Kamalatmika

This article is about the Mahavidya goddess. For Hindu goddess of wealth with the same epithet, see Lakshmi.

Kamala
Member of The Ten Mahavidyas
Devanagari	कमला
Sanskrit transliteration	Kamalaa
Affiliation	Devi, Mahavidya, Parvati, ShivaShakti,
Mount	Lotus, 4 elephants
Consort	Shiva as Kamal

In Hinduism, Kamala (Sanskrit: कमला) or Kamalatmika (Sanskrit: कमलात्मिका) is the Devi in the fullness of her graceful aspect. She is believed as the tenth and last Mahavidya ("great wisdom") and is a form of Parvati as all Mahavidyas are. Sometimes, she is also considered as the Tantric form of Lakshmi.

Iconography

Kamalatmika has a golden complexion. She is being bathed by four large elephants, who pour kalashas (jars) of amrita (nectar) over her. She has four hands. In two hands, she holds two lotuses and her other two hands are in Abhaya mudra (gesture of giving assurance) and Vara mudra (gesture of conferring boons) respectively. She is shown as seated in padmasana (lotus posture) on a lotus, symbol of purity.

Later, as mentioned in Garuda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana, she manifests as the daughter of Maharshi Bhrigu and his wife Khyati in the form of Goddess Lakshmi, who later marries Lord Vishnu. She attains the title of Shree and grants all her devotees the blessings of materialistic and spiritual comforts. This unifies the concepts of Shaivism (also Shaktism) and Vaishnavism.

Shiva purana says,

“daśamaḥ kamalaḥ śambhurbhuktimuktiphalapradaḥ । kamalā girijā tatra svabhaktaparipālinī ।। 11 ete daśamitāḥ śaivā avatārāssukhapradāḥ । bhuktimuktipradāścaiva bhaktānāṃ sarvadāssatām ।।” (Shiva Purana 3:17:11-12)

“Tenth incarnation of Shambhu is known as ‘Kamal (कमल)’ the bestower of joy here and liberation hereafter; and GirijA’s manifestation there is called ‘KamalA (कमला)’ who takes all care of her devotees. These are the ten manifestations of Shiva and Shakti, the giver of happiness, bestower of material comforts here and liberation hereafter to their devotees”.

See also

• Devi
• Mahavidya
• Lakshmi

Further reading

• Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley