Kamala and Devi are two names that are often associated with Hindu goddesses. Kamala is the name of the tenth and last Mahavidya, the ten forms of the supreme goddess Adi Parashakti. Devi is a generic term for a female deity, but it also refers to the Great Goddess herself, who is also known as Shakti, the cosmic energy that animates all beings. How are these two goddesses related, and what do they represent in Hinduism? In this article, we will explore the Tantric connection between Kamala and Devi, and how they embody the aspects of prosperity and power in the Hindu worldview.
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Kamala: The Lotus Goddess of Wealth and Bliss
According to Wikipedia1, Kamala is the Tantric characterisation of Lakshmi, the goddess of prosperity, abundance, and beauty. She is also considered to be the most supreme form of the goddess who is in the fullness of her graceful aspect. She is depicted as sitting on a lotus flower in the midst of an ocean, holding two lotuses in her hands, and making gestures of granting boons and giving assurance. She is surrounded by four elephants who pour nectar over her, symbolising her sovereignty and fertility.
Kamala is also known as Kamalatmika, Kamalalaya, or Kamalambika, which all mean “the one who dwells in lotuses”. The lotus is a sacred symbol in Hinduism, as it represents purity, beauty, enlightenment, and spiritual growth. The lotus also signifies that Kamala transcends the material world, yet is rooted in it. She bestows both worldly and spiritual blessings to her devotees, who seek her grace for wealth, happiness, success, and liberation.
Kamala is one of the ten Mahavidyas, the manifestations of Adi Parashakti who reveal her different aspects and powers. The Mahavidyas are worshipped in Tantric traditions, which are esoteric forms of Hinduism that emphasise the use of rituals, mantras, yantras, and meditation to achieve union with the divine. Kamala is the last of the Mahavidyas, indicating that she is the ultimate goal of Tantric practice. She represents the state of blissful awareness that arises when one attains self-realisation and merges with the supreme reality.
Devi: The Great Goddess of Power and Creation
Devi is a Sanskrit word that literally means “goddess”, but it also refers to the supreme female divinity in Hinduism. She is also known as Shakti, which means “power” or “energy”. She is the source of all creation, sustenance, and destruction in the universe. She manifests herself in various forms, such as Parvati, Durga, Kali, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and many others. She is also identified with Adi Parashakti, the primordial cosmic energy that pervades everything.
Devi is worshipped as the mother of all beings, who nurtures, protects, and empowers them. She is also revered as the consort of Shiva, the supreme god of destruction and transformation. Together, they form a dynamic duo that balances each other’s energies and creates harmony in the cosmos. Devi is also seen as the embodiment of wisdom, courage, compassion, and love. She grants her devotees various boons according to their needs and desires.
Devi is also associated with the concept of Kundalini Shakti, which is a latent energy that lies at the base of the spine in every human being. According to Tantric teachings, Kundalini Shakti can be awakened through various practices such as yoga, meditation, chanting, breathing exercises, etc. When Kundalini Shakti rises through the seven chakras (energy centres) along the spine, it leads to various physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual benefits. The ultimate aim of Kundalini awakening is to reach Sahasrara chakra (the crown chakra), where one experiences union with Shiva-Shakti or pure consciousness.
The Tantric Connection Between Kamala and Devi
As we have seen above, Kamala and Devi are both expressions of Adi Parashakti or Shakti in Hinduism. They are related as mother and daughter (Devi being the mother of all goddesses), as sisters (being part of the same family of Mahavidyas), or as aspects of each other (being different facets of the same reality). They are also complementary to each other in terms of their attributes and functions.
Kamala represents prosperity and bliss, while Devi represents power and creation2. Both are essential for human life and well-being. Without prosperity, one cannot enjoy the fruits of one’s labour and fulfil one’s needs and desires. Without power, one cannot overcome the obstacles and challenges that life presents and achieve one’s goals and aspirations. Without bliss, one cannot experience the true joy and peace that comes from within. Without creation, one cannot express one’s creativity and potential and contribute to the world.
Kamala and Devi are also connected through the Tantric practices that are used to worship them. Both goddesses have their own mantras, yantras, rituals, and meditations that are designed to invoke their presence and grace. By chanting their names, visualising their forms, offering them flowers, fruits, incense, etc., and meditating on their qualities, one can establish a personal relationship with them and receive their blessings. By performing these practices with devotion, faith, and sincerity, one can also awaken the Kamala and Devi energies within oneself and align oneself with their vibrations.
The ultimate aim of Tantric worship of Kamala and Devi is to realise their essence as one’s own true nature. Kamala and Devi are not separate entities that exist outside of oneself, but rather reflections of one’s own inner potential and divinity. By recognising oneself as Kamala-Devi, one can transcend the duality of self and other, subject and object, and experience the oneness of all existence. This is the state of supreme bliss that Kamala and Devi embody and bestow.
Conclusion
Kamala and Devi are two names that are often associated with Hindu goddesses. They are related as manifestations of Adi Parashakti or Shakti, the supreme female divinity in Hinduism. They represent the aspects of prosperity and power, bliss and creation, that are essential for human life and well-being. They are also connected through the Tantric practices that are used to worship them and awaken their energies within oneself. The ultimate aim of Tantric worship of Kamala and Devi is to realise their essence as one’s own true nature and experience the state of supreme bliss that they embody and bestow.
