The Tridevi () are a
trinity of
supreme divinity
Chinese theology, which comes in different interpretations according to the classic texts and the common religion, and specifically Confucian, Taoist and other philosophical formulations, is fundamentally monistic, that is to say it sees the w ...
in
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
, joining a
triad of eminent goddesses either as a feminine version of the
Trimurti, or as consorts of a masculine Trimurti, depending on the denomination. This triad is typically
personified by the
Hindu goddesses
Saraswati,
Lakshmi, and
Parvati.
In
Shaktism, these triune goddesses are the manifestations of Mula-Prakriti or ''
Adi Parashakti
Mahadevi ( sa, महादेवी, ), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, Adi Shakti, and Abhaya Shakti, is the supreme goddess in the Shaktism sect of Hinduism. According to this tradition, all Hindu goddesses are considered to be manifesta ...
''.
Feminine Trimurti
In the traditional androcentric denominations of
Hinduism
Hinduism () is an Indian religion or '' dharma'', a religious and universal order or way of life by which followers abide. As a religion, it is the world's third-largest, with over 1.2–1.35 billion followers, or 15–16% of the global p ...
, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are relegated as consorts and auxiliary deities to the more eminent masculine
Trimurti gods. In
Shaktism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are given the eminent roles of
creator (Mahasaraswati),
preserver (Mahalakshmi), and
destroyer (Mahakali), with the masculine Trimurti gods being relegated as the auxiliary deities as agents of the feminine Tridevi.
Consorts of the Trimurti
Saraswati is the goddess of learning, arts, and music, as well as the consort of
Brahma, the creator. She is described to be the very embodiment of wisdom.
Lakshmi is the goddess of fortune, wealth, fertility, auspiciousness, light, and material and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the consort of
Vishnu
Vishnu ( ; , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism.
Vishnu is known as "The Preserver" withi ...
, the maintainer or preserver. However, Lakshmi does not signify mere material wealth, but also abstract prosperity, such as glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, and greatness, and spiritual fulfillment, which translates to
moksha.
Parvati is also worshipped as
Durga and Kali as the goddess of power, war, beauty, and love. She is the consort of
Shiva, the destroyer of evil, or transformer.
Importance
Mahasarasvati is described to be the slayer of
Shumba in the
Devi Bhagavata Purana
The Devi Bhagavata Purana ( sa, देवी भागवतपुराणम्, '), also known as the Srimad Devi Bhagavatam, Srimad Bhagavatam, Bhagavata Purana or simply ''Devi Bhagavatam'', is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas of Hindui ...
, suggesting that she has little to do with Saraswati.
Mahalakshmi is the prosperity aspect of Devi. She has two forms, Vishnu-priya Lakshmi and Rajyalakshmi. The former is the embodiment of chastity and virtuousness. The latter goes about courting kings. Rajyalakshmi is stated to be fickle and impulsive. She enters all those places where virtue and charity may be found, and as soon as these two vanish from any place, Rajyalakshmi will also vanish from that place.
Mahakali represents darkness, pure ''tamas'' personified. Mahakali is one of the three primary forms of Devi. She is stated to be a powerful cosmic aspect (''vyaṣṭi'') of Devi, and represents the guna (universal energy) named tamas, and is the personification of the universal power of transformation, the transcendent power of time.
Outside India
Via
Buddhism
Buddhism ( , ), also known as Buddha Dharma and Dharmavinaya (), is an Indian religions, Indian religion or Indian philosophy#Buddhist philosophy, philosophical tradition based on Pre-sectarian Buddhism, teachings attributed to the Buddha. ...
and
syncretism with Japanese
Shinto deities, the Tridevi entered Japanese mythology as the goddesses
Benzaitennyo 弁財天女 (Sarasvati),
Kisshoutennyo 吉祥天女 (Laxmi), and
Daikokutennyo 大黒天女 (Mahakali).
See also
*
Devi
*
Buddhist Tenbu (天部) deities
*
Trimurti
*
Trinity
*
Triple deities
A triple deity is a deity with three apparent forms that function as a singular whole. Such deities may sometimes be referred to as threefold, tripled, triplicate, tripartite, triune, triadic, or as a trinity. The number three has a long history ...
References
External links
Tridevi statues in the Mahalaxmi temple in Mumbai
{{authority control
Hindu philosophical concepts
Names of God in Hinduism
Triple goddesses
Hindu goddesses
Feminist theology