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goddess worship in Tamilnadu:Rituals and practice
Shakthi(Goddesses) worship
The word shakthi means force, the feminine energy. it is regarded as the primordial creative principle that underlies the cosmos, and as the energising force behind all divinity, creatures and beings
In several scriptures, the personification of shakthi - kali - was said to be the source of the three aspects in divinity,ie creation, protection and transformation
There existed in Tamilnadu the worship of female goddesses and Kali was one of them. They were all ferocious and human sacrifices to them were common. The new Saivam began to refine this and the Sakthi cult was born. Goddess with benign and beautiful looks came to be regarded as Sakthi, the consort of Siva. Formerly, the dancing Lord was conceived to be having his wife in the left half of his body. Hence she was not separately worshipped. Now stone sculpting had become popular and separate shrines with stone images of Sakthi came to be erected within Siva temples. Some temples of the former ferocious goddesses were converted into Sakthi temples and Lingam was also erected in them. The legend that Sankara reduced the ferociousness of Akilandeswari in Thiruvanaikoil (near Trichy) by making some changes in her ornaments lends support to this
In Hinduism, Shakti is an aspect of Devi, and a personification of God as the Divine Mother who represents the active, dynamic principles of feminine power. In Shaktism, Shakti is worshiped as the Supreme Being. Alternatively, in other Hindu traditions, Shakti represents the power of God, called Vishnu or Shiva. For Vaishnavites, God's power or Shakti is Lakshmi. For Shaivites, God's power is Parvati
the yoni yantra, basically a triangle, represents the mother goddess, and indicates the cosmic womb, and hence the source of life. the yoni is considered the doorway to understanding the mysteries of the universe.
For the past 2 years I visited certain temples in and around Chennai, Tamilnadu.
Particularly in Goddesses temples, shakthi worship is being practiced by different ways and means. Here I would like to post certain pictures and videos taken in the temple premises for your views and discussion.
.First let us see Melmalaiyanur temple near gingee,Tamilnadu.Every black moon day thousands of people gathered here and perform various kinds of rituals through out day and night.
Last edited by m.namasivayam : 30-04-2007 at 02:01 AM.
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