledging the presence of life itself. Her strength is a deep acknowledgement of having a presence of mind and body.
She is the colour of morning light. She is mighty in her visions and her thinking. The most outstanding achievement is to learn to appreciate the beginning of a day in our lives. She helps us realize that our mission is to live to the fullest.
Vac; the goddess of speech
Vac is the goddess of communication. She shows us the importance of words and speech every day and night. One of the essential elements of a modern human being is the source of their voice. It identifies one’s core and being of existence in a world governed by our abilities to speak and communicate coherently by using different words. She highlights the importance of the ability to read, write and speak only the truth out in the world.
Vac is also closely associated with the goddess Sarasvati, the voice goddess in Hindu mythology. She is the ultimate source of wisdom in a lady who emphasizes the need to communicate correctly.
Aditi; the goddess of motherhood
Aditi has a vast significance as the mother of the universe. The force of life is created through her cosmic energy, which is contained in her womb. She is the mother of all mothers. She symbolizes divinity, wisdom, heavenly existence and the life-cycle of death and birth in the cosmos.
Rig Veda is a fundamental part of Hindu literature, and many references to Aditi have been made numerous times in the scriptures. Many Hindu girls are named Aditi each year, and the name holds ‘diti’, which means a giver and a mother.
Aranyani; goddess of the forests and animals
Aranya means forests in the Sanskrit language. Aranya has found her wisdom within the spirits of the woods and the animals that dwell within them. She has a vast knowledge of the forest world within her. She represents animal life and the life of all living forms. She is described as a profound entity who lives in the jungles.
She shows us that we are the nature we observe around us. She is the lady of the woods. Her other interpretations refer to her as a forest queen dancing among the trees in a jungle. She dwells within nature to become a part of it. She teaches us the importance of nature from which life itself emanates.
Conclusion
Kotravai, Ushas, Vac, Aditi and Aranyani are five lesser-known goddesses covered in this article. Kotravai is a goddess who closely resembles Durga; she is the ruler of wars, victory and success. She helps us understand that one must hold their guard all the time, and we must safeguard and protect our life to our core.
Ushas is the goddess of dawn or daytime. She shows us that we must learn to breathe correctly. All individuals must develop and maintain a sound body and a sound mind. She represents the beginning of a new day, a new light to our otherwise dark world.
Vac is the goddess of speech who gives us a voice to communicate, to show the world how you feel and what you are made of. Aditi is the goddess of motherhood and femininity, and she gives life to the human life form through her cosmic powers of divinity and love.
Aranyani is the goddess of forests and animals, and she shows us that we must be connected and grounded with the spirits of the forests. We must listen to the trees and the winds and look at the animals and the leaves falling on the ground. Animals show us who we are and help us understand and reciprocate love and divinity in this life. Forests provide us with food, undeniably the greatest source of nourishment for our cosmic bodies.
Author: Niti Gupta
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