history roots hindu focuses worship penetrate deeply india earliest known appearance settlements years ago cult partial eclipse period subsequent expansion sanskrit tradition suggested ways history hindu tradition seen feminine exists today began literature evolved formative period hindu reached flower continued expand develop important text composed fifth sixth century time theological elements relating diverse female brought called goddess tradition important texts include recent developments related include emergence mother india symbolism increasing visibility hindu female saints rise new goddess following release indian film hail mother satisfaction commentator notes today years ago images goddess india find painted sides trucks walls shops color painting goddess prominently displayed hindu homes usually picture hung high wall crane neck backward looking feet india goddess worship cult religion psychologically mature tradition millions people turn day heartfelt mother universe early origins date earliest unearthed india near belongs carbon dates approximately bce belonging period collections colorful stones marked natural discovered near similar stones tribal groups area demonstrate connections later use manifest vital symbolism connected fertility thousands female dated early bce recovered important sites world precursor great valley civilization major cities valley civilization female found households indicating presence goddess worship naked elaborate ornaments horns head poses expose small circular objects holes middle possibly representing found objects images found suggest goddess valley civilization associated fertility seal shows male figure standing seated female figure probably suggests association female figure crops possibly implies ritual sacrifice blood victim offered goddess ensuring agricultural productivity links archaeological discoveries valley civilization present day later hindu religion scholars like acknowledge similarities cult goddess civilization think conclusive evidence proves link according later population centers bce sheltered mixed population major section came adjacent villages seek fortune great cities brought rituals agricultural communities formed basis valley religion rituals simpler peoples adopted higher probably original form given aristocratic colour reflected elevated position society rituals evolved northern reaches additional layers goddess focused tradition expanding outward sophisticated south cult major aspect religion notes concept integral religion female deities eventually came identified cult seven divine mothers integral religion inspiration philosophical development know began literature age evolved formative period hindu reached flower continued expand develop slowly declined dispersed peoples mixed groups eventually rise bce female continued place belief worship generally subordinate role serving principally great gods important female deities mentioned number hymns dedicated exclusively divine mothers mentioned gods took birth continued exist later goddess earth according said ancient mother gods features obscure mother goddess probably reflected conception thought goddess descriptions reflected countless called idols depicting lotus headed goddess posture india age gods existence born non existence quarters sky born legs spread earth born legs spread earth quarters sky born historically theme encompassing pan sexual nature arises explicitly time sky air gods mother father son shall born significant appearance famous hymn widely known beloved identified present day better known hymn recited thousands day goddess declares sovereign queen treasury treasures chief objects worship self gods birthplace midst waters breathing forth gives birth created worlds extends vast greatness great bce tells early tale appears essential power begins trinity flush recent victory demon suddenly find divine power presence mysterious forest spirit tries approach question disappears replaced form highly adorned daughter said replied victory great realized truth having known direct experience significantly notes study extant images period shows later images gods shaped canonical recent dating 13th 18th centuries generally relate matters worship archaic sanskrit tend create impression belong past verses cast mold traced source epic period goddess purely character mentioned great epic bce bce references confirm ongoing worship mentioned verses forms main held central goddess great epic refers goddess residing goddess fond wine meat hunting peoples ongoing process goddess indigenous peoples coming fold system brought religious great historical consequence epic revealed true character comprising numerous local combined powerful great tamil epic literary indicating currency cult south india period idea etc represent different aspects power taken vast body religious cultural compilations known composed period afford greater insight aspects phases mythology worship love god philosophy festivals ceremonies ethics works important oriented include described world owes origin owe origin far important standpoint key scriptures drawn far important text known found composed years ago text diverse threads ancient memory created dazzling verbal remains today central text hindu goddess time theological elements relating diverse female brought called goddess tradition earliest hindu scripture object worship goddess capital marks birth independent cult distinct philosophical entity influence cult placed sides gods systems symbols energy entire popular emotion round female principle exhausted need felt new system entirely female dominated system great gods like remain subordinate goddess new system