Devi-Bhagavata Purana
Encyclopedia
Devi-Bhagavata Purana (Sanskrit
, n., देवी भागवतपुराण, , "the old book of the Goddess"), also known as Shrimad Devi Bhagvatam or Devi Bhagavatam, is one of the most important work in Shaktism
, the veneration in Hinduism
of the divine feminine, next to Devi Mahatmya
. Although the Devi-Bhagavata Purana is considered as a Upapurana
(secondary Purana) by many, the text claims itself a Maha Purana ("Great Purana").
The Devi-Bhagavata Purana is one of the Puranic
works that are not necessarily authoritative for all Hindus, but that have special importance for the Shakta sect within Hinduism. The text describes the Devi
, the Goddess, as the foundation of the world and as identical with Brahman
, the Supreme Being. As the divine mother, she reveals her virat rupa (universal form) (Book 7, Chapter 33) and describes the proper ways for worshipping her: especially the practice of Yoga
, Meditation
(Book 7, Chapter 35), and Ritual
(Book 7, Chapter 39). The Devi-Bhagavata Purana also deals with topics like spiritual knowledge, social and personal ethics, and holy places.
, and has been dated between the 6th and 14th century CE.
and who is credited with dividing the Vedas
into four parts.
The first skandha consists of 20 chapters. The first three chapters of the first skandha deal with the praise of Suta by Shaunaka for studying the eighteen puranas from Veda Vyasa and on the request of Shaunaka, Sutas beginning of narration. Chapters 4-19 describe the narrative of Śuka
. The last chapter narrates the story of the Mahabharata
from the marriage of Shantanu with Satyavati
to the birth of Dhritarashtra
, Pandu
and Vidura
.
The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh skandhas consist of 12, 30, 25, 35, 31 and 40 chapters respectively. The last nine chapters (31-40) of the seventh skandha is known as the Devi Gita. It is a dialogue between Parvati
and her father Himavat. It deals with the universal form of the Devi, meditations on the major texts of Upanishad
s, ashtanga-yoga, the yoga
s of jnana, karma and bhakti, locations of the temples dedicated to the Devi and the rituals pertaining to her worship. The eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth skandhas have 24, 50, 13, 24 and 14 chapters respectively.
Like other Puranas, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana contains narratives, sections praising the Devi as supreme, and instructions in various types of sadhana
. Parts of it have worked their way into popular Hinduism, such as the narrative of the goddess Durga
in her fight against the buffalo-demon Mahishasura
(Book 5, Chapters 2-18), which is also described in the Devi Mahatmya
. This narrative provides the mythological backdrop for the annual ritual called Durga Puja
, celebrated especially in Bengal
.
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, n., देवी भागवतपुराण, , "the old book of the Goddess"), also known as Shrimad Devi Bhagvatam or Devi Bhagavatam, is one of the most important work in Shaktism
Shaktism
Shaktism is a denomination of Hinduism that focuses worship upon Shakti or Devi – the Hindu Divine Mother – as the absolute, ultimate Godhead...
, the veneration in Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
of the divine feminine, next to Devi Mahatmya
Devi Mahatmya
The Devi Mahatmyam or Devi Mahatmya , or "Glory of the Goddess") is a Hindu text describing the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. As part of the Markandeya Purana, it is one of the Puranas or secondary Hindu scriptures, and was composed in Sanskrit around c...
. Although the Devi-Bhagavata Purana is considered as a Upapurana
Upapurana
The Upapuranas are a genre of Hindu religious texts consisting of a large number of compilations differentiated from the Mahapuranas by styling them as secondary Puranas by using a disparaging prefix Upa...
(secondary Purana) by many, the text claims itself a Maha Purana ("Great Purana").
The Devi-Bhagavata Purana is one of the Puranic
Puranas
The Puranas are a genre of important Hindu, Jain and Buddhist religious texts, notably consisting of narratives of the history of the universe from creation to destruction, genealogies of kings, heroes, sages, and demigods, and descriptions of Hindu cosmology, philosophy, and geography.Puranas...
works that are not necessarily authoritative for all Hindus, but that have special importance for the Shakta sect within Hinduism. The text describes the Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
, the Goddess, as the foundation of the world and as identical with Brahman
Brahman
In Hinduism, Brahman is the one supreme, universal Spirit that is the origin and support of the phenomenal universe. Brahman is sometimes referred to as the Absolute or Godhead which is the Divine Ground of all being...
, the Supreme Being. As the divine mother, she reveals her virat rupa (universal form) (Book 7, Chapter 33) and describes the proper ways for worshipping her: especially the practice of Yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
, Meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
(Book 7, Chapter 35), and Ritual
Ritual
A ritual is a set of actions, performed mainly for their symbolic value. It may be prescribed by a religion or by the traditions of a community. The term usually excludes actions which are arbitrarily chosen by the performers....
