sanskrit lit doctrine power doctrine goddess focuses worship hindu divine mother absolute ultimate primary schools especially popular regards lit goddess forms considered merely diverse details philosophy practice resembles sanskrit practitioners focus worship dynamic feminine aspect masculine aspect considered solely worship usually relegated auxiliary role goddess worship ancient india branch goddess known called followers recognize power male principle depicted consort consort depicted fierce closely related teaches rituals practices mind body forms gentle fierce use chants real magic holy rituals forth cosmic forces course history inspired great works sanskrit literature hindu philosophy continues strongly influence popular today practiced indian numerous forms largest visible schools lit family strongest family northern eastern india overview conceive goddess supreme ultimate considered simultaneously source creation embodiment energy observed religious history world come completely female oriented system focus imply rejection masculine deemed inactive absence set line renowned hymn united able create incapable stirring fundamental emphasized widely known image goddess atop seemingly body broadly speaking considered embodiment energy force action existence material universe masculine aspect providing divine ground expressed historian referring dynamic excellence lies consciousness identity short static dynamic religious art cosmic dynamic expressed half half deity known views source essence substance virtually creation seen unseen including central scripture declares manifest sun stars moon animals birds thief low person deeds great person excellent deeds female male form quote supreme declares masculine feminine human notion gender religious scholar explains clearly insists feminine represents dominant power universe included ultimate truly ultimate masculine feminine aspects divine reality goes encompasses supreme form consciousness gender apart association widely misunderstood aspect close association ambiguous provocative concept suggests orthodox temple worship south india black magic practices sexual practices referred west fact forms nature forms nature term relation authentic refers class ritual broadly goddess focused spiritual practice involving certain elements traditional practiced guidance qualified guru initiation oral instruction supplement written sources social interactions free sorts woman entitled function role guru women regarded object respect devotion wrath great goddess male realize female entitled worship supreme controversial ritual practices employed certain circumstances elements tend commentators friendly hostile ill informed authentic doctrine practice tradition wide differences opinion proper interpretation reject altogether sum complex social historical elements general extremely nuanced topic discussion general rule ideas practices collectively characterize classical error consider apart complex non traditions literary history demonstrates oriented involved stages development sixth century originated indigenous goddess attempt distance hindu traditions lead principal deities approach vast number forms considered diverse aspects supreme goddess names refer easy forget central scripture reveals second saying world following proclamation divine unity called great explains projections power forms inhabits primary form selection deity depend factors including family tradition regional practice guru lineage personal resonance literally thousands goddess forms associated particular temples geographic features individual villages nonetheless highly popular goddess forms known hindu world virtually female deity believed manifestation basic forms best known popular include goddess original source universe goddess material manifestation supreme goddess material wealth health fortune love beauty fertility etc consort goddess spiritual divine love having material qualities form consort goddess cultural knowledge education music arts sciences etc consort identified goddess mother goddess divine river identified goddess consort goddess krishna lover goddess goddess marital relations original consort incarnation majority worship rarely general terminology mother goddess deity temple term temples etc temples rites assume certain forms deity temple temple considered forms directly form translation means maya means south india region deities goddess groups common group reveals elements better believe truth different divine mother approached cosmic personalities considered nature usually identified goddess forms time universe death systems goddess guide protector goddess goddess beautiful worlds systems goddess world mother goddess body earth fierce goddess widow goddess goddess enemies goddess systems prime minister systems lotus goddess major goddess groups include seven little mothers energies different major gods described assisting great fight demons historical philosophical development beginnings earliest unearthed india belonging carbon dated approximately bce thousands female dated early bce recovered important sites world impossible reconstruct spiritual beliefs civilization removed time current archaeological evidence suggests religion great valley civilization probably direct predecessor modern slowly declined dispersed peoples mixed groups eventually rise bce exists today began literature age evolved formative period hindu reached flower continued expand develop central pivotal text known composed years ago time theological elements relating diverse female brought called goddess tradition important texts include canonical oriented literature elements notably goddess worship form infused popular influence religion reflected hindu public friends private recent developments related include emergence mother india symbolism increasing visibility hindu female saints rise new goddess following release indian film hail mother satisfaction 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 worship encompasses nearly endless variety beliefs practices primitive philosophical speculation highest order seek access believed nature form largest visible schools family strongest family northern eastern india family family tradition focuses worship form goddess regarded great goddess rooted millennium force later seventh century today prevalent form practiced south indian regions tamil areas sri_lanka best known school influential sophisticated movements central symbol probably famous visual image tradition literature practice systematic sect largely views goddess beautiful contrast focus terrifying goddess forms practice aspect goddess gentle identified worship abstract regarded subtle form visually rendered dimensional drawn temporarily worship ritual permanently engraved metal dimensional form known uncommon find installed south indian temples modern practitioners assert highest form practice openly temples worship privately broadly subdivided streams practice practice appeared coherent ritual system 8th century central india revered theorist 18th century philosopher widely considered best philosophy finds roots work 16th century commentator fiercely attempts reform practice ways bring line high norms practitioners explicitly deny scholars argues cult remains