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The myths about Durga (the impassable) are like litmus paper. The paper indi­cates complete opposites (acid or alkaloid) as well as degrees of either. There are several oppositions: Durga as beautiful, peaceful sister of Vishnu, wife of Siva, or Durga as ferocious, powerful, avenging destroyer. Another opposition is Durga as approved and Brahmanical or Durga as heteroprax, left-handed, bloody, fully sex- ualized. Durga, the litmus paper, is the same. Some of her followers, (saktas, say that she is the Paradevi (the goddess as the Supreme). Some say Durga has mani­fested … Continue reading →

Drona had a miraculous birth. His father, the brahmin sage Bharadvaja, saw the naked body of the beautiful apsara, Ghritaci, who lost her clothes as she ran from the mortal. Bharadvaja had a seminal discharge that was saved in a bucket or trough, a drona, thus giving his son that name. Drona mastered archery and taught both the Pandavas and Kauravas this martial skill. Drona fought on the side of the Kauravas in the great Bharata war, becom­ing their commander-in-chief upon the death of Bhishma. He was killed when he … Continue reading →

The myths about Dirghatamas’s parentage varied widely; he was described as a son of Kasi-raja (according to the Mahabharata), of Uchathya (in the Rigveda), and of Utathya by Mamata (in the Puranas). But this brahmin came to be seen as having fathered a line of kings, so he inherited much more interesting parental karma in another version in the Mahabharata. One day Brihaspati, the ancient teacher of the devas (gods), was overcome by passion for Mamata, his brother Utathya’s wife. Mamata was already preg­nant with Utathya’s child and tried to … Continue reading →

Dhruva was the son of the second wife of Manu, the first human. Manu’s first wife and son treated Dhruva and his mother badly, yet they both accepted the abuse with gentleness and humility. When he grew up, even though he was a ksatriya (warrior), Dhruva joined a group of rishis (sages) and eventually became one himself. He excelled in austerities (tapas), to the point that he worried Indra, whose throne became hot from Dhruva’s efforts. Because of his devotion to Vishnu, Dhruva was immortalized as the North Star. Dhruva … Continue reading →

(1) A deva (god) In the Vedas, Dharma was a metaphor, a personification of duty. In later periods, however, Dharma was presented as a minor deva. Dharma was said to be born from the right nipple of Brahma, the creator. In the Mahabharata Dharma was given three sons: Sama, Kama (god of love), and Harsha. In the Puranas Dharma married thirteen daughters of Daksha-prajapati: Sraddha, Lakshmi (later to be given to Vishnu), Dhriti, Tushti, Medha, Pushti, Kriya, Buddhi, Lajja, Vapus, Santi, Siddhi, and Kirti. Famous sons of Dharma were Hari, … Continue reading →

After a thousand years of Churning of the Milky Ocean Dhanvantari arose with a water-pot (kamandalu) in one hand and a staff (danda) in the other. He rose above the water and worshipped Vishnu. He delivered the amrita, the drink of immortality, which was supposed to be shared equally by devas and asuras (demons). Vishnu promised him a wonderful rebirth. So Dhanvantari was reborn to introduce the science of Ayurveda (the indige­nous medicine of India), after his earthly father-to-be, Dhanva, worshipped his son-to-be as Abja-deva, the name Vishnu had given … Continue reading →

Devayani’s father, Sukra, was the greatest master of magic of his age, but he served the asuras (demons). The devas (gods) sent Kaca to learn how Sukra made the asuras invincible, and Kaca discovered that whenever the gods killed demons, Sukra restored them to life. Kaca caused Devayani to fall in love with him, and through her learned the magical power of mritasanjivini (giving life to the dead) from her father, Sukra. But after Kaca mastered the training, he left without marrying Devayani. So she cursed him, so that what … Continue reading →

As a daughter of Daksha, a Prajapati, Devasena could be considered a minor god­dess. In heavenly fields one day Devasena and her sister Daityasena were enjoy­ing nature when they caught the lustful eye of the demon Keshi. The demon talked Daityasena into marrying him but could not persuade Devasena to do the same. She prayed to Indra, who drove Keshi away with his diamond weapon (vajrayudha), but the demon escaped with the submissive sister. Devasena asked for a husband who could defeat the devas (gods), danavas (her half-broth­ers, sons of … Continue reading →