Mexico: Our Lady of Guadeloupe/ MYTH
India: Devi
“ARCHETYPES OF THE GODS”
Riley Kersten
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The Archetype of Devi:
Devi is known as the ’Great Goddess’ and a Mother Goddess. Devi is also considered an all embracing mother goddess who was first worshiped in India in the more prehistoric times.
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Archetype Continued…
In the period of Vedic, Devi was assimilated into the Hindu pantheon. She represents female energy. Devi can be considered to be an all embracing mother goddess as well as a a divine feminine goddess archetype.
Characteristics' of archetype:
The mother goddess is an archetype—a goddess entity or figure—that personifies nature, motherhood, fertility, creation, and destruction, or who symbolizes the bounty of the Earth.
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Archetype Continued…
When a woman embodies the ultimate manifestation of her feminine qualities, she is a divine feminine archetype.
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Why Devi relates to these archetypes:
For many Hindus, Devi's greatest asset is that she personifies every facet of women. She is among the most powerful gods in the vast pantheon, equal in strength to Vishnu and Shiva. She is the mother goddess of India and the local protector of many villages. She is often contemplative and nurturing.
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Her story continued…
Her most well-known triumph was the killing of a buffalo demon, a brutishly stupid, egotistical individual. He had vanquished a number of helpful gods before Devi came to the rescue. At the height of the struggle, she effortlessly uses one of her 18 arms to rip the devil from his buffalo body using a scarlet noose. Her tiger mount gnaws at the head. Devi is dressed in the gilded and embroidered attire of a Punjab Hills princess throughout the entire scene. Gods throw golden petals down to celebrate her victory from the skies above
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Devi’s family:
Devi is also the mother of Ganesha, the elephant-headed god, Skanda, the six-headed god, and Nandi, Shiva's doorkeeper and bull. Devi's character is portrayed by two opposing aspects by distinct separate female deities: Durga, the fearsome, and Uma, the kind.
Symbols:
Her emblems are rice bowls, spoons, lions, fire, and objects in the color yellow. The Hindu goddess of war Durga is frequently pictured as a stunning woman with ten arms holding divine weapons to defend everything precious, including you.
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Functions of Myth and how they fit the story:
Mystical:
Allows people to experience the awe of the universe around them. In this story we are allowed to see and experience Devi’s power of femineity and nurturing those around her which empowers women.
Cosmological:
Relates to understanding the shape and mystery of the universe. This function relates to understanding each myth better. While learning about Devi I can relate this function to understanding her scenario and the world she lived in.
Functions of myths continued:
Sociological:
The sociological factor of this function relates to social order. In Devi’s story we can understand the order of placement and the power Devi has and the influence she has created on many women.
Psychological:
Devi lives by a certain way from her up bringing and she learns how to use her place of power for the greater good.
What we learn from this story:
The woman who embodies strength on a feminine level is known as Devi Durga. She is portrayed as a goddess with feminine prowess, power, resolve, wisdom, and retribution that extends much beyond this world of matter in a variety of Vedic literature.
The main thing individuals gain from this story is that with great power comes great responsibility. Devi took the path of leading women and showing them a role model to follow.
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Quote:
My opinion on my topic:
I very much enjoyed the topic I chose. I had no general knowledge on the topic of Devi and where she came from. After doing much research I have so much respect for this topic as I have respect for what Devi stands for. I feel as though sharing this topic can empower women all over the world.
21st Century relation:
I feel as though this story has a personal relation to the world we live in now by bringing up the topic of female empowerment. I feel as if when reading many myths it can be hard to feel empowered as a women but this topic was truly inspiring. Devi shows many women around the world how much strength we all truly have. When it comes to female empowerment now this relates because of all of the steps we’ve overcome.
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Bibliography/Work cited:
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-great-goddess-devi-68120189/
https://www.worldhistory.org/Devi/