technically division marks old dispute hindu vigorously debated day family family form dominant northern eastern india widely prevalent parts bangladesh parts focus source wisdom liberation generally stand opposition tradition view overly conservative denying religion main deities enjoy regional snake goddess smallpox goddess considered aspects divine mother mainly including main temple called bank holy river important deity major centers calcutta district calcutta emphasis devotion goddess loving mother protects children guards frightening dark skin pointed teeth necklace beautiful guarantee good rebirth great religious insight worship communal especially festivals worship involve union love goddess form chanting prayer image giving offerings manifestation saves fierce goddess gives liberation forms performed involve sitting ground surrounded ash bone elements associated tradition including conquest goddess trance control spirits philosophical ritual remains vision supreme absolute expressed nineteenth century saint influential figures modern called energy remains inactive creates preserves destroys different like fire power burn thinks fire think power burn recognizes recognize recognizes recognize power identical address festivals celebrate major hindu festivals huge variety local deity specific important events listed important festival lit festival nights known falls hindu month october november festival taken following tenth day known celebrates goddess victory series powerful demons days called mark episode particular iconic lit buffalo demon denominations celebrate autumn festival celebrate additional spring summer spring festival known celebrated hindu month march april festival form goddess summer festival called held hindu month june july hugely popular temple observes major celebration period hand considered particularly headed goddess seven named fifth day important branches specially thousands secret rituals performed day festival union basis formed observed moon night following autumn biggest festival festival lights major hindu holiday celebrated india marks beginning traditional new year held night new moon hindu month usually october november non celebrate placing small oil lamps outside homes praying goddess celebration popular traditions focus worship celebrated days following similar details especially popular parts performed fifth day celebrate arrival mother come bring son home variant dates depending region local tradition commonly fifth day hindu month january february students offer books musical instruments pray studies parts india celebrated month final days major temple festivals observes occasion marriage lord centered tamil runs days counting second day lunar month april celebration yearly goddess held june july monsoon season temple form like stone naturally red spring flows temples thousands temples vast tiny famous obscure countless cities towns villages geographic landmarks named forms vast country holy resorts goddess popularity cult proved place names india times different writers attempted organize lists literally seats broadly places power numbering famous list found popular theme medieval writers took greatest liberty place names animal sacrifice animals sacrificed parts india mainly temples offer sacrifice buffalo goat family goddess festival ritual requires animal single stroke past considered rite passage young men ritual directed priest animal sacrifice practiced southern indian states local hindu people notably local clan deities ritual involves members village performing different roles goddess receiving sacrifice tends animal male buffalo goat community observing ceremony delivery child family offer worship family goddess sacrifice goat following hold naming ceremony child 12th day sacred india particularly western animal sacrifice practiced female deities supposed rule animal sacrifice practiced temples goddess caves animal sacrifices performed temples eastern states india female nature form involves goats chickens male water number specify ritual animal priest ear animal sacrificed free cycle life death animal sacrifice occurs day long festival speculated animals killed million attended festival india ritual animal sacrifice practised villages certain powerful terrifying forms form worship animals usually goats blood offered deity post outside temple instance reigning deity district india year animals like goat sacrificed deity occasion annual festival held month september october main attraction means sacrificed goddess years male goats offered sacrifice goddess temple india annual festival celebrated month september october animal sacrifice integral ritual worship deities refers animal sacrifice annual festival called distinct tradition times dismissed black magic infested practice hardly true religion representative criticism sort issued indian scholar 1920s bible identifying force female principle nature teaching wives neglect male counterparts certain vast number inhabitants india guided daily life sic teaching gross writings scarcely doubted arrived worst corrupt stage development scholars variously attribute criticism ignorance misunderstanding bias observers practices context india today deny relevance tradition past present identifying uncommon encounter schools lead spiritual liberation leads powers material best example late leader taught worship feminine manifest merely vehicle reaching masculine successor recently published essay different hindu approaches god discuss counter divine mother forms self contained path supreme wisdom goddess forms ultimately supreme purpose life self god position follows aspect form absolute worship divine mother offering supreme aspect supreme absolute aspect supreme power grace shall ultimately released darkness ignorance maya taken immortal knowledge bliss expansion practice longer confined traditional temples sprung southeast_asia americas europe australia enthusiastically attended non indian indian examples united_states include california temple rural rush new_york rush temple subject depth academic study exploring dynamics including entry involvement non indians traditional hindu religious practice focus western spiritual attempting construct new goddess centered academic study western enthusiasts noted shown histories cross cultural religious west indigenous forms adapt new environment writers notably participants new age spirituality attracted goddess worship explored new light considered symbol healing associated especially female power sexuality new interpretations mainly originate feminist sources base interpretations close reading indian background tend demonstrate difficulty import ing worship goddess culture deep symbolic meanings embedded native culture available believe central concepts including aspects goddess worship common hindu greek roman largely superseded west near middle_east rise religions great ancient working knowledge inner forces enlightenment survived mass scale india india inner tradition goddess endured reason teachings india precious offer glimpse ancient wisdom indians preserved lost heritage today locate restore tradition living goddess begin search india moment human history children living goddess forgotten
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