TheTridevi[a] are atrinity ofsupreme divinity inHinduism, joining atriad of eminent goddesses either as a feminine version of theTrimurti, or as consorts of a masculine Trimurti, depending on the denomination. This triad is typicallypersonified by theHindu goddessesSaraswati,Lakshmi, andParvati.[1] InShaktism, these triune goddesses are the manifestations of Mula-Prakriti orMahadevi.[2]
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In the traditional androcentric (masculine-centered) denominations of Hinduism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are relegated as consorts and auxiliary deities to the masculine Trimurti gods. In Shaktism, the feminine Tridevi goddesses are given the eminent roles ofcreator (Mahasaraswati),preserver (Mahalakshmi), anddestroyer (Mahakali),[3] with the masculine Trimurti gods being relegated as the auxiliary deities as agents of the feminine Tridevi.
Saraswati is the goddess of learning, arts, and music, as well as the consort ofBrahma, the creator.[4]
Lakshmi is the goddess of fortune, wealth, fertility, auspiciousness, light, and material and spiritual fulfillment, as well as the consort ofVishnu, the maintainer or preserver.[5] However, Lakshmi does not signify mere material wealth, but also abstract prosperity, such as glory, magnificence, joy, exaltation, and greatness, and spiritual fulfillment, which translates tomoksha.
Parvati is the goddess of power, war, beauty, and love. She is the consort ofShiva, the destroyer of evil, or transformer.[6]
Mahasarasvati is described to be the slayer ofShumba in theDevi Bhagavata Purana, suggesting that she has little to do with Saraswati.[7]
Mahalakshmi is the prosperity aspect of Devi. She has two forms, Vishnu-priya Lakshmi and Rajyalakshmi. The former is the embodiment of chastity and virtuousness. The latter goes about courting kings. Rajyalakshmi is stated to be fickle and impulsive. She enters all those places where virtue and charity may be found, and as soon as these two vanish from any place, Rajyalakshmi will also vanish from that place.[8]
Mahakali represents darkness—puretamas personified. Mahakali is one of the three primary forms of Devi. She is stated to be a powerful cosmic aspect (vyaṣṭi) of Devi, and represents the guna (universal energy) named tamas, and is the personification of the universal power of transformation, the transcendent power of time.[9]
ViaBuddhism andsyncretism with JapaneseShinto deities, the Tridevi entered Japanese mythology as the goddessesBenzaitennyo 弁財天女 (Sarasvati),Kisshoutennyo 吉祥天女 (Laxmi), andDaikokutennyo 大黒天女 (Mahakali or Parvati).
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