Tridevi: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 01:01, 8 March 2026

The Tridevi^{[lower-alpha 1]} form a trinity of supreme divinity in Hinduism, combining a triad of eminent goddesses either as a feminine version of the Trimurti, or as consorts of a masculine Trimurti, depending on the denomination. This triad is typically personified by the Hindu goddesses Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati.^[1] In Shaktism, these triune goddesses are the manifestations of Mula-Prakriti or Mahadevi.^[2]

Feminine Trimurti[edit | edit source]

Template:Saktism In the traditional androcentric (masculine-centered) denominations of Hinduism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are relegated as consorts and auxiliary deities to the masculine Trimurti gods. In Shaktism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are given the eminent roles of creator (Mahasaraswati), preserver (Mahalakshmi), and destroyer (Mahakali),^[3] with the masculine Trimurti gods being relegated as the auxiliary deities as agents of the feminine Tridevi.

Consorts of the Trimurti[edit | edit source]

Saraswati is the goddess of learning, arts, and music, as well as the consort of Brahma, the creator.^[4]

Lakshmi is the goddess of fortune, wealth, fertility, auspiciousness, light, and material and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the consort of Vishnu, the maintainer or preserver.^[5] However, Lakshmi does not signify mere material wealth, but also abstract prosperity, such as glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, and greatness, and spiritual fulfillment, which translates to moksha.

Parvati is the goddess of power, war, beauty, and love. She is the consort of Shiva, the destroyer of evil, or transformer.^[6]

Importance[edit | edit source]

Mahasarasvati is described to be the slayer of Shumba in the Devi Bhagavata Purana, suggesting that she has little to do with Saraswati.^[7]

Mahalakshmi is the prosperity aspect of Devi. She has two forms, Vishnu-priya Lakshmi and Rajyalakshmi. The former is the embodiment of chastity and virtuousness. The latter goes about courting kings. Rajyalakshmi is stated to be fickle and impulsive. She enters all those places where virtue and charity may be found, and as soon as these two vanish from any place, Rajyalakshmi will also vanish from that place.^[8]

Mahakali represents darkness, pure tamas personified. Mahakali is one of the three primary forms of Devi. She is stated to be a powerful cosmic aspect (vyaṣṭi) of Devi, and represents the guna (universal energy) named tamas, and is the personification of the universal power of transformation, the transcendent power of time.^[9]

Outside India[edit | edit source]

Via Buddhism and syncretism with Japanese Shinto deities, the Tridevi entered Japanese mythology as the goddesses Benzaitennyo 弁財天女 (Sarasvati), Kisshoutennyo 吉祥天女 (Laxmi), and Daikokutennyo 大黒天女 (Mahakali or Parvati).

Footnotes[edit | edit source]

↑ Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., IAST: Tridevī

References[edit | edit source]

↑ Prasad, R. U. S. (2017-08-09). River and Goddess Worship in India: Changing Perceptions and Manifestations of Sarasvati. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-351-80654-1.
↑ Monaghan, Patricia (2009-12-18). Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-313-34990-4.
↑ de-Gaia, Susan (2018-11-16). Encyclopedia of Women in World Religions [2 volumes]: Faith and Culture across History [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-4408-4850-6.
↑ The Book of Avatars and Divinities. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. 2018-11-21. p. 9. ISBN 978-93-5305-362-8.
↑ Kishore, B. R. (2001). Hinduism. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 87. ISBN 978-81-7182-073-3.
↑ Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. p. 5. ISBN 978-81-7022-374-0.
↑ The Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam. Sudhindra Nath Vasu at the Panini Office. 1921. p. 1006.
↑ Williams, George M. (2008-03-27). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. OUP USA. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.
↑ Harper, Katherine Anne; Brown, Robert L. (2012-02-01). The Roots of Tantra. State University of New York Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7914-8890-4.

External links[edit | edit source]

[1] Script error: The function "langx" does not exist., IAST: Tridevī

[2] Prasad, R. U. S. (2017-08-09). River and Goddess Worship in India: Changing Perceptions and Manifestations of Sarasvati. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 978-1-351-80654-1.

