Some Rare Goddesses of India

According to Hindu legend, Sati, the daughter of Prajapati Daksha, married Shiva against the wish of Daksha. Daksha organised a great yajna (sacrifice), but did not invite Sati and Shiva. Uninvited, Sati reached the yajna-site, where Daksha ignored Sati and vilified Shiva. Unable to withstand this insult, Sati sacrificed herself in the fire. The wild, grief-stricken Shiva wandered the universe with her half-burnt corpse. Finally, Vishnu dismembered her body into 51 parts, each of which fell on different places on the earth, each creating a Shakti Pitha.

The list of Shakti Pithas differ in various religious texts. Many mention Vimala or Jagannath temple complex as a Shakti Pitha, and calls the location by various names. In the Kalika Purana, four Pithas (centres of Tantrism) are mentioned, corresponding to the four cardinal directions. The Oddiyana or Uddiyana (now clearly identified as Orissa) in the west hosts the temple of Katyayini (identified with Vimala) and her consort Jagannath. The Hevajara Tantra, which has a similar list, also mentions Katyayini as the Bhairavi and Jagannath as the Bhairava in the Pitha of Udra (Odra, identified with Orissa).

The Pithanirnaya or Mahapithanirupana section from the Tantrachudamani mentions Viraja-kshetra in Utkala (present-day Orissa) as a Shakti Pitha, with Vimala as the presiding goddess (Devi), Jagannath as Bhairava and her navel as the body part that fell here. One version of this text, however, demotes the site from a Pitha to an upa-Pitha (subordinate Pitha). Here, the Ucchishta (that is, left-over or partially eaten food) of Sati is said to be the "fallen part" ( anga-pratyanga) and the temple location is called Nilachal or "Blue mountain", which is the traditional name of the site of the Jagannath temple complex. Nilachal or Nila Parvat is mentioned as an upa-pitha also in the Shiva-charita with Vimala and Jagannath as the Devi and Bhairava respectively.

The Tantric work Kubjika Tantra names Vimala among 42 Siddha Pithas, where Siddhis - a set of supernatural powers - can be gained. The Devi Bhagavata Purana, Prana Toshini Tantra and Brihan Nila Tantra name the Vimala temple as a Pitha in their list of 108 temples. The Matsya Purana mentions Purushottama Kshetra with goddess Vimala as a Shakti Pitha. The Vamana Purana notes it as a sacred pilgrimage site. The Mahapitha Nirupanam also mentions Vimala and Jagannath as deities of the Pitha. In the Namasttotra Sata, a Puranic list of 100 mother goddesses, Vimala of Purushottama is named. The Devi Purana also mentions it as a Pitha where feet of Sati fell.

Shashti Mata: Shashthi Mata protects children and blesses expectant mothers who pray to her. She bestows children to women who please her. She is depicted on one cat and feeds one infant. She is connected to Lord Kartikeya. Padma Purana mentions Shashthi Mata to be Lord Kartikeya's wife. 3–5th century texts Yajnavalkya Smriti mentions Shashthi Mata to be foster mother of Lord Kartikeya. Shashthi Mata is also called Shanmukhi. Harsha Charita mentions about Shashthi Mata to be mother of born child which means Shashthi mata protects one child and bestows life. Padma Purana mentions about Shashthi mata to be child of Lord Indra while she is Lord Brahma child within Brahma Vaivarta Purana.

Bengali folktale tells incident of youngest daughter-in-laws of one prosperous household who loved to eat and had stolen meals everyday secretly but blamed one innocent cat who was thrashed and punished for no mistake of hers. That cat went to Shashthi Mata's abode to meet her and complained about this lady who blamed her. When this woman birthed one son that cat had stolen him and taken him to abode of Mata Shashthi. She did same for six sons of hers. When her female child was born that lady stayed awake to check who had stolen her children and she found cat who had come there. She wounded her with her bracelet but that cat within some way ran with her child and she went behind it. She reached abode of Shashthi mata who sat on her throne and played with her six sons and infant female child. Shashthi mata tells her why her six sons were taken from her and also told her to ask forgiveness from her cat. When that lady asked for forgiveness from that cat her infant child and sons were bestowed on her. She promised to worship Mata Shashthi. Mata Shashthi blessed her with wealth and no miseries.

Aditi Mata: Aditi Mata is the mother of celestials who is connected to Vak(mystic speech) and also sky. Aditi Mata was married to Kashyapa muni and she was blessed via him to have one ideal son who was Lord Indra ruler of celestials. namely Varuna, Parjanya, Mitra, Ansha, Pushan, Dhatri, Tva???, Aryaman, Suryaa and Bhaga are also her sons. She is also mother of Vamana incarnation of Sri Narayana. She protects the person who petitions her from sickness and sins. She sits on phoenix and has Trishul which is one of her weapons. Aditi Mata had observed Payovrata to please Lord Vishnu. It is observed for twelve days within which devotee fasts and drinks only milk for these days. Kashyapa muni instructed Aditi Mata to do Payovrata and when Lord Vishnu was pleased he became Lord Vamana and helped her son Lord Indra to achieve his wealth and prosperity.

Balambika is incarnation of Mata Parvati who is one divine child. She is considered to be one child and is one but bestows education and wisdom. Her temple was devoted to children because she is one divine child.

Bahuchara Mata is shakti who is symbol of fertility and chastity. She sits on rooster which symbolises innocence and she carries swords.

Anumati is one of deities who is not known via people. She is symbol of spirituality. Blackbuck is her vehicle and she sits on it. Anumati means permission or divine favour and is wife of Dhātā who is seventh son of Aditi Mata and who is childlike.

Draupadi is one goddess within some South Indian states where she is one village deity. She is revered and considered to be incarnation of Mata Kali. She is also Kuldevi of some homes.

This ans is not written to offend some one. Some may say that Bahuchara Mata is well known within Gujarat and some may say Balambika devi is well known within states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala but I wrote what I think. I think that people mostly who are not from Gujarat or those who live within Goa, Tamil Nadu, North-Eastern states may not know about Bahuchara Mata. North Indians may not know about Balambika. That’s why I decided to include them with this list of rare Goddesses. Jay Mata Di

Alamelumanga is the Dharma Patni of Shri Venkateswara Swamy . She is the Kaliyuga avatar of Shri Vedavathi ( Chaya Sita ) from Ramayana