Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c5.522

c5.522

Now, about the idols of the eight Ambās. Rudra Carcikā holds a skull, Śūla and cord in her hands. She wears elephant's skin, her legs slightly held up. She becomes Rudracāmuṇḍā when she assumes eight hands, and holds the skull and the ḍamaru. And in dancing pose she is called Naṭeśvarī, and with four faces Mahālakṣmī. She is called Siddhacāmuṇḍā when she assumes the form with ten hands and three eyes, and when she eats men, horses and buffaloes. In this form she holds in her right hand the sword, ḍamaru etc. and in her left hand the Triśūla, bell etc. Since the Devī is sarva-sidhhipradāyikā (giver of all divine attainments or assets) she is Siddhayogeśvarī also. There is also another Devī in this very form who holds the pāśa and Aṅkuśa in her hand and who is slightly red in colour. She is called Bhairavī. When Bhairavī assumes the form with twelve hands she is called Rūpavidyā. All the above eight Devīs were born in burial grounds and are Raudramūrtis. They are known as the Aṣṭāmbās. DEVĪBHĀGAVATA. The Śaivas venerate this book as one of the eighteen Purāṇas. But according to the Vaiṣṇavites, this is an authoritative book of a loftier level than the eighteen Purāṇas. (See under Purāṇa). DEVIKĀ I. (VEDIKĀ). Daughter of Govāsa, the Śaibya King. She was wedded by Yudhiṣṭhira in Svayamvara, and to them were born a son called Yaudheya. (Ādi Parva, Chapter 95, Verse 76). DEVIKĀ II. A holy centre. A dip in the tīrtha there will give the same result as that of a yajña. (M.B. Vana Parva, Chapter 82, Verse 102). DEVĪPĪTHA. The dead body of Satīdevī crumbled into small pieces and fell in different places in Bhārata. Each place where a piece of the dead body fell, is known by the name Devīpītha. There is a reason why the dead body crumbled into pieces. Dakṣa performed a sacrifice to which Śiva was not invited and Satīdevī came to the sacrifice, and committed suicide by jumping into the fire. Śiva who became furious, killed Dakṣa and carrying the dead body of his wife on his shoulder, walked the length and breadth of Bhārata like a mad man. It seemed that he was not going to recover from this mania, and the devas (gods) were worried at this. To rescue Śiva from this mental disposition, Mahāviṣṇu, unseen by others, followed Śiva with a bow and arrow. Whenever it was convenient Mahāviṣṇu sent an arrow at the body of Satīdevī, on the shoulder of Śiva. By the hitting of the arrows the body was crumbled into pieces and fell here and there. Thus within a few days the body of Satīdevī came to an end and Śiva walked to Kailāsa. The pieces of the dead body fell in 108 places, and thus 108 Devīpīthas came into existence. The names of the places and the names by which the Devī is known in such places are given below.