Last time we read about a Greek fertility goddess with
multiple breasts. We conclude our series of “Goddesses with difference” today with
a similar goddess from India, who has nothing to do with fertility as is the
popular connotations with similar gods, seen earlier.
According to a
legend, King Malayadhwaja of Madurai and her consort Kanchanmala were unable to
have children. Once while they were conducting a Putra-kameshti yagna to appease the gods, a three year old child
came out of the flames and sat on the lap of Kanchanmala. The girl was actually
Goddess Parvati who was answering Kanchanmala’s prayers of a similar boon she
had sought in her last birth. The child had three breasts, seeing which the
King was a bit disappointed.
Statue inside the Temple |
When the King
was feeling sad for having such a daughter, they heard a divine voice which
advised them to bring up the daughter like a prince and give her all the
training due to a prince, and as and when she casts her eyes on the man, she
would marry; the third breast would disappear. The voice also advised them to
name the child Tadatagai, meaning, one with irresistible valour.
Since the child had fish-like eyes, she was also called Meenakshi. She grew up to be a beautiful woman and a brave warrior.
On the death of the King Malayadhwaja, she was appointed the ruler of the
Kingdom. After winning many a war, around her region, she embarked on to Mount
Kailash, the abode of Lord Shiva. There she managed to vanquish all opposition,
till she came face to face with Lord Shiva and as prophesied, she fell in love
with him and her third breast was absorbed.
A beautifully
carved idol of the goddess can be seen in the Madurai
Meenakshi Amman temple close to the modern day Madurai, in Tamil Nadu, Chennai.
Shiva then directed
Meenakshi to return home and that he would join her in eight days, when both
were married off by Lord Vishnu. According to Sthala Purana, both Shiva and Meenakshi ruled over Madurai for many
years as mortals.
|
The
reference to the Meenakshi Amman, the goddess is not depicted as a fertility
goddess. This goes on to show that the genesis of this story lies elsewhere.
Was it some sort of a deformity on the child born to the King and thus weaving
such an elaborate myth around it? Or was it taking a more sympathetic view on
children who were born freak? Or was it just something that the sculptor was
trying to say to the mortals of future?
Ancient
wisdom had its own manifestation, which might seem awkward to a sanitised and
scientific mind of the 21st century. But way back, when gods did
play an important role in child-birth, the matter was viewed as a divine
blessing and not to be cast aside at an orphanage or used as a part of a
freak-show for amassing wealth. The myths have their own message and when seen
straight, the message is so obvious.
One
doesn’t always need a prism to see the seven colours, once you know the
existence of it. Or do we?
If anybody has come across any such
deity from other cultures, please free to send in the details.
Pic Courtesy -
paliakara.blogspot.in
Wikipedia
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