In Hinduism, Devi is a Sanskrit word. Devi is also called as ‘Great Goddess’ or ‘Mahadevi’. Devi is the masculine form of Deva meaning ‘anything of excellence’, ‘divine’ or ‘heavenly’. In India during the Prehistoric times, the all-embracing Mother Goddess was first worshipped. This female goddess also called as Mata, represents Power or Shakti or the female energy of Lord Shiva, her husband. The Vedas composed during the 2nd millennium BCE, indicate the reverence and concept for Devis (goddesses). Durga, Parvati, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Aditi and many other Devis have revered right up to the modern era. The Devi manifests as the ultimate supreme power and truth in the Puranas. In Hinduism the Shaktism tradition has been inspired by the Devi. Her strong feminine divine presence is seen in Hinduism as well as in a number of major religions across the world. The Saiva and Shakti Hindu traditions view her as central. Unlike Devas, the Devis are not frequently discussed.
In the Devi Upanishad, the Devi identifies herself as Brahman. She states that she blesses her devotees with riches, she rules the world and is the ultimate deity to whom all offerings of worship are made and she infuses every soul with the Atman. She asserts that she is creator of heaven and earth and lives there. The ‘Inner Supreme Self’ reflects her creation of the seas as mother and creation of the sky as father. She resides in each of her creations and no Higher Being has prompted her creations.
