- Devi Bhagavata
The Devi Bhagavata (
Sanskrit , n., देवी भागवतपुराण, IAST|devī bhāgavatapurāṇa, "the old book of the Goddess"; also "Devi Bhagavatam") is one of the most important writings inShaktism , the veneration inHinduism of the divine feminine.The "Devi Bhagavata" is one of the
Puranas - works that are not necessarily authoritative for all Hindus, but that have special importance for particular sects within Hinduism. The text describesDevi , the goddess, as the foundation of the world and as identical withBrahman . As the divine mother, she reveals her cosmic form (Book 7, Chapter 33) and describes the proper ways for worshipping her: especially the practice ofYoga ,Meditation (Book 7, Chapter 35), andRitual (Book 7, Chapter 39). The "Devi Bhagavata" also deals with topics like spiritual knowledge, social and personal ethics, and holy places.Consisting of 12 chapters and 18,000 verses, the "Devi Bhagavata" is ascribed to the mythical sage
Vyasa , who is also regarded as the author of theMahabharata and who is credited with dividing theVedas into four parts. Although the "Devi Bhagavata" is considered a minor Purana by many, devotees of the goddess call it "Maha Purana" ("Great Purana").Like other Puranas, the Devi Bhagavat contains stories, sections praising the Goddess as supreme, and instructions in various types of
sadhana . Parts of it have worked there way in popular Hinduism, such as the story of the goddessDurga in her fight against the buffalo-demonMahishasura (Book 5, Chapter 2-18), which is also described in theDevi Mahatmya . This story provides the mythological backdrop for the annual holiday calledDurga Puja , celebrated especially inBengal .External links
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/hin/db/index.htm The Devi Bhagavata Online]
ee also
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Shaktism
*Goddess
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