containing antiquity varieties rural tribal rituals strengthened ideas different ages came known hindu genre literally thousand hymns names deeds associations given deity hymn thousand names classic widely acknowledged clarity poetic excellence specific origins authorship lost history based evidence believed composed earlier 9th later 11th century text closely associated section entitled great narrative deeds goddess form particular demon text operates number levels containing references physical qualities exploits guide philosophy practices addition group names considered high value independent content prescribed accomplish particular purposes late age saw beginnings new religious movements come fruition ways define mainstream hindu religious practice important milestone major work final best known portion vast 11th century scripture known text exclusively dedicated highest iconic mode supreme world mother birth marriage possible significant contribution theological tradition ideal goddess single tales greater length detail philosophical reflections classic tales schools particularly distinctly light intended superiority goddess male deities clarify elaborate nature terms goddess warrior goddess teacher wisdom development character goddess repeatedly stresses necessity love goddess mention gender primary qualification view inspired ideals millennium wound end religious movements south began exert tremendous influence north southern contribution emergence significant tamil goddess war victory easily identified identified eternal virgin invoked forms tamil tradition associates triple aspects power wisdom addition southern temples included earliest period south rich tradition cult village mothers concerned facts daily life traditions indicates influence speculates image wild standing inspired conception dynamic agent passive witness philosophy elaborated theory phases cosmic evolution expanding number phases worthy note scheme enables philosophy solve changing universe central idea issues absolute different aspect schools large genre ritual dating early 7th century late 19th century central scriptures devised main paths reach goal generally favor external worship etc permit use lit substances referencing certain controversial forms worship levels controlled circumstances generally prefer internal worship techniques etc essentially circumstances proper path generally determined guru based given personal nature ordinary person particularly given spiritual pursuits mainly preoccupied matters active vigorous spiritual qualified engage intensive forms holy person having achieved extremely high level spiritual maturity factors legendary sage system recognized philosophy mainstream powerful hugely popular hymn known waves beauty sense soft corner religion popularity masses important text attributed exquisite verse hymn derived constitutes greatest works addressed supreme feminine power thirteenth century large number origins regional tribal assumed completely character fourteenth century onward woven texture religious practices current india spirit substance regional vernacular sanskrit literature rise popular 18th 19th centuries good number works composed attempted ideas popular masses notable examples include characterized special liberal outlook especially women works prolific outstanding contributor philosophy belong period remain central practice today great tamil composer adept set tradition central mysteries majestic music classical song cycle known threw open doors moved approach divine mother music meantime greater wave popular swelling eastern india passionate lyrics opened new horizon cult acceptable creed poets appeared number lyrics exceeded tradition survives point onward evolving liberal universal religion touched nearly aspect indian life evolution achieved great saint held experience aim religions difference personal god ice water major advocate period sir high_court judge british india father modern studies vast bends backward defend critics prove represent noble pure ethical system basic accord complete works print remain influential day chief disciple inherited oriented synthetic outlook insisted cult programme national regeneration fact regarded country living image divine mother image india struggle independence india great nationalists later doctrine new light drawing conception transforming mortal material body pure divine setting goal complete surrender mother certain regards notes infused mainstream ceased religion presents difficulty accept essence oriented temples pilgrimage sites draw growing crowds recognition example monumental new seven wonders world competition shrine attracts record numbers pilgrims million september indian film industry turns scores films famous hail mother satisfaction low budget box office phenomenon propelled previously unknown deity heights episode television miniseries successful remake original film suggest new goddess following continues expand film brought life quickly important widely india taking place poster art form altar rooms millions hindu homes hard conceive granted instant satisfaction people larger integrated culture goddess new immediately recognize characteristic moods attributes feel deeply shared long familiar scholars identify influence increasing visibility hindu female saints web sites world tours groups globe publications videos teachers represent conservative mainstream notes example operate strongly feminine mode distinctly nature observes female understood hindu tradition followers alike goddess perfect nature presence teaching hindu female universal blend authority classical tradition interactive encounter personal experience ultimate
History of Shaktism