Known as the Invincible One, goddess of war Durga (also referred to as Devi or Shakti) was born out of the flaming breath of dozens of gods during the primordial war between gods and demons. Manifested as a bejeweled golden goddess with ten arms, each holding a weapon handed to her by the gods, Durga rode on a tiger and swiftly slaughtered the buffalo demon leader, Mahishasura, and his demon army. Durga traditionally holds the weapons of all male gods, since the Hindu belief, female goddess energy is what powers and charges everything.
A fierce protector, Durga is often depicted with a serene face while in battle because her strength comes from an act of love, of guarding those around her, and for liberating the souls who depend on her. She’s celebrated during a ten day festival in the autumn, the Durga Puja, and offered flowers, fruit, mangos, and marigold garlands.
Call on Durga for protection when you are suffering spiritually, emotionally, or physically.
Lakshmi - Taurus and Capricorn
The Hindu goddess of fortune and prosperity, Lakshmi is said to have been born floating on a lotus at the creation of the universe. In Hinduism, a male god is passive until paired with a female goddess whose energy activates his power. Lakshmi is paired with Vishnu, who gives life and protection to all on Earth - and they have always been together, through many incarnations in myth.
Patron to the wealth of Earth and soul, this golden goddess is often portrayed with four arms to represent the four Hindu goals of life: kama (love), dharma (morals and ethics), artha (purpose), and moksha (self-knowledge and liberation). Cows are one of her sacred animals since they represent the hard work and labor that she favors in one’s pursuit of earthly abundance. Owls and elephants are also her animals, because owls represent the perseverance to see through the darkness and the unknown, and elephants represent work ethic and strength.
Lakshmi is celebrated and worshipped during Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights. People clean and decorate their homes with bright lights and dress themselves in beautiful new cloths to attract her favor.
Call on Lakshmi when you need to persevere toward your goals and keep moving forward.
Saraswati - Gemini and Sagittarius
A personification of one of the most important rivers in India, Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of knowledge, music, and arts. Legendary for her beauty and grace, she’s known for her brilliant white skin, which represents the light of knowlege. She is often portrayed with four arms holding the symblos of her domain: a book (representing education), a vina (an Indian lute, representing music), and a strand of beads or a ritual pot (representing spiritual knowledge). She’s celebrated during a festival in the spring, Vasant Panchami, where peope worship her to achieve enlightenment through knowledge and wear saffron-colored robes to echo the mustard blooms in the fields. During this festival, children are often taught to write for the first time, as she created the Sanskrit alphabet.
Her companion is a white swan (hamsa), who in myth is believed to be able to separate milk from water - a represenation of Saraswati’s ability to separate good from evil. She travels on the swan, an animal that’s a symbol of spiritual perfection and transcendence, so she’s also called Hamsavahini, meaning “she who has a hamsa as her vehicle.”
Call on Saraswati when you need intellectual enlightenment and an extra blessing in creative power.
Aditi - Cancer and Pisces
Mother of the endless universe, Aditi is one of the earliest sky goddesses in the Hindu pantheon. Her name translates to “limitless”,just like her reach and powers. She existed before time and is said to be the goddess of the past and the future, controlling all of time. Aditi is also the source of the stars, suns, planets, and moons and then gave birth to twelve Adityas, who were spirits that became the twelve Zodiac signs. They take turns ruling the cosmos by month and created all the gods and goddesses. She’s known as the Mother Cow and Cow of Lights, as she nurtures the universe and is sometimes depicted as a cow.
Call on Aditi whe you want to create your own world of happiness.
Parvati - Leo and Scorpio
The golden Hindu goddess of love and devotion, Parvati forms a holy trinity with Saraswati, goddess of knowledge, and Lakshmi, goddess of fortune. According to the legend, Parvati was born in the Himalayan mountains, as daughter of King Himavat and Queen Minavati. She is the embodiment of nurturing feminine energy, in complement to her husband Shiva, the god of chaos and regeneration. Worshipped for her patience and determination Parvati won Shiva over by ascending into the mountains and practicing asceticism until he couldn’t resist her and spent all his time trying to please her. She was also regarded for her strength and ferocity; when the hero Kartikeya, who was a son of Shiva, became a lust-filled monster raping all the women he encountered, Parvati cursed him, so that every time he attempted to rape a woman, she turned into Parvati’s likeness - and that ended his rampage. Parvati is also known for the creation of her son Ganesha, the benevolent elephant-headed god of wisdom who removes obstacles.
Call on Parvati for spiritual strength and persistence to pursue your romantic goals.
Tara - Virgo and Libra
Goddess of compassion and protection, Tara is one of the most beloves and preeminent divinities, and she is known to many Eastern religions. She was born of a single tear from the eye of Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara after he looked down from heaven at the suffering humanity below. The moment the tear fell onto his palm, Tara sprang up fully formed, bringing courage and hope. Some legends also state that she was reincarnated as a mortal princess, who meditated to the ultimate level of enlightement - and insisted on remaining in female form for all her reincarnations despite warnings from monks that she had to become a male in order to reach her true potential. Tara embodies the feminine divine and is manifested in as many as twenty-one different forms, most often associated with a color.
Green Tara is one of the most popular and active manifestations of the goddess. Considered the strongest and original goddess, Green Tara is a protector from all negative energy and from eight noted dangers: lions and pride; elephants and delusion; fire and hatred; snakes and envy; thieves and fanaticism; prisons and greed; water disasters and lust; and demons and doubt. A bringer of joy, Tara is also a healer and a granter of wishes. She is often depicted sitting on a lotus at peace, with her right leg extended to symbolze her ability to spring into action.
Call on Tara for immediate assistance. She is a goddess of speed, and she empowers your inner wisdom to help save yourself.