(Book 7, Chapter 39). The Devi-Bhagavata Purana also deals with topics like spiritual knowledge, social and personal ethics, and holy places.
Origin
The Devi-Bhagavata Purana was probably written in BengalBengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
, and has been dated between the 6th and 14th century CE.
Contents
According to a statement mentioned in the text (i.2.11-16), Devi-Bhagavata Purana consists of 12 skandhas (books), 318 adhyayas (chapters) and 18,000 verses and it is ascribed to the mythical sage Krishna Dvaipayana Veda Vyasa, who is also regarded as the author of the MahabharataMahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
and who is credited with dividing the Vedas
Vedas
The Vedas are a large body of texts originating in ancient India. Composed in Vedic Sanskrit, the texts constitute the oldest layer of Sanskrit literature and the oldest scriptures of Hinduism....
into four parts.
The first skandha consists of 20 chapters. The first three chapters of the first skandha deal with the praise of Suta by Shaunaka for studying the eighteen puranas from Veda Vyasa and on the request of Shaunaka, Sutas beginning of narration. Chapters 4-19 describe the narrative of Śuka
Suka
The Suka was a unique fiddle that was played vertically, on the knee or hanging from a strap, and the strings were stopped at the side with the fingernails; similar to the Gadulka. The body of the instrument was very similar to the modern violin, but the neck was very wide, and the pegbox was crude...
. The last chapter narrates the story of the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
from the marriage of Shantanu with Satyavati
Satyavati
Satyavati was the queen of the Kuru king Shantanu of Hastinapur and the great-grandmother of the Pandava and Kaurava princes . She is also the mother of the seer Vyasa, author of the epic...
to the birth of Dhritarashtra
Dhritarashtra
In the Mahābhārata, Dhritarashtra was King of Hastinapur at the time of the Kurukshetra War, the epic's climactic event. He was born the son of Vichitravirya's first wife Ambika, and was fathered by Vyasa. He was blind from birth, and became father to a hundred children by his wife Gandhari...
, Pandu
Pandu
In the Mahābhārata epic, King Pandu is the son of Ambalika and Rishi Ved Vyasa. He is more popularly known as the father of the Pandavas and ruled Hastinapur.-Birth:...
and Vidura
Vidura
Vidura was an important figure in the Mahabharata, a major Hindu epic. He was half-brother to the kings Dhritarashtra and Pandu of Hastinapura, born the son of the sage Vyasa and a lady-in-waiting to the queens Ambika and Ambalika of the city...
.
The second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh skandhas consist of 12, 30, 25, 35, 31 and 40 chapters respectively. The last nine chapters (31-40) of the seventh skandha is known as the Devi Gita. It is a dialogue between Parvati
Parvati
Parvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
and her father Himavat. It deals with the universal form of the Devi, meditations on the major texts of Upanishad
Upanishad
The Upanishads are philosophical texts considered to be an early source of Hindu religion. More than 200 are known, of which the first dozen or so, the oldest and most important, are variously referred to as the principal, main or old Upanishads...
s, ashtanga-yoga, the yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
s of jnana, karma and bhakti, locations of the temples dedicated to the Devi and the rituals pertaining to her worship. The eighth, ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth skandhas have 24, 50, 13, 24 and 14 chapters respectively.
Like other Puranas, the Devi-Bhagavata Purana contains narratives, sections praising the Devi as supreme, and instructions in various types of sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
. Parts of it have worked their way into popular Hinduism, such as the narrative of the goddess Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
in her fight against the buffalo-demon Mahishasura
Mahishasura
In Hindu mythology, Mahishasura was an asura.Mahishasura's father Rambha was king of the asuras, and he once fell in love with a water buffalo ; Mahishasura was born out of this union...
(Book 5, Chapters 2-18), which is also described in the Devi Mahatmya
Devi Mahatmya
The Devi Mahatmyam or Devi Mahatmya , or "Glory of the Goddess") is a Hindu text describing the victory of the goddess Durga over the demon Mahishasura. As part of the Markandeya Purana, it is one of the Puranas or secondary Hindu scriptures, and was composed in Sanskrit around c...
. This narrative provides the mythological backdrop for the annual ritual called Durga Puja
Durga Puja
Durga puja ; দুর্গা পূজা,ଦୁର୍ଗା ପୂଜା,‘Worship of Durga’), also referred to as Durgotsava ; , is an annual Hindu festival in South Asia that celebrates worship of the Hindu goddess Durga. It refers to all the six days observed as Mahalaya, Shashthi, Maha Saptami, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and...
, celebrated especially in Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
.