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4.12: Devi

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    Devi

    20.png

    Artist: Unknown
    Medium: N/A (represented in temple sculptures and paintings)
    Art Historical Time Period: Ancient to Modern Hindu Art

    Devi, also known as the Goddess, is the supreme being in Shaktism, a major tradition of Hinduism. She embodies the feminine aspect of the divine and is worshipped in various forms such as Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati. Devi is important in Hindu culture as she represents power, wisdom, and fertility. Her worship includes festivals like Navaratri and Durga Puja. The concept of the divine feminine in Devi has influenced global discussions on gender, spirituality, and the role of women in religion.

    Vocabulary

    • Durga A fierce form of the goddess Devi, known for slaying demons.
    • Lakshmi The Hindu goddess of wealth, fortune, and prosperity.

    • Navaratri A Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of the goddess Durga.

    • Saraswati The Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, art, wisdom, and learning.

    • Shaktism A major tradition of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi, the divine feminine.

    • Spirituality The quality of being concerned with the human spirit or soul as opposed to material or physical things.

    Student Authors

    • Victor Cortez ’24 and Gabriela Ramirez ’22

    References and Image Attribution

    • Kinsley, David R. Hindu Goddesses: Visions of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Tradition. University of California Press, 1988.

    • Pintchman, Tracy. The Rise of the Goddess in the Hindu Tradition. State University of New York Press, 1994.

    • Image: “Goddess (Devi)” via Wikimedia Commons by Los Angeles County Museum of Art, in the public domain. Modified from original.

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