Statue of Lakshmi, one of the primary bearers of the epithet Bhagavati, Kashmir

Bhagavatī (Devanagari: भगवती, IAST: Bhagavatī), is an Indian epithet of Sanskrit origin, used as an honorific title for goddesses in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, it is primarily used to address the goddesses Durga and Lakshmi. In Buddhism, it is used to refer to several Mahayana Buddhist female deities, like Cundā.[1]

The male equivalent of Bhagavatī is Bhagavān.[2][3] The term is an equivalent of Devi and Ishvari.

Bhagavati Temples in Indian subcontinent

Maharashtra

Bhagavati temples can also be found all over Mumbai, for example,

Uttar Pradesh

Karnataka

Bagavathi temple Sasihitlu Mangalore. Famous temple in Karnataka on the bank of Arabian sea. Guliga is the main Daiva here.

Bhagavathi temple in Ullal, Mangalore

Attukal temple

Kerala

Shrines of these goddesses are referred to as Bhagavati Kshetram in Kerala. Some popular Bhagavati temples in Kerala are,

  1. Attukal Temple
  2. Kalluvettu Kuzhikkal Bhagavati Kshetram at Karaparamba, Calicut
  3. Chakkulathukavu Temple
  4. Chottanikkara Temple
  5. Chettikulangara Devi Temple
  6. Madayi Kavu
  7. Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple
  8. Paramekkavu Bhagavathi Temple, Thrissur
  9. Sankarankulangara Bhagavathi Temple, Thrissur
  10. Olarikkara Bhagavathi Temple, Thrissur
  11. Sree Kattukulangara Bagavathy Temple, Mampad, Palakkad
  12. Meenkulathi Bagavathy Temple, Pallasena, Palakkad
  13. Peroor Kavu Bhagavathi
  14. Kadampuzha Devi Temple
  15. Pisharikavu
  16. Kavaserry Bhagavathi Temple
  17. Mangottu Bhagavathi Temple
  18. Mondaicaud Bhagavathi Temple in Kolachal, Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu
  19. Lokanarkavu (Lokamalayar kavu) temple in Vatakara, Kozhikode District
  20. Kalayamvelli temple, Kozhikode District
  21. Uthralikkavu Bhagavati Temple, Thrissur District
  22. Shree Sasihithulu Bhagavathee Temple, Haleyangadi, Karnataka
  23. Kuttiyankavu Bhagavati Temple, Minalur, Athani, Thrissur District
  24. Thechikkotukavu temple, Peramangalam, Thrissur District
  25. Thachanaathukaavu temple, Parlikad, Wadakanchery, Trichur District
  26. Tiruvaanikkaavu bhagawati temple, Machaad, Wadakanchery, Trichur District
  27. Tirumandaamkunnu temple, Angaadipuram, Perinthalmana, Malappuram
  28. Kottuvally Kavu Bhagavathy temple, Koonammavu, Ernakulam
  29. Sree Emur Bhagavathy Hemambika temple (http://www.sreeemoorbhagavathy.org/about.php), Kallekulangara, Palakkad
  30. Kechery Parappukkavu Bhagavathi Temple, Thrissur
Naxal Bhagwati, Kathmandu
Kalinchowk Bhagwati Temple

Goa

Many Bhagavati temples are found in Goa, where the deity is mainly worshipped in the form of Mahishasuramardini by the Goud Saraswat Brahmin, Daivadnya Brahmin, Bhandari communities. Bhagavati is also worshipped as one of the Panchayatana deity in most of the Goan temples. Shrines specially dedicated to Bhagavati are:

Chinnamasta Bhagawati Temple, Nepal

Nepal

See also

References

  1. ^ Gimello, Robert (2004). ″Icon and Incantation: The Goddess Zhunti and the Role of Images in the Occult Buddhism of China." In Images in Asian Religions: Texts and Contexts ed. Phyllis Granoff and Koichi Shinohara: pp. 71-85.
  2. ^ Friedhelm Hardy (1990), The World's Religions: The Religions of Asia, Routledge, ISBN 978-0415058155, page 84
  3. ^ Sarah Caldwell (1998), Bhagavati, in Devi: Goddesses of India (Editors: John Stratton Hawley, Donna Marie Wulff), Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 978-8120814912, pages 195-198

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