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Goddess '''Durga''' ({{IPA-hns|d̪uːrgaː}}; {{lang-sa|दुर्गा}}), meaning "the inaccessible"<ref>{{cite web |title= Durga, |url= http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/174252/Durga |publisher= Encyclopædia Britannica Online |date= |accessdate=October 7, 2009}}</ref> or "the invincible"; ''durga'') is the most popular incarnation of [[Devi]] and one of the main forms of Goddess [[Shakti]]. |
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The word "Durga"literally means 'inaccessible'. Durga according to the Rig Vedas, is the Primeval Source of energy, who has produced the universe, even the substratum above the Supreme 'Brahman' and is actually a manifestation of 'Brahman'Himself. Her energy pervades the entire universe and moves along with 12 Adityas, 11 Rudras and 8 Vasus (who are the primary Deities of this universe).Durga, is the Empress, the Mother of this creation and the giver of boons of all kinds.Such description of the Goddess, or Her "Atma-Parichay" isfound in the 10th Mandala of the Rig-Veda. |
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==History== |
==History== |
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{{unreferenced section|date=August 2013}} |
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According to Devi-Mahatmyam in Markandeya Purana, composed by the great poet-sage Ved-Vyasa, himself, there is the entire account of the physical expression of the "Formless Energy" or Adi-Shakti from the combined powers of The Trinity and all other Gods and the annihilation of demonic forces disrupting natural functioning of the cosmos. The account starts with the "Param Purusha" or 'Cosmic Man' Lord Vishnu, lying motionless on his "Shesh Shaiyya" during "Pralaya" or Great Doom. Slowly the Creator Brahma emerged from His navel but was immediately challenged by two demons Madhu and Kaitabha, who, emerged from the sebum of the God Narayana's ears.Brahma, seeing the Supreme God sleeping, under the spell of His own Energy 'Mahamaya', prayed to the Goddess to leave Narayana's body and awaken Him.Hearing His prayers, the Goddess left the body of God Vishnu, who in turn,severed the heads of the demons and thus Brahma began the process of creation.[[File:Durga Puja celebration.jpg|thumb|Durga Puja celebration during [[Navratri]]]] |
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The second phase begins with Mahishasura, a wicked Demon King, receiving boons of Immortality and Form-shifting from Brahma. With these magical powers he manages to defeat Devaraj Indra's army and capture the heavens. Defeated Indra, along with all other deities of Fire, Sun, Waters and Earth approached Brahma-Vishnu-Mahesh,the Supreme Trinity, who are Manifestations of the Absolute God, engaged in creating, preserving, destroying and re-creating the cosmos. The Trinity, were also discussing the reign of terror of the tyrant Mahishasura, seated in Vaikuntha, the Supreme Abode, when the helpless Deities approached them. The Trinity, got enraged thus and emitted all their Energy. Similarly Solar Deities, Deities of Fire and Water, Deities of Earth and Death and all other Gods emitted fierce beams of Energy. All the emitted Energies pervaded the entire universe like a mountain of light and coalesced to give form to the Primeval Source of Energy, Mahashakti or Durga. The Almighty Goddess thus evolved received gifts of Lethal Weapons from the Gods and roared in laughter.The earth shook, clouds struck lightning that caused storms and forest fires. Mahishasura understood that his time of death had come and gathered all his army to fight the Goddess. The Almighty Goddess appeared in a fierce beam of light and breathed an army of Divine Warriors, who gave the army of Mahishasura tough fight. The Goddess hurled Her Lethal Weapons on the demonic forces, and then rode fiercely on Her vehicle Lion, killing demons in all directions. She Hurled mountains and stones on the Generals Chiksur, Chamar, Baskal and mutilated them with Her Trident. Mahishasur changed forms and attacked the Goddess, in forms of buffalo, elephant, wicked man and lion and each time Durga defeated him. However, Mahishasur's arrogance angered Her and She roared "Roar, O ignorant demon, till I drink my potion, once I'm done, I'll bring your end and the Gods then would roar similarly." While saying this, She pounced on buffalo demon, subdued his neck with Her Feet and hurled Her Trident at him. Stunned by the terrible energy of the Almighty, the demon unable to bear Her Feet on his neck, started emerging from the mouth of the buffalo. The Goddess immediately chopped his head off with a Scimitar and he fell dead.Thus, Durga freed Mahishasur and his accomplices from the sin of tyranny and cleansed them with her Divine Weapons.