Shivaduti

Shivaduti (Śivadūtī)
AffiliationDevi, Parvati
MantraOṃ Śiṁ Śivadūtyai Namaḥ
WeaponScimitar, Trident
MountJackal

Shivaduti (Sanskrit: शिवदूति, romanized: Śivadūti) is a manifestation of the Hindu mother goddess Adi Parashakti.She is the eighth among Kauśikī’s Navamātṛkā Kramā (Nine Mother Tradition)

Iconography

In the Kalika Purana, Shivaduti is described as having a red complexion, with long matted hair, three eyes, and holding a scimitar, trident, leather shield, and noose, while her left foot rests on the back of a jackal and her right foot tramples a corpse. She is surrounded by millions of jackals howling alongside her, while her voice itself is compared with a jackal’s in other texts.[citation needed]

Legend

According to the Devi Mahatmyam, during the battle against the asuras Sumbha and Nisumbha, Shivaduti emerged from the body of the goddess Chandi and tasked Shiva to deliver an ultimatum to the asuras: if they did not surrender the three worlds that they had usurped from Indra and the devas, they would be devoured by her jackals. Since the goddess had sent Shiva as her messenger, she was named Shivaduti.

References

  1. ↑ Dasgupta, Prof Sashi Bhusan; Math), Advaita Ashrama (A Publication House of Ramakrishna Math, Belur. Evolution of Mother Worship in India. Advaita Ashrama (A publication branch of Ramakrishna Math, Belur Math). p. 43. ISBN 978-81-7505-886-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Vanamali (21 July 2008). Shakti: Realm of the Divine Mother. Simon and Schuster. p. 252. ISBN 978-1-59477-785-1.