[3] Monaghan, Patricia (2009-12-18). Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 199. ISBN 978-0-313-34990-4.

[4] -Gaia, Susan (2018-11-16). Encyclopedia of Women in World Religions [2 volumes]: Faith and Culture across History [2 volumes]. Bloomsbury Publishing USA. p. 336. ISBN 978-1-4408-4850-6.

[5] The Book of Avatars and Divinities. Penguin Random House India Private Limited. 2018-11-21. p. 9. ISBN 978-93-5305-362-8.

[6] Kishore, B. R. (2001). Hinduism. Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. p. 87. ISBN 978-81-7182-073-3.

[7] Garg, Gaṅgā Rām (1992). Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World. Concept Publishing Company. p. 5. ISBN 978-81-7022-374-0.

[8] The Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam. Sudhindra Nath Vasu at the Panini Office. 1921. p. 1006.

[9] Williams, George M. (2008-03-27). Handbook of Hindu Mythology. OUP USA. p. 198. ISBN 978-0-19-533261-2.

[10] Harper, Katherine Anne; Brown, Robert L. (2012-02-01). The Roots of Tantra. State University of New York Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7914-8890-4.

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-{{short description|Hindu combining of three goddesses into one}}
+{{short description|Trinity of chief goddesses in Hinduism}}
-{{More citations needed|date=July 2020}}
+[[File:Sarasvati Laksmi Parvati.jpg|thumb|[[Sarasvati]] (left), [[Lakshmi]] (middle) and [[Parvati]] (right)]]
-{{Infobox deity<!--Wikipedia:WikiProject Hindu mythology-->
-| type = Hindu
-| image = Supreme form durga.jpg
-| caption = [[Lakshmi]] (left), [[Parvati]] (middle) and [[Saraswati]] (right) personified as Tridevi
-| consort = [[Trimurti]], specifically
-* [[Brahma]] (Saraswati)
-* [[Vishnu]] (Lakshmi)
-* [[Shiva]] (Parvati)
-| name = Tridevi
-| Devanagari = त्रिदेवी
-| Sanskrit_transliteration = {{IAST|tridevī}}
-| affiliation = *[[Saraswati]] (Knowledge)
-*[[Lakshmi]] (Wealth)
-*[[Parvati]] (Power)<!-- Please don't add further deities without discussion on talk -->
-| abode = *[[Satyaloka]] (Saraswati)
-*[[Vaikuntha]] (Lakshmi)
-*[[Mount Kailash]] (Parvati)
-| mantra = Om Trideviibhayah Namah
-| god_of = Creation, preservation and destruction
-| mount = * [[Swan]] or [[Peacock]] (Saraswati)
-* [[Garuda]] or [[Elephant]] or [[Owl]] (Lakshmi)
-* [[Lion]] or [[Tiger]] or [[Nandi (bull)|Nandi]] (Parvati)
-}}
-{{Infobox Hindu term|sa=त्रिदेवी ({{IAST|Tridevī}})|hi=त्रिदेवी ({{IAST|Tridevī}})|mr=त्रिदेवी
-({{IAST|Tridevī}})|te= ముగురమ్మలు ({{IAST|Mugurammalu}})|as=ত্রিদেবী ({{IAST|Tridebī}})|bn=ত্রিদেবী ({{IAST|Tridebī}})|or=ତ୍ରିଦେବୀ ({{IAST|Tridebī}})|gu=ત્રિદેવી ({{IAST|Tridevī}})|ta=முப்பெரும்தேவியர் ({{IAST|Mupperumtēviyar}})}}
-The '''Tridevi''' ({{Lang-sa|त्रिदेवी|lit=three goddesses|translit=tridevī}}) are the [[trinity]] of [[Para Brahman|supreme divinity]] in [[Hinduism]] joining a [[Triad (religious)|triad]] of eminent goddesses either as a feminine version of the [[Trimurti]] or as consorts of a masculine Trimurti, depending on the denomination. This triad is typically [[Anthropomorphism|personified]] by the [[Hindu]] goddesses [[Saraswati]], [[Lakshmi]], and [[Parvati]].<ref name="BBC Bitesize">{{cite web |title=Female Hindu deities – the Tridevi - Nature of Ultimate Reality in Hinduism - GCSE Religious Studies Revision - Edexcel |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zrf6pbk/revision/5 |website=BBC Bitesize}}</ref> In [[Shaktism]], these triune goddesses are the manifestations of Mula-Prakriti or ''[[Adi Parashakti]]''.<ref name="hindufaqs">{{cite web |title=Tridevi - the three supreme Goddess in Hinduism |url=https://www.hindufaqs.com/tridevi-the-three-supreme-goddess-in-hinduism/ |website=Hindu FAQS {{!}} Get answers for all the questions related to hinduism, the greatest religion! |date=18 March 2015}}</ref>
-== As the feminine Trimurti ==
+The '''Tridevi'''{{efn|{{Langx|sa|त्रिदेवी|lit=three goddesses}}, {{IAST3| Tridevī}}}} form a [[Triple deity|trinity]] of [[Para Brahman|supreme divinity]] in [[Hinduism]], combining a [[Triad (religious)|triad]] of eminent goddesses either as a feminine version of the [[Trimurti]], or as consorts of a masculine Trimurti, depending on the denomination. This triad is typically [[Anthropomorphism|personified]] by the [[Hindu]] goddesses [[Saraswati]], [[Lakshmi]], and [[Parvati]].<ref>{{Cite book |last =Prasad |first =R. U. S. |url =https://books.google.com/books?id=UTYlDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT65 |title =River and Goddess Worship in India: Changing Perceptions and Manifestations of Sarasvati |date =2017-08-09 |publisher =Routledge |isbn =978-1-351-80654-1 |pages =65 |language =en}}</ref> In [[Shaktism]], these triune goddesses are the manifestations of Mula-Prakriti or ''[[Mahadevi]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last =Monaghan |first =Patricia |url =https://books.google.com/books?id=uabOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA199 |title =Encyclopedia of Goddesses and Heroines [2 volumes] |date =2009-12-18 |publisher =Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn =978-0-313-34990-4 |pages =199 |language =en}}</ref>
-[[File:MahaKali MahaLakshmi MahaSaraswati.jpg|thumb|[[Mahakali]] (left), [[Mahalakshmi]] (middle) and [[Mahasaraswati]] (right)]]
+== Feminine Trimurti ==
 {{Hinduism}}
 {{Saktism}}
-Whereas in androcentric denominations of [[Hinduism]] the feminine Tridevi goddesses are relegated as consorts and auxiliary deities to the more eminent masculine [[Trimurti]] gods, in the [[Shaktism|Shaktidharma]] denomination the feminine Tridevi goddesses are given the eminent roles of [[Mahasaraswati|Creator (Mahasaraswati)]], [[Mahalaxmi|Preserver (Mahalakshmi)]], and [[Mahakali|Destroyer (Mahakali)]], with the masculine Trimurti gods being relegated as the auxiliary deities as agents of the feminine Tridevi.
+In the traditional androcentric (masculine-centered) denominations of Hinduism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are relegated as consorts and auxiliary deities to the masculine Trimurti gods. In Shaktism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are given the eminent roles of [[Rajas|creator]] [[Mahasaraswati|(Mahasaraswati)]], [[Sattva|preserver]] [[Mahalaxmi|(Mahalakshmi)]], and [[Tamas (philosophy)|destroyer]] [[Mahakali|(Mahakali)]],<ref>{{Cite book |last=de-Gaia |first=Susan |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HxjOEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA336 |title=Encyclopedia of Women in World Religions [2 volumes]: Faith and Culture across History [2 volumes] |date=2018-11-16 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=978-1-4408-4850-6 |pages=336 |language=en}}</ref> with the masculine Trimurti gods being relegated as the auxiliary deities as agents of the feminine Tridevi.
-== As consorts of the Trimurti ==
+== Consorts of the Trimurti ==
-[[Saraswati]] is the goddess of learning, arts, and cultural fulfillment, as well as the consort of [[Brahma]], the creator. She is cosmic intelligence, cosmic consciousness, and cosmic knowledge.
+{{Main|Saraswati|Lakshmi|Parvati}}