[[File:Durga Slays Mahisasura.jpg|thumb|x216px|right| text|Durga Slays Mahishasura, [[Mahabalipuram]] sculpture.]] |
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[[File:Durga Puja celebration.jpg|thumb|Durga Puja celebration during [[Navratri]]]] |
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[[File:Durga Slays Mahisasura.jpg|thumb|x216px|right| text|Durga Slays Mahishasura, [[Mahabalipuram]] sculpture.]] |
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[[File:Durga Loro Jonggrang copy.jpg|thumb|Durga Mahishasuramardini, 9th-century [[Prambanan]], [[Java]].]] |
[[File:Durga Loro Jonggrang copy.jpg|thumb|Durga Mahishasuramardini, 9th-century [[Prambanan]], [[Java]].]] |
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After the death of Tarakasur by Shiva's son Kartikeya, the demon brothers Rambh and Karambh came on the throne of the Netherlands. Their mother Danu instructed them to do penance and obtain desired boons. Hence, Rambh and Karambh did penance to please Agni and Varun (Fire/Water) respectively. Rambh started doing penance in Agni chakra whereas Karambh was being half immersed in river water while doing penance. Lord Indra took disguise of a crocodile and killed Karambh while Rambh successfully comepletely his penance and got a boon from Agni that he will obtain an extremely powerful son, who will rule over the three worlds in this universe. Rambh fell in love with Mahishi (buffalo woman) and got married to her. Mahishi soon got pregnant by Rambh. Once her lover, a Mahish, tried to abduct her. Rambh came in forefront to protect his wife. It happened so that Rambh got killed by the Mahish. In the cremation process of Rambh, Mahishi jumped into the fire, to sacrifice her life to express her love for her husband. Hence, Yama was stopped from taking away the soul of Rambh. Hence, Rambh got retained into the womb of Mahishi. Hence, from cremation fire, emerged two demons namely Rakthbeej (rebirth of Rambh) and Mahishasur (the child of Rambh). Mahishasur also did penance and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma, that he wont be killed by any man. Mahishasur thought that he has obtained immortality indirectly by this boon as according to him, a lady would never be able to kill a powerful demon like him. At the same time, while Mahishasur was doing penance, Parvati too started with a penance to get rid of her dark complexion, which was developed over her fair skin, due the penance she had done to obtain Lord Shiva as her husband. While she was engrossed in her penance, Shiva came up to her and washed off her face with the water of Ganga (Ganges), due to which, Parvati's dark complexion shedded from her and got accumulalted over the plants present there. In this way, Parvati justified her name Maha Gauri. The very place where she had shedded her dark complexion was the place, where Rishi Katyayan's wife used to do gardening and used the same plantations for cooking purpose. In course of time, Narayani got pregnant. At the same time, Mahishasur reached the peak of evilness by mercilessly killing human beings, who were doing worship of gods. All the Gods including Indra, Varun, etc. and also Shiva and Brahma gathered at the Vishnu's realm to seek help from the protector of the world as to what could be done. Lord Vishnu (protector) instructed all the gods to combine their powers. The combination of the powers of all Gods including Trinity, Indra, etc. fell upon Mars. The planet Mars directed that combination of that powers to Katyayan's child who was about to take birth, as it's ruling planet was Mars. Narayani gave birth to a girl who was named as Katyayani being the daughter of sage Katyayan. She was the incarnation of Mahalakshmi as she had the