Our Lady of Peace

Pictures of Shree ShantaDurga - The Indian 'Our Lady of Peace'.

Shiv Parvati.12th Century Eastern India-British Museum

This beautiful fine statue was carved in India in the 11th Century, Eastern India.

It is rare to find fine carved statues of Shiva as Shiva is traditionally represented bu just the Linga . A beautiful example of the Linga is on the Blog heading.

Here however the sculptor has personified the Lord of destruction in a traditional statue along with Parvati his consort. Parvati is the daugter of Himavan and her name literally means daughter of the Mountains whereas Himavan means snow topped....

Om Namah Shivaya...

Saraswati , Goddess of Knowledge, Jain

Saraswati the Goddess of Knowledge was worshipped by all the subcontinental people of all faiths upto the 11th century.

The above statue is a statue of the Goddess Saraswati from a Jain Temple. This is now in the British Museum.

Saraswati, the Goddess of Knowledge, Open our eyes ....

Shree Ganeshaya Namah - Obeisance to Lord Ganesha

This is a wonderful image of Lord Ganesha. The statue is in the British Museum and is made of Schist. This has been made in the 12 Century in Eastern India.

Mahisasurmardini

Hail the Goddess, the very force of the Universe

Victory to Thee

Hail the Goddess, Who destroyed the Evil Buffalo demon Mahisasur

Victory, Victory, Victory, Victory unto thee....

Mahalakshmi of Kolhapur

On the eve of Deepawali, I have found this fantastic picture of Shree Mahalakshmi.of Kolhapur. The revered Ambabai in all her regalia.

HAPPY DIWALI EVERYONE

Shree Shantadurga the Mother Goddess ....

Shree Shantadurga Vijayatam

The Goddess Shree Shantadurga, Santeri, Saibini the ancient mother Goddess of all the Konkani people.

The first tribes that settled in Goa many millenia ago prayed to the great Mother Earth Goddess in the form of anthills. The tribes of people who settled later also incorporated the worship of the mother Goddess in Her various forms. The aryans who followed incorporated her with the great Shakti and looked upon Her as the peaceful form of Goddess Durga. Anthills were the site of small grottos for the Saibini or Mai Santeri.

After Christianisation of the Old conquests of Goa for the lay Goan the saibini or the mother-goddess was still venerated. Only her form changed to the Mother of Christ or Mother Mary. The distinction between the Catholic Saibini and Hindu Saibini is only a matter of debate for the poles of the religious spectrum. The vast majority of Hindus and Catholics look upon her as Saibini.

Shree Shantadurga Vijayatam