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Annapurna, Giver-of-Food
1N1PWrN*
Alternate meanings: Possessor-of-Food, She-Who-Bestows-Food, Food-Provider.
[to Whom the third day of December, day 337, is dedicated]

Geography/Culture: Hindustani. {Perhaps at Banaras, see HDH 93 mid-way col 2}.
Linguistic Note: Sanskrit anna, food. Sustenance in a mystical sense. It is the lowest form in which the Supreme Essence is manifested. Metaphorically it is called madhu, honey, and the individual who recognizes it as the atman figuratively partakes of it and is called the honey-eater.
Description: Goddess of the household; She Who presides over the continuous transformation of substance and energy; She Who gives delight to all; Dispenser of blessings; {Nuturer of the spirit}; She Who is Dear to devotees; She Whose worship ensures the household and the world with never lack food.
"Food is the primary cause of the origin, continuance and dissolution of all beings".
To Whom Sacred: {food; honey}; rice; a mountain in the Himalyas (of which She is the Eponym -- every mountain is a potential divintiy and the abode of divine beings); the mantra Annapurne namostute, (fopho: 1N1PUrNA N1MOSTWTA), "O Annapurna! Obeisance to Thee".
Festival: held between mid-March and mid-April, during the waxing of the moon.
Iconography: she is clad in fine garments, ever giving rice, in one hand She holds a rice-bowl, and in another a spoon for stirring the boiled rice.
Male Associate: consort, various aspects of Siva.

Source: Stutley HDH 14, 174; Woodroffe HGHK 70-3.
Annapatni, {Superintendent-of-Food}.
1N1P1TNE

Geography/Culture: Hindustani.
Description: Goddess of nourishment; She Who presides over food.

Source: Stutley HDH 174.
Mahesvari, Supreme-Goddess.
M1HASV1RE

Geography/Culture: Hindustani.
Male Associate: consort, Mahesvara, (ie: Siva).

Source: Stutley HDH 269.
Saptamatrkas, Seven-Mothers.
S1PT1-M*TrK*S
Alternate meanings: Divine-Mothers

Geography/Culture: Hindustani.
Linguistic Note: Sanskrit sapta, seven, and matrkas, Mothers. Both matrka and matr signify Mother, particularly a divine Mother, and hence figuratively both terms signify source