Elements of Hindu Iconography v3.c19.196

v3.c19.196

An explanation of the worship of Jyēṣṭhādēvī is found in the Śaivāgamas. The Siddhāntasārāvaḷi of Trilōchana Śivāchārya and the commentary on it give what follows:—Parāśakti, in the form of Vāmā, is the author of the pañcha-kṛtyas, or the five acts called sṛṣṭhi, sthiti, saṃhāra, tirōdhānā and anugraha. She, therefore, assumes the eight forms representing the eight tattvas. They are, Vāmā as pṛthvīmayī, Jyēṣṭhā as jalarūpiṇī, Raudrī as agniyākārā, Kālī as vāyvākārā, Kalavikaraṇī as ākāśarūpiṇī, Balavikaraṇī as chandrarūpiṇī; Balapramathanī as sūryarūpā; her two other forms are—Sarvabhūtadamanī as ātmarūpā, and Manōnmayī as Parāśakti. Now, Vāmā means a beautiful damsel. Although each of the five bhūtas or elements has its own peculiar characteristic quality when pure and unalloyed, still, it is conceived that, ordinarily, all the elements except ākāśa are not unalloyed and therefore possess mixed characteristics. Among such alloyed elements prithvi, or the earth-element, is the most alloyed, and possesses the characteristic qualities of all the five elements; and hence Vāmā, the beautiful, is said to be presiding over prithvi. The manifestation of Śiva, or Murtiśvara, corresponding to his creative function (sṛishṭhi), is called Vāmadēva, as he is the lord of Vāmā.