powers of all Gods and those powers were nothing but brightness and the beej mantra was 'Hreem'. She was so powerful and independent that as she grew up, she started living in the forest Madamba Kadamba. The only thing that was missing was beauty as she was born from the dark cell of Parvati. But as she grew up, all the Gods started praying to her (Mahalakshmi) and gathered near her. The Sea God presented her various ornaments, jewelleries, beautiful look, a beautiful crown to wear. All the Gods presented her with the clone of their weapons like Lord Vishnu gave a clone of his discus, Lord Shiva gave trident, etc. In this way, she had to develop eighteen hands to hold all the weapons presented by various male Gods. Hence, she came to be known as eighteen-handed Mahalakshmi. Himavan, father of Parvati, present a Lion to Goddess Katyayani to ride upon. Soon the battle between Goddess Katyayani and demons army started. She created the same number of female warriors to fight the male demons army. Finally, her army won over the demon army and Katyayani herself killed many demons like Shichsur, Asiloma, Vidhan, Vashkaal, Ugrasen, Ramchandi etc. Finally, Mahishasur came in forefront to battle the Goddess. Mahishasur failed to battle with goddess without using his supernatural powers, which he had to use. Finally he kept changing form from lion to elephant to buffalo. At last, Goddess removed ornaments, removed all pure attributes and transformed into Chandi (with ten arms, not eighteen) and killed Mahishasur. She promised all the Gods mainly Indra that she will reappear at the time, when they needed her again. Afterwhich, she fused back into Parvati's body. |
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The third phase narrates, how King of Gods, Indra being defeated by demons Shumbha-Nishumbha approached God Shiva-Parvati, the Parents of the Universe and Goddess Parvati, an incarnationof the Supreme Durga Herself, gave birth to Goddess Ambika or Kaushiki from Her Body Cell or Kosha. The Goddess Durga thus took form as Ambika, the beautiful Divine Energy. Lured by Her celestial beauty, demons Shumbha and Nishumbha,send a marriage proposal to Her, to which She replied, "Only a man who can defeat Me in war will be accepted by Me as My Husband." The demons,enraged sent General Dhumralochan, who could emit chocking fumes, to capture and bring the Goddess. The Goddess breathed fire and charred the general and Her vehicle, the Giant Lion killed and devoured the demonic army. The demon Kings now sent, wicked demons Chanda-Munda, to capture the Goddess, who in turn, transformed into Dark Energy, Kali and started devouring the demons with their vehicles and beheaded Chanda-Munda. Raktabeej, a magical giant, was sent to captivate the Goddess. The Goddess transformed into multiple Energies,Brahmani, Vaishnavi, Maheshwari, Chandika, Kalika, Kaumari, Indrani, Narsimhi and Varahi and started devouring the demonic armies. Raktabeej challenged the Goddesses and a terrible fight started. The magical demon had the capacity tore-generate from his own blood. So Goddess Chandika requested Goddess Kalika to devour the demon's blood along with the regenerated demons. Thus all were killed and Shumbha- Nishumbha left alone to fight the Goddesses. Goddesses combined again into one Ambika and She fought and killed the demon kings with Her Trident. The Deities thanked the Goddess and She promised that She will re-incarnate whenever there is a disturbance due to demonic forces in the cosmos. |
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==Relationship with Kali== |
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Goddess Kali is a darker form of Adi Shakti, Parvati or Durga, they work together in battles killing demons like Shumbh and Nishumbh and many demons, for Raktabeej, Durga had to invoke the nine Matrikas from her. |
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==Worship== |
==Worship== |
Revision as of 15:29, 4 September 2013
Durga | |
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Devanagari | दुर्गा |
Goddess Durga (Hindustani pronunciation: [d̪uːrgaː]; Sanskrit: दुर्गा), meaning "the inaccessible"[1] or "the invincible"; durga) is the most popular incarnation of Devi and one of the main forms of Goddess Shakti.