+[[Saraswati]] is the goddess of learning, arts, and music, as well as the consort of [[Brahma]], the creator.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BfV5DwAAQBAJ&pg=PT9 |title=The Book of Avatars and Divinities |date=2018-11-21 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-5305-362-8 |pages=9 |language=en}}</ref>
-[[Lakshmi]] is the goddess of wealth, fertility, auspiciousness, light, and material and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the consort of [[Vishnu]], the maintainer or preserver. However, Lakshmi does not signify mere material wealth, but also abstract prosperity, such as glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, and greatness, and spiritual fulfillment which translates to [[moksha]].
+[[Lakshmi]] is the goddess of fortune, wealth, fertility, auspiciousness, light, and material and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the consort of [[Vishnu]], the maintainer or preserver.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Kishore |first=B. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=t3WzDipk9xwC&pg=PA87 |title=Hinduism |date=2001 |publisher=Diamond Pocket Books (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-7182-073-3 |pages=87 |language=en}}</ref> However, Lakshmi does not signify mere material wealth, but also abstract prosperity, such as glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, and greatness, and spiritual fulfillment, which translates to [[moksha]].
-[[Parvati]] also notably known and worshipped as [[Durga]] and Mahakali is the goddess of power, war, beauty, love, as well as the consort of [[Shiva]], the destroyer of evil or transformer.
+[[Parvati]] is the goddess of power, war, beauty, and love. She is the consort of [[Shiva]], the destroyer of evil, or transformer.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Garg |first=Gaṅgā Rām |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w9pmo51lRnYC&pg=PA5 |title=Encyclopaedia of the Hindu World |date=1992 |publisher=Concept Publishing Company |isbn=978-81-7022-374-0 |pages=5 |language=en}}</ref>
 ==Importance==
-[[Shakti]] or Vimarsh is the power that is latent in pure consciousness, required to reach pure consciousness and essential to create, sustain and destroy. Just as [[Energy]] can never be created nor be destroyed, but changes from one form to another; [[Devi]] took many incarnations to do different tasks. God is both male and female. But all different forms of energy or powers of God are with the Trimurti in the form of [[Mahasaraswati]], [[Mahalakshmi]], and [[Mahakali]]. That is to say, a non-dimensional God creates this world through Srishti-Shakti (Mahasaraswati or Sound or knowledge), preserves through Sthiti-Shakti (Mahalakshmi or Light or resources), and destroys through Samhara-Shakti (Mahakali or Heat or Strength). It is also seen that God cannot create, generate or destroy because God does not possess any attribute. So True Energy or Adi Shakti does everything on God's behalf.
+Mahasarasvati is described to be the slayer of [[Sumbha and Nisumbha|Shumba]] in the [[Devi-Bhagavata Purana|Devi Bhagavata Purana]], suggesting that she has little to do with Saraswati.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QaVHAQAAMAAJ |title=The Sri Mad Devi Bhagavatam |date=1921 |publisher=Sudhindra Nath Vasu at the Panini Office |pages=1006 |language=en}}</ref>
