Devi Statues Mahabalipuram

Devi is the Sanskrit word for “Goddess”.  She is the core aspect of every Hindu Goddess. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents consciousness or discrimination, remains impotent and void.

Devi has many different names depending on where in India she is worshipped.  In Madurai she is referred to as Meenakshi, in Chidambaram Shivakami, and in Kanchipuram she is revered as Kamatchi.  In each city her likeness takes on different aspects as you can see by the variety of poses of Devi.  As Meenakshi she stands holding a parrot.  As Shivakami she stands next to her husband as Lord Nataraja and as Kamatchi holding fertility symbols.

Kamatchi is Devi in her creative manifestation bearing fertility symbols such as sugarcane, conch shell and parrot.  As Prakriti she balances out the male aspect of the divine.