History
After the death of Tarakasur by Shiva's son Kartikeya, the demon brothers Rambh and Karambh came on the throne of the Netherlands. Their mother Danu instructed them to do penance and obtain desired boons. Hence, Rambh and Karambh did penance to please Agni and Varun (Fire/Water) respectively. Rambh started doing penance in Agni chakra whereas Karambh was being half immersed in river water while doing penance. Lord Indra took disguise of a crocodile and killed Karambh while Rambh successfully comepletely his penance and got a boon from Agni that he will obtain an extremely powerful son, who will rule over the three worlds in this universe. Rambh fell in love with Mahishi (buffalo woman) and got married to her. Mahishi soon got pregnant by Rambh. Once her lover, a Mahish, tried to abduct her. Rambh came in forefront to protect his wife. It happened so that Rambh got killed by the Mahish. In the cremation process of Rambh, Mahishi jumped into the fire, to sacrifice her life to express her love for her husband. Hence, Yama was stopped from taking away the soul of Rambh. Hence, Rambh got retained into the womb of Mahishi. Hence, from cremation fire, emerged two demons namely Rakthbeej (rebirth of Rambh) and Mahishasur (the child of Rambh). Mahishasur also did penance and obtained a boon from Lord Brahma, that he wont be killed by any man. Mahishasur thought that he has obtained immortality indirectly by this boon as according to him, a lady would never be able to kill a powerful demon like him. At the same time, while Mahishasur was doing penance, Parvati too started with a penance to get rid of her dark complexion, which was developed over her fair skin, due the penance she had done to obtain Lord Shiva as her husband. While she was engrossed in her penance, Shiva came up to her and washed off her face with the water of Ganga (Ganges), due to which, Parvati's dark complexion shedded from her and got accumulalted over the plants present there. In this way, Parvati justified her name Maha Gauri. The very place where she had shedded her dark complexion was the place, where Rishi Katyayan's wife used to do gardening and used the same plantations for cooking purpose. In course of time, Narayani got pregnant. At the same time, Mahishasur reached the peak of evilness by mercilessly killing human beings, who were doing worship of gods. All the Gods including Indra, Varun, etc. and also Shiva and Brahma gathered at the Vishnu's realm to seek help from the protector of the world as to what could be done. Lord Vishnu (protector) instructed all the gods to combine their powers. The combination of the powers of all Gods including Trinity, Indra, etc. fell upon Mars. The planet Mars directed that combination of that powers to Katyayan's child who was about to take birth, as it's ruling planet was Mars. Narayani gave birth to a girl who was named as Katyayani being the daughter of sage Katyayan. She was the incarnation of Mahalakshmi as she had the powers of all Gods and those powers were nothing but brightness and the beej mantra was 'Hreem'. She was so powerful and independent that as she grew up, she started living in the forest Madamba Kadamba. The only thing that was missing was beauty as she was born from the dark cell of Parvati. But as she grew up, all the Gods started praying to her (Mahalakshmi) and gathered near her. The Sea God presented her various ornaments, jewelleries, beautiful look, a beautiful crown to wear. All the Gods presented her with the clone of their weapons like Lord Vishnu gave a clone of his discus, Lord Shiva gave trident, etc. In this way, she had to develop eighteen hands to hold all the weapons presented by various male Gods. Hence, she came to be known as eighteen-handed Mahalakshmi. Himavan, father of Parvati, present a Lion to Goddess Katyayani to ride upon. Soon the battle between Goddess Katyayani and demons army started. She created the same number of female warriors to fight the male demons army. Finally, her army won over the demon army and Katyayani herself killed many demons like Shichsur, Asiloma, Vidhan, Vashkaal, Ugrasen, Ramchandi etc. Finally, Mahishasur came in forefront to battle the Goddess. Mahishasur failed to battle with goddess without using his supernatural powers, which he had to use. Finally he kept changing form from lion to elephant to buffalo. At last, Goddess removed ornaments, removed all pure attributes and transformed into Chandi (with ten arms, not eighteen) and killed Mahishasur. She promised all the Gods mainly Indra that she will reappear at the time, when they needed her again. Afterwhich, she fused back into Parvati's body.