+Mahalakshmi is the prosperity aspect of Devi. She has two forms, Vishnu-priya Lakshmi and Rajyalakshmi. The former is the embodiment of chastity and virtuousness. The latter goes about courting kings. Rajyalakshmi is stated to be fickle and impulsive. She enters all those places where virtue and charity may be  found, and as soon as these two vanish from any place, Rajyalakshmi will also vanish from that place.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Williams |first=George M. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=N7LOZfwCDpEC&pg=PA198 |title=Handbook of Hindu Mythology |date=2008-03-27 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=978-0-19-533261-2 |pages=198 |language=en}}</ref>
+Mahakali represents darkness, pure ''[[Tamas (philosophy)|tamas]]'' personified. Mahakali is one of the three primary forms of Devi. She is stated to be a powerful cosmic aspect (''vyaṣṭi'') of Devi, and represents the guna (universal energy) named tamas, and is the personification of the universal power of transformation, the transcendent power of time.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Harper |first1=Katherine Anne |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NtKrbKIOL5wC&pg=PA80 |title=The Roots of Tantra |last2=Brown |first2=Robert L. |date=2012-02-01 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=978-0-7914-8890-4 |pages=80 |language=en}}</ref>
 ===Outside India===
-Via [[Buddhism_in_Japan|Buddhism]] and [[Shinbutsu-shūgō|syncretism]] with Japanese [[Kami|Shinto deities]], the Tridevi entered Japanese mythology as the goddesses [[Benzaiten|Benzaitennyo 弁財天女 (Sarasvati)]], [[Kisshōten|Kisshoutennyo 吉祥天女 (Laxmi)]], and [[Daikokuten#Goddess_Daikokutennyo|Daikokutennyo 大黒天女 (Mahakali)]].
+Via [[Buddhism in Japan|Buddhism]] and [[Shinbutsu-shūgō|syncretism]] with Japanese [[Kami|Shinto deities]], the Tridevi entered Japanese mythology as the goddesses [[Benzaiten|Benzaitennyo 弁財天女 (Sarasvati)]], [[Kisshōten|Kisshoutennyo 吉祥天女 (Laxmi)]], and [[Daikokuten#Goddess Daikokutennyo|Daikokutennyo 大黒天女 (Mahakali or Parvati)]].
 ==See also==
 {{col div|colwidth=20em}}
 *[[Devi]]
-*[[Vaishno Devi Temple]]
+*[[Durga]]
-*[[Vaishno Devi]]
+*[[Lakshmi]]
-*[[Japanese_Buddhist_pantheon#Level_4:_Heavenly_deities_.28Ten-bu.29|Buddhist Tenbu (天部) deities]]
+*[[Saraswati]]
-*[[Moirai]]
+*[[Kali]]
-*[[Navratri]]
+*[[Parvati]]
+*[[Harishankari]]
+*[[Radha]]
+*[[Sita]]
+*[[Adi Shakti]]
+* [[Vaishno Devi]]
+*[[Ammavaru]]
+*[[Mookambika]]
+*[[Japanese Buddhist pantheon#Level 4: Heavenly deities .28Ten-bu.29|Buddhist Tenbu (天部) deities]]
 *[[Trimurti]]
 *[[Trinity]]
 *[[Triple deities]]
-*[[Bindudham|Bindudham (a temple of Tridevi)]]
-*[[Mahalakshmi_Temple,_Mumbai#Inside|Mahalaxmi Temple (Mumbai)]]
 {{colend}}
-==Notes==
+== Footnotes ==
+{{notelist}}
+== References ==
 {{reflist}}
 ==External links==
-[http://mahalakshmi-temple.com/images/mahalaxmi_mata_larg.jpg Tridevi statues in the Mahalaxmi temple in Mumbai]
 {{Commons category|position=left}}
@@ Line 75: / Line 63: @@
 {{authority control}}
+[[Category:Tridevi| ]]
+[[Category:Names of God in Hinduism]]
 [[Category:Hindu philosophical concepts]]
-[[Category:Names of God in Hinduism]]
 [[Category:Triple goddesses]]
 [[Category:Hindu goddesses]]
 [[Category:Feminist theology]]

v t e Hindu deities and texts
Gods	Trimurti Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Ganesha Kartikeya Hanuman Indra Surya Agni Varuna Vayu Kamadeva Yama Chandra Ashvins Vishvakarma more
Goddesses	Tridevi Saraswati Lakshmi Parvati Durga Kali Sati Sita Rukmini Radha Shakti Adi Parashakti Matrikas Mahavidya Shachi Bhumi Rati Sanjna Chhaya Rohini Vandana Vaishnavivati more
Other deities	Apsaras Asuras Gandharvas Grāmadevatās Rakshasas Vahanas Yakshas
Texts	Vedas Rig Sama Yajur Atharva Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita Yoga Sutras of Patanjali more
Hinduism Hindu mythology