In our Scriptures, Devi or the Divine Mother has both gentle and fierce forms. This dual nature signifies her role in maintaining the balance of the universe. The gentle form is for nurturing and protection. The fierce form is for destruction of evil. Let’s explore why both forms are necessary and how they are depicted in the Scriptures.

You can compare this to cultivation. Plants require nurturing with water and nutrients. Simultaneously, they need protection from weeds, pests, and insects.

Devi's Gentle Form

The gentle form is nurturing and protective.
She is like a mother, full of love and care.
She grants blessings and fulfills desires.
Examples of her gentle form are Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Lakshmi: The goddess of wealth and prosperity. She brings abundance and good fortune.
Saraswati: The goddess of knowledge and wisdom. She bestows learning and artistic skills.

Devi's Fierce Form

The fierce form is for the destruction of evil.
She takes on this form to protect the righteous.
This aspect is powerful, fierce, and uncompromising.
Examples of her fierce form are Kali and Durga.

Kali: The fierce goddess who destroys ignorance and darkness. She is known for her fearsome appearance and her role in slaying demons.
Durga: The warrior goddess who defeats demons like Mahishasura. She embodies courage, strength, and protection.

Scriptural Reference: Durga Saptashati

The 'Durga Saptashati' illustrates this dual nature:

The verse says, 'For the destruction of wicked demons like Shumbha and Nishumbha, and for the protection of the worlds, Devi performs both roles.'
वधाय दुष्टदैत्यानां तथा शुम्भनिशुम्भयोः ।
रक्षणाय च लोकानां देवानामुपकारिणी ।।
This verse signifies that the divine power performs both nurturing (शिष्टानुग्रह) and destruction (दुष्टनिग्रह).
Devi’s role is not just limited to love and care. She must also punish the wicked.

This dual nature is essential for maintaining the order of the universe. It shows that nurturing and destruction are both parts of divine play. Hence, Devi is revered in both forms by her devotees.

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Nicely explained.🙏🙏💐 -Yagneshwaran

SHE only does everyhing🌹🌹🌹 -Lakshmiprasad

That's why Devi is called Maha Maya -Mallikarjunaroyal

Often people describe good and evil by what is pleasant or unpleasant to them. Usually evil or negativity is seen as outside of themselves It is time we took responsibility for our own actions. Your message on Dharma was an eye opener in this situation. Devi, as you say can be a nurturing mother when we surrender to her. On the contrary if we insist on himsa to get what we want, and either deny the cruelty within or the greed which makes us grab what does not belong to us, She can be fierce to us also to help us see through our denial and to move us into the right direction.She fosters the positive in us and destroys the negativity within us the process of which can be extremely painful. It is not a punishment. It is Her Compassion to move us, albeit painfully, to drop that which makes another suffer -Dharmakeerti

Wow -Aadhya07

Knowledge Bank

Who captured Drupada?

Dronacharya asked the Pandavas and Kauravas to capture King Drupada in the form of his guru-dakshina. This was their first real battle. They set out to Panchala. In the battle that ensued, initially, the Pandavas did not enter the city; they waited outside. The Kauravas went in alone and were badly defeated. Then the Pandavas went in. After causing great damage to Drupada's army, the Pandavas captured Drupada.

Puja for Ashwini Nakshatra

1. Worship Ganapati, Kartikeya, and Bhadrakali. 2. Gandanta shanti. 3. Ganapati Homa. 4. Chaturthi vrata. 5. Mangal (Mars) mantras and stotras. 6. Ketu mantras and stotras.