Dhumavathy & Sri Periyachi

[Guest guest]

Don't believe everything I say verbatim, however I may be able to point you in

the direction of understanding. But first, though these two goddesses share

some characteristics, noone can claim that Sri Periyachi is one of the

Mahavidyas. So as happens very often, two separate traditions are being

compared. Sri Periyachi is a goddess of childbirth, whose rituals are closed

to men (so one wonders why you are interested?!), while Dhumavati is one of the

Mahavidyas.

 

Dhumavati is one of the powers of Devi. The ten Mahavidyas are each a specific

shakti of Durga Ma. As we know from the Ladder of Lights celebration Devi can

be portioned into three main and nine smaller shaktis. These too are

generalizations, but sufficient. As Dhumavati is alakshmi, she is an astattvic

aspect of Durga like Kali. As such, she represents the end of the cognitive

mental functioning before transcendence. If each Mahavidya represents one aspect

of the ten mandalas of Rig Veda then She is the ninth mandala, the Soma mandala,

and the skandha of ego which is like a crone, never satisfied, and always

pouring out offerings seeking to become one with everything.

 

The human mind comes contained with some flaws. These are pride, ignorance,

rage, desire, and envy. Even enlightened people still have these as never

ending aspects of the mind. If someone cares to argue then there is the story

about Shankara demanding that a crone move out of the way of his entourage. And

many other stories. Part of tantra is to learn to see oneself in the mirror,

and without digging out the negative (which isn't possible), one learns how to

use these traits to benefit rather than harm. For instance one blends wisdom

with rage and uses it to prevent misuse of power, one takes pride in sattva and

does not seek things which are tamasic, one understands ignorance in oneself and

holds to balance, not seeking to understand everything at once merely through

the intellect and so keeping contentment, instead of cynicism.

 

As such, each Mahavidya wears these five faults in their crown and turns the

fault into a jewel ornament. Dhumavati wears the ornament of desire. She

contains in her guise the final phase of desire which has burned itself out.

She is the karma which has gone to fruition and has then been satisfied. As

such, she is a Goddess of complete satisfaction and contentment, and of moksha.

Insurance companies say that the second half of life is the better half, and for

those who have satisfied their yearnings they now do feel the contentment of

completion. At this stage ideally they should now apply themselves to moksha.

(On a funny note, the second half of life is better for insurance companies

 

Dhumavati is the smoky one. From a viewpoint of kundalini yoga she is the flow

of desire which raises energy and develops full awareness of the Absolute. The

desire stream which motivates kundalini is a desire for the Deity which is never

fulfilled except in it's cessation since the Absolute is not a form which can be

held. And so Dhumavati forever remains a crone. She is desire turned into

desire for the formless Vidya of Sri.

 

Sri Periyachi it seems is a local deity, though pervasive through much of

Malaysia, and not necessarily a Vidya per se. She seems to be a wealth Goddess,

giving wealth of long life. One does not propitiate the Mahavidyas, as

Mahavidyas for material enjoyment and for material siddhis. They are to be

propitiated only by those who are ready for moksha.

 

 

 

 

-

Madhava Prabu

Friday, May 21, 2004 5:31 AM

Dhumavathy & Sri Periyachi

 

 

Greetings to all,

 

 

I heard from Sis Nora that Dhumavathy & Sri Periyachi

are the crone aspects of Shakthi but curious to know why is it that

Periyachi is potrayed as a midwife and healer of illness unlike

Dhumavathy who is supposed to be the total opposite?

 

 

/

 

b..

 

c..