Devi: The Great Goddess
Devi (in Sanskrit and in English)
HomepageAspects of Devi
Semi Divine
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Sundari beneath the Mango Tree. Lent by Mr. and Mrs. John Gilmore Ford.
Nagini
Sundari
Semi-Divine
As semi-divine and auspicious, Devi manifests through nature and fertility spirits, celestial nymphs, and auspicious women. Women are considered auspicious through their association with fertility which signifies growth, abundance, and prosperity. This association led to a belief that contact with women brings trees, plants, and creepers into blossom. The ashoka tree, popularly associated with the flowering of a woman's foot, is celebrated repeatedly in Sanskrit poems and dramas.
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The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and Freer Gallery of Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC 20560.
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