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{{Short description|Hindu folk goddess}}
{{citation style|date=June 2018}}

'''Rakteswari'''<ref name="Caldwell 1999">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aIrZAAAAMAAJ|title=Oh Terrifying Mother: Sexuality, Violence, and Worship of the Goddess Kā̄ḷi|last=Caldwell|first=Sarah|date=1999|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-565796-8}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUonmc-NPXgC|title=Prasna Marga|last=Raman|first=Bangalore Venkat|date=September 1999|publisher=Motilal Banarsidass|isbn=978-81-208-0918-5}}</ref> (also '''Rakteshwari'''), identified as an aspect of [[Adi Parashakti]], also known as Durga Parameswari, is a principal and popular form of [[Hindu]] goddess worshipped mainly in ''[[Parshurama]] Kshetras''.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fETebHcHKogC|title=Studies in Jaina Art and Iconography and Allied Subjects in Honour of Dr. U.P. Shah|isbn=978-81-7017-316-8|last1=Shah|first1=Umakant Premanand|year=1995}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ayM24bAVqxsC|title=Temples of Erṇākuḷam District|last=Jayashanker|first=S.|date=2011|publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oUtuAAAAMAAJ|title=The Zamorins of Calicut: From the Earliest Times Down to A.D. 1806|last=Ayyar|first=K. V. Krishna|date=1938|publisher=Publication Division, University of Calicut|isbn=978-81-7748-000-9}}</ref> Rakteswari is the [[Iṣṭa-devatā (Hinduism)|iṣṭa-devatā]] ([[tutelary deity]]) of [[Tulu Nadu]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LGiex76a5-kC|title=Karnataka State: Udupi District|last=Siraj|first=S. Anees|date=2012|publisher=Government of Karnataka, Karnataka Gazetteer Department|language=en}}</ref>

== Worship and festivals ==
Rakteswari is worshipped in the [[Hindu temple]]s of India by adherents of [[Shaktism]].<ref name="Johnson">{{Cite book|first=Linda|last=Johnsen|year=2002|title=The Living Goddess: Reclaiming the Tradition of the Mother of the Universe |publisher=Yes International Publishers|pages=89–90|isbn=978-0-936663-28-9}}</ref> Her temples, worship and festivals are particularly popular in [[Indian subcontinent]] during every [[Sankranthi|Sankramana]] (or Sankranthi days/ Sun transit days of every month in Hindu calendar). Coconut flowers, Vermilion and whole coconuts are the significant offerings for her worship.

The ''beeja-mantra'' of Rakteswari, ''Om Kleem Ram Rakteswaryai namaha'', is recited on Sikharagra (on top of a mountain), near a flowing river, any dense forest, [[Neolamarckia cadamba|Kadamba]] trees, garden, etc. under the guidance of a competent guru as any ''shakta ([[Shakta Upanishads]])'' tradition requires.

[[File:SrichakraDurga.jpg|thumb|A sample of peaceful depiction of the right-hand path of worship of goddess Rakteswari(Mulasthana of Rakteswari), distinctly different from Folklore worship.]]
Deity Rakteswari is often misunderstood as a spirit/demon. ''[[Dakṣiṇācāra|Dakshinachara]]'' sects are dismissive of Rakteswari as a goddess who demands blood sacrifice. She is a fierce deity worshipped in her calm posture in ''dakshinachara'' ("right-hand path") with ''kumkum ([[Vermilion]])'' and whole coconut as ''bali'' (offerings).

===Association with the planet Mars===
{{See also|Buta Kola}}
In traditional Hindu astrology, Moon, Mars are the chief significators of blood in human body. When Mars is afflicted in any horoscope and it occupies an even sign, then goddess Rakteswari has to be propitiated to get rid of any blood related disorders.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eUonmc-NPXgC|title=Prasna Marga by BV Raman|date=September 1999|isbn=9788120809185|last1=Raman|first1=Bangalore Venkat}}</ref> As per some local beliefs, contagious diseases like Smallpox and menstrual bleeding disorders (Mars represents private parts of body too) can be cured by worshipping Rakteswari <ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_II5DwAAQBAJ&q=small+ppox+rakteswari&pg=PA154|title=Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage 2017|last=Ltd|first=Infokerala Communications Pvt|date=2017-09-01|publisher=Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-208-0918-5}}</ref>

The ''[[vamamarga]]'' worship ("left-hand path") of Rakteswari is not ruled out in folklore genre.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Claus|first=Peter J.|title=Oral Traditions, Royal Cults and Material for the Reconsideration of the Caste System in South India"|date=1978|journal=Journal of Indian Folkloristics|volume=1|issue=1|pages=1–39}}</ref> The Folk performances mandate music, folk dance, recital and other elaborate vesha (costumes ) as outlined in Dravidian [[Tulu language|Tulu]] Oral folk literature,<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal|last=Claus|first=Peter J)|date=1978|title=Heroes and Heroines in the Conceptual Framework of Tulu Culture|journal=Journal of Indian Folkloristics|volume=1|issue=2|pages=28–42}}</ref> Cow ghee lamp and ''Kumkum'' ([[Vermilion]]) are offered to appease Rakteswari in typical household worship, like any other female deity.

==Temple==
[[File:Srichakra durga parameswari.jpg|thumb|right|Sri Mer (three-dimensional form of Sri Chakra)]]The regions of [[Konkan]], coastal [[Karnataka]] and [[Kerala]], considered as [[Parashurama|Parashurama Kshetra]], have numerous temples<ref name=":2" /><ref name="TheHindu">{{Cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/Filled-with-lore/article15382734.ece|title=Filled with lore|date=2008-06-09|work=The Hindu|access-date=2018-04-30|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_II5DwAAQBAJ|title=Pilgrimage to Temple Heritage 2017|last=Ltd|first=Infokerala Communications Pvt|date=2017-09-01|publisher=Info Kerala Communications Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-934567-0-5}}</ref> dedicated to Rakteswari. Worship of Rakteswari by [[Brahmin]]s<ref name=":4" /> and many other various Hindus in m''ulasthana''<ref name=":4">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YwSBAAAAMAAJ|title=JIF, Journal of Indian Folkloristics|date=1978|publisher=Folklore Fellows of India|language=en}}</ref> is famous in [[South Canara]].

Rakteshwari, in ''[[dakshinachara]]'' ("right-hand path") tradition, is depicted as ''srichakravasini'' (peaceful and soothing deity as a resident of the tip of Sri Chakra) and worshipped<ref name=":3">{{Cite book |last=Das |first=Potluru Krishna |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dPwbAAAAIAAJ |title=The Secrets of Vastu |date=1989 |publisher=Udayalakshmi Publications |language=en}}</ref> as Durga Parameswari by Durga sukta and Śrī [[Rigveda#Sukta|Sūkta]].<ref name="Sankaranarayanan">{{cite book|title=Glory of the Divine Mother (Devī Māhātmyam)|last=Sankaranarayanan|first=S.|publisher=Nesma Books|year=2001|isbn=978-81-87936-00-8|location=India}}</ref>

==Iconography==
Sword, one of the divine weapons of [[Adi Parashakti]], which represents elimination of Discrimination according to [[Devi Mahatmya|''Devi Mahatyam'']], is a symbolic form of goddess Rakteswari. The tip of Sri Chakra is an iconic form of the supreme goddess, Durga Parameswari.

== References ==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Hindu goddesses]]

Rakteswari - Revision history

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