The Antiquities of Orissa v1.c11.77.1

v1.c11.77.1

**Uma, the mother of the universe :** It is not, however, as the mountain-born goddess, the exemplary wife, the Satī *par excellence*, most ardent in her devotion to a terrific husband, that I wish to notice Umā in this place. Her name carries us back to a remote period in the history of man when it was synonymous with maternity, and was used to indicate the mother of the universe. *Ummāh, am, amone*, are terms of great antiquity. 'Am Astoreth' or '*Astoreth is her mother*' is a name of a Carthaginian woman who is commemorated in Davis' *Carthaginian Inscriptions* (No. VII), as offering a vow to Tanith, or Anaita. A similar name is found on the Sidonian inscription as that of the mother of Asman Azer, the king of Sidon.”³¹ It occurs in the most ancient Hebrew writings, and is equally old in Sanskrit, and, curiously enough, it has everywhere been used in some form or other to indicate the being who first conceived the universe within her, and who is variously designated the “celestial mother,” “the mother of the universe,” “the mother of the gods”. “the spouse of God,” “the queen of heaven” and so forth. If Umā herself does not find a place in the *Ṛgveda Saṃhitā* in this character, her type is not wanting in it. Although the theory of creation through the fiat of the Deity is what obtains most favour with the *Ṛṣis*, still the idea of a feminine counterpart was not altogether foreign to them. The earliest germ of this idea occurs in a hymn in the last book of t'at work.