Relationship with Kali
Goddess Kali is a darker form of Adi Shakti, Parvati or Durga, they work together in battles killing demons like Shumbh and Nishumbh and many demons, for Raktabeej, Durga had to invoke the nine Matrikas from her.
Worship
The four-day-long (Saptami to Dashami) Durga Puja is the biggest annual festival in Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand and Nepal, where it is known as Dashain. It is celebrated likewise with much fervour in various parts of India, especially the Himalayan region, but is celebrated in various forms throughout the Hindu universe.
The day of Durga's victory is celebrated as Vijayadashami (Bihar, Bengali), Dashain (Nepali) or Dussehra (Hindi) - these words literally mean "the Victory Tenth" (day).[2]
In Kashmir she is worshipped as shaarika (the main temple is in Hari Parbat in Srinagar).
The actual period of the worship however may be on the preceding nine days (Navaratri) followed by the last day called Vijayadashami in North India or five days in Bengal (from the sixth to tenth day of the waxing-moon fortnight). Nine aspects of Durga known as Navadurga are meditated upon, one by one during the nine-day festival by devout Shakti worshippers. In South India especially Andhra Pradesh Dussera Navaratri is also celebrated and the goddess is dressed each day as a different devi like Saraswati, Parvati, Laksmi etc. for the nine days.
In North India, the tenth day, is celebrated as Dussehra, the day Rama emerged victorious in his battle against the demon, Ravana - gigantic straw effigies of Ravana are burnt in designated open spaces (e.g. Delhi's Ram Lila grounds), watched by thousands of families and little children.
In Mysore (which originated from Mahishasooru) in Karnataka, she is worshiped as Chamundeshwari, the patron goddess of the city during Dussehra (Dasara).
In Gujarat it is celebrated as the last day of Navaratri, during which the Garba dance is performed to celebrate the victory of Mahishasura-mardini, Durga.
The Goddess Durga is worshipped in her peaceful form as Maha Gauri, The Fair Lady, Shree Shantadurga also known as Santeri, is the patron Goddess of Goa. She is worshipped by all Goan Hindus.
In Maharashtra, Tulja Bhavani and Ambabai are worshipped as Mahishasur Mardini, who is the patron goddess of the land. Bhavani is known as Tulaja, Amba, Renuka, Yamai Saptshrungi and Jogai in different places of Maharashtra. She is the inspirational goddess of Raja Shivaji. As per legends, Bhavani appeared after Shivaji prayed to her and blessed him to be able to make Hindustan or the then India (ruled by the Mughals) independent - the kingdom he established eventually became the Hindu Pad Padshahi (sometimes also called the Maratha Empire), which comprised all the land ruled by the Mughals and brought India back under Hindu sovereignty.
In Bangladesh also, the four-day long Sharadiya Durga Puja (Bengali: শারদীয়া দুর্গা পুজো, ‘autumnal Durga worship’) is the biggest religious festivals for the Hindus and celebrated across the country with Vijayadashami being a national holiday.
Western references
Some early Western accounts refer to a deity known as Deumus, Demus or Deumo. Western (Portuguese) sailors first came face to face with the murti of Deumus at Calicut on the Malabar Coast and they concluded it to be the deity of Calicut. Deumus is sometimes interpreted as an aspect of Durga in Hindu mythology and sometimes as deva.
It is described that the ruler of Calicut (Zamorin) had a murti of Deumus in his temple inside his royal palace.[3][4] The temple was two paces wide in each of the four sides and three paces high, with a wooden door covered with gods carved in relief. At the centre of the temple, there was a metal idol of Deumus placed in a seat, which was also made of metal.
Western accounts also describe the ruler of Calicut worshiping an ultimate god called Tamerani ("Tamburan"). The accounts also describes a misunderstood form of the "hook-swinging" ritual once commonly performed as part of some popular Hindu religious festivals.
Notable temples of Durga
In India
- Shitla Mata temple at Patna Bihar
- Vindhyachal temple near Varanasi
- Kalka Mandir, near Nehru Place, New Delhi.
- Shitla Mata temple at Gurgaon Haryana
- Bala Sundari Temple Trilokpur in District Sirmaur Himachal Pradesh
- Shoolini devi temple at Solan Himachal Pradesh
- Bahu Fort Temple in Jammu
- Bala Sundri Temple in Billawar Jammu
- ChiChi Mata Temple in Jammu
- Kol Kandoli Temple in Jammu
- Mahamaya Temple in Jammu
- Sukrala Mata Temple in Jammu
- Vaishno Devi Temple in Katra Jammu
- Chamundeshwari Temple, Mysore Karnataka
- Kateel Durgaparameshwari Temple, near Mangalore, Karnataka
- Kollur Sri mookambika Temple, near Udupi, Karnataka
- Adichikkavu Sree Durga Devi Kshetram, Pandanad, Kerala
- Ammathiruvadi Temple, Thrissur, Kerala, India
- Vengoor Sree Durga Devi Temple, near Perumbavoor- Kerala[5]
- Biraja Temple, Jajpur, Odisha
- Durga Temple, Baideshwar, Odisha
- Katak Chandi Temple, Cuttack, Odisha
- Kichakeshwari Temple, Odisha
- Manikeshwari Temple, Bhawanipatna, Odisha.
- Ambika Mata Temple in the village of Jagat near Mount Abu in Rajasthan
- Shila Devi temple at Amber, Jaipur, Rajasthan
- Kanak Durga Temple, Chikligarh, Medinipur, West Bengal
- Nava Durga Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal[6]
- Tarakeswar, Hooghly District, West Bengal
- Tarapith, Birbhum, West Bengal
Outside India
- Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Prambanan Temple, Indonesia
- Sri Santha Durga Devi Army Camp in Sungai Petani, Malaysia
- Sri Thurgha Parameswary Amman Alayam, Kampung Tumbuk Pantai, Tanjong Sepat,in Selangor, Malaysia
In her aspect of Kali
- Belur Math, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal
- Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal
See also
References
- ^ "Durga,". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved October 7, 2009.
- ^ Esposito, John L. (2007). Religion & globalization: world religions in historical perspective. Oxford University Press. p. 341. ISBN 0-19-517695-2.
{{cite book}}
: Unknown parameter|coauthors=
ignored (|author=
suggested) (help) - ^ Jörg Breu d. Ä. zugeschrieben, Idol von Calicut, in: Ludovico de Varthema, 'Die Ritterlich und lobwürdig Reisz', Strassburg 1516. (Bild: Völkerkundemuseum der Universität Zürich
- ^ A briefe collection and compendious extract of straunge and memorable thinges, gathered out of the Cosmographye of Sebastian Munster, wherein is made a plaine description of diuers and straunge lawes, rites, maners and properties of sondrye nations, and a short report of straunge histories of diuers men, and of the nature and properties of certaine fovvles, fishes, beastes, monsters, and sondry countryes and places, published in London in 1574 by Tomas Marshe
- ^ http://www.durgadevitemplevengoor.com/contact_us.php
- ^ http://wikimapia.org/811725/NAVA-DURGA-MANDIR
- ^ "Stone sculpture of Durga Mahishasuramardini". British Museum. Retrieved 5 August 2013.
Further reading
- Amazzone, Laura (2010). Goddess Durga and Sacred Female Power. University Press of America, Lanham. ISBN 0761853146.
- Bandyopadhyay, Pranab (1993). Mother Goddess Durga. United Writers, Calcutta. ISBN 81-85328-13-7.
- Kinsley, David (1986). Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions. Motilal Banarsidass Publ., Delhi. ISBN 81-208-0379-5.
- McDaniel, June (2004). Offering Flowers, Feeding Skulls: Popular Goddess Worship in West Bengal. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-516791-0.
- Sen Ramprasad (1720–1781). Grace and Mercy in Her Wild Hair: Selected Poems to the Mother Goddess. Hohm Press. ISBN 0-934252-94-7.