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Goddess of the Forest
Shaakambhari Devi is an aspect of Goddess Durga. Shakambhari means She who nourishes by bringing (ambhari) vegetation or herbs (shaaka). She is also called Vanashankari or the Goddess of the forest. She is hailed as Shataakshi because She has one hundred eyes, and sees all things. She is called Durga because she protects the devotees by removing all difficulties. She is also called Uma (She who Nourishes, Calms, and Supports), Gauri (She who is Brilliant Illumination); Sati (the Source and Embodiment of Truth), Chandi (She who is Fierce and Intense), Kaalakaa (She who is Darkness destroying all difficulties), and Paarvati (the Goddess of the Mountains / Mother Earth). She is manifest in the plants and especially in the forest. Shakambhari Devi protects people in all places, averting all sorts of danger, and so people pray to her for safe passage especially at night and through forests. Shakmbhari Devi is meditated on having a beautiful blue-colored body and eyes like blue lotuses. She sits on a lotus and carries a bow and arrows, a lotus, grains, flowers, leaves, sprouts, roots, herbs and medicines, fruits and an abundant pile of vegetables. Her form removes hunger, thirst (desire), and the fear of death. Meditating on her form quickly removes sorrows, averts difficulties and darkness, and destroys all troubles and sorrows. She grants eternal nourishment and fulfillment to Her devotees and grants immortality.
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In the Temple of Goddess Banashankari in Badami, she is depicted sitting on a lion with her foot crushing the demon Durgamasura. She has eight arms and carries the trishula (trident), damaru (drum), kapaalapatra (skull bowl), ghanta (war bell), palm leaf scriptures, khadga (sword), kheta (shield), and the severed head of the demon.
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Story of Goddess Shakambhari
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Durgamasura represents the insurmountable plight of the ego, which causes itself endless suffering on account of the false perception of separation. Spiritual consciousness knows that all good which is done returns in time to the doer and that serving humanity with compassion and generosity is really serving oneself because all things are interconnected in God. As a result of Durgamasura’s taspsya, darkness grasped human consciousness and a hundred year drought struck the Earth and a terrible famine ravaged all creatures. The Sages took refuge in caves in the Himalayas and meditated on the benevolent Divine Mother, who appeared before them with countless eyes and bearing nourishing vegetation. She was moved by the plight of humanity and tears of compassion fell from Her eyes for nine days, which formed a river which ended the drought and nourished all life on Earth. In response to the request of the Sages for Her to retrieve the Vedas from Durgamasura, Devi took the form of the Dasha Mahaavidyas (the Ten Great Wsdom Goddesses) and 64,000 other Goddesses and battle with Durgamasura ensued. Eventually, the Great Mother defeated Durgamasura, slaying him with her Trishula (trident). Then it rained for nine consecutive days and nights and vegetation was reestablished for the nourishment of the world. Shakambhari Amman is decorated with a variety of fruits and veggies to honor her power of nourishment and abundance. She is called Durga because she overcame this insurmountable darkness. Shakambhari Devi is the same as the Vedic Goddess Aranyaani, the Goddess of the forest praised in the Rik Veda (10th Mandala 146th Suktam)
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The Story of Shakambhari Devi is recounted in the Devi Maahaatmyam (Chandi Paatham / Chapt. 11), the Devi Bhagavata Puranam (Chapt 28), and the Muurti Rahasyam (an addendum to the Chandi Paatham). In these stories, Goddess Shakambhari is said to be an incarnation (avataara) of the Divine Mother Durga who took birth on Earth without human parents to dispel darkness for the benefit of humanity. According to the stories, a great Demon named Durgamasura (or Durgam) had performed rigorous tapasya (austerities) and had acquired all four Vedas (and all Knowledge, which is said to emanate from the Vedas). In addition, Durgam was granted a boon from Lord Brahma that all offerings made to the Gods reached him instead, so that any efforts to seek Divine mercy by the people only gave more power to him. Durgamasura represents the insurmountable ego, and this story describes the way that worldliness, selfishness, conceit, agitation, and confusion effect the world in times of darkness leading to drought. Drought can be understood figuratively, to mean a lack of spiritual consciousness, but also literally as people’s agitated consciousness does tend to agitate the natural forces. In dark times when human consciousness is devoid of spiritual qualities like compassion, mercy, generosity, and love, people act out greedy and violent impulses and this does actually cause drought and famine to effect the world.
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Shakambhari Devi's Mantras
The Mantras and Meditations of Shakambhari Devi are said to give protection, avert danger and difficulties, remove sorrows, dispel demons and darkness, and to provide nourishment, abundance of vegetables, fruits, flowers, roots, medicines, food and drink, grains and wealth. When nourished by the spiritual shakti of the Goddess a person will never have fear or hunger but enjoy amrita and ananda immortality and eternal bliss. Devi's mantras have the power to easily overcome insurmountable obstacles and difficulties and to break through impossible impediments.
She is meditated on with a blue body and many eyes and with bow and arrow and lotus flower and surrounded by an abundance of grains. For worship, fruits and veggies are offered. Her mantras and tantras are needed now to dispel the materialism of people which has led to a “drought” of spiritual consciousness. Her mantras have the power of the mantras of Goddess Durga and also possess the power of all 10 of the Dasha Maha Vidyas (Great Wisdom Goddesses) who are said to have been generated from Shakambhari Devi. People chant the mantras of the Maha Vidyas to overcome all difficulties indicated by the 9 planets or the rising sign in a person’s birth chart, and so the mantras of Shakambhari Devi can be used for this purpose also. May Devi Nourish all living creation with spiritual fulfillment. |
Moola Mantra
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Om am śam śākambharī-devyai sakala-sthāvara jangama-rakṣhakī dhana-dhānya vritti-karinyai namah
or simply Om am śam śākambharī-devyai namah |
Meaning:
"Om am sham I bow to the Goddess Who bear Vegetation, Śhākambhari Devi, you are the constant nourisher providing abundant grains and vegetables in all seasons, the Guardian of all living beings, and the Provider of wealth and nourishment, sustaining the livelihood of all. |
Other Mantras
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om sauḥ klīṁ hrīṁ śākambharyai namaḥ |
om śatākṣyai namaḥ | |
om śākambharyai namaḥ |
om vanaśaṅkaryai namaḥ | |
Gayatri Mantra
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Om nā̱rā̱yaṇyai̍ ca vi̱dmahe̍ śākambha̱ryai ca̍ dhīmahi | tanno̍ devīḥ praco̱dayā̎t || |
Meaning:
Om. May we have knowledge of Goddess Nārāyaṇī, the Divine Self, the highest Realization, the supreme Wealth, and the Source of Repose for all seekers. May we perceive through our contemplation Goddess Śhākambhari, who dwells in the forest, is the bearer of nourishment and vegetation, who is the power of the multitudes, who loves those who nourish and protect others, and who is the constant friend of those who praise Her. May that Goddess of radiant light, Queen of the Universe, impel our actions and our thoughts. |
Chanting of the Shakambhari Gayatri Mantra
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Our Temple
Shakambhari Devi Mandiram
Virgina, USA
Under the guidance of Gananathamritananda Swamiji, devotees are working to raise funds for the construction of a traditional Agamic Temple dedicated to Shakambhari Devi, near Charlottesville, Virginia. The temple will also be a teaching center for mantra, meditation, Ayurveda and a Botanical Garden of Native North American and Indian Ayurvedic Herbs and Trees.