Siddhidhatri
Goddess of Siddhis
Goddess Siddhidhatri, ninth form of Parvati
Devanagariसिद्धिदात्री
AffiliationNavadurga of Parvati
Mantraसिद्धगन्धर्वयक्षाघैरसुरैरमरैरपि।

सेव्यमाना सदा भूयात् सिद्धिदा सिद्धिदायिनी॥

वन्दे वांछित मनोरथार्थ चन्द्रार्घकृत शेखराम्। कमलस्थितां चतुर्भुजा सिद्धीदात्री यशस्वनीम्॥ स्वर्णावर्णा निर्वाणचक्रस्थितां नवम् दुर्गा त्रिनेत्राम्। शख, चक्र, गदा, पदम, धरां सिद्धीदात्री भजेम्॥
WeaponMace, Chakra, Shankha, Lotus
MountLotus
ConsortShiva

Siddhidhatri is the ninth and final among the Navadurga forms of the Hindu goddess Parvati. The meaning of her name is as follows: Siddhis means supernatural powers, and Dhatri means giver. She is worshipped on the ninth day of Navaratri; she fulfills all the divine aspirations.[1][2] It is known that one side of the bodies of Parvati and Shiva is that of Shiva and Parvati. Therefore, he and she is also known by the names of Ardhanarishvara and Ardhanareshvari. In Hindu scriptures, the Hindu god Shiva attained all the siddhis by worshiping the Hindu goddess Siddhidhatri.

Iconography

The goddess is depicted with four hands holding a chakra (discus), shankha (conch), mace, and lotus. She is seated on a fully bloomed lotus and a lion as her mount. In depictions, she is flanked by Gandharvas, Yakshas, Siddhas, Asuras and Asuris and Devas and Devis who are paying obeisance to the goddess.[3]

Legend

When the universe was just a massive void completely full of darkness, there is no world anywhere. But then a ray of divine light, which is primordially existing, spread everywhere, illuminating each and every nook of the void. This sea of light was formless. Suddenly, it started taking a fixed size, and finally it is a goddess, who is Goddess Siddhidhatri herself. Siddhidhatri created Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva. She told the three gods to think to understand their roles of doing their powers for the world. Acting on the words of Goddess Siddhidhatri, the three gods sat on three lotuses on the primordial ocean of the universe and performed penances for a year. The Goddess Siddhidhatri appeared before them in her true form. She created Sarasvati, Lakshmi, Parvati and gave them to Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva respectively. Goddess Siddhidhatri entrusted Brahma to take up the role as the creator of worlds, Vishnu to take up the role as the preserver of worlds, and Shiva to take up the role as the destroyer of worlds. She tells them that their powers are in them and their lordesses, who will have them create the universe. Siddhidhatri assured them that she will also provide to them, divine miraculous powers, which will also do them powerful. Saying this, she bestowed to them eight supernatural powers, in which they were named Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakambya, Ishitva and Vashitva. Anima means reducing one's body to the size of a crumb, Mahima means expanding one's body to the size of the universe, Garima means becoming weightful, Laghima means becoming weightless, Prapti means having omnipresence, Prakamya means achieving whatever one desires, Ishitva means possessing absolute powers, and Vashitva means possessing powers to do do everything. Apart from the eight supreme siddhis that goddess Siddhidatri had bestowed to the Trideva and Tridevi, she is bestowed to them, nine treasures and ten other kinds of supernatural powers. The Trideva and Tridevi created Devas and Devis, Daityas, Danavas, Asuras and Asuris, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Apsaras, Bhutas, Siddhas, Mythical Creatures, Plants, Animals, All Organisms, Nagas and Garudas, etc and many more specieses and deities of the world were born and thus originated from them. The creation of the entire world was now fully completed, full of millions of stars, galaxies as well as constellations of stars. The solar system was complete with the nine planets. On Earth, lands and skies was created, surrounded by such vast oceans, lakes, streams, rivers and other bodies of waters, fire, air, etc. All types of animals and plants and all organisms had originated and were given their proper habitations. The 14 worlds were created and constructed altogether, giving the above-mentioned creatures places of living to live, which they call homes.[4]

In this form, Siddhidhatri is seated on a lotus and is four-armed. She holds a lotus, mace, chakra and shankha. In this form, Siddhidhatri removes ignorance and she provides the knowledge to realize that Brahman. She is surrounded by Siddhas, Gandharvas, Yakshas, Devas and Devis (Gods and Goddesses) and Asuras and Asuris (Demons) worship her. The Siddhis that she provides is the realization that she exists to give all siddhis powerfully. She is the lordess of all achievements and perfections.[citation needed]

Symbolism

Siddhidhatri is a Navadurga form of goddess Parvati. She possesses eight supernatural powers, or the siddhis, called Anima, Mahima, Garima, Laghima, Prapti, Prakamya, Ishitva and Vashitva. Anima means reducing one's body to the size of an atom; Mahima means expanding one's body to the size of the universe; Garima means becoming weightful; Laghima means becoming weightless; Prapti means having omnipresence; Prakambya achieving whatever one desires; Ishitva means possessing absolute powers; and Vashitva means possessing powers to do everything. The Hindu god Shiva was blessed by Siddhidatri by being given by all the eight powers.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "Worship 'Goddess Siddhidatri' on ninth day of Navratri". Dainik Jagran (Jagran Post). October 21, 2015. Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  2. ^ "Goddess Siddhidatri". Retrieved 2015-10-21.
  3. ^ "Who is Maa Siddhidatri". The Hindustan Times. 3 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Maha Navami 2022: Know the story of ninth form of Devi Durga, Goddess Siddhidatri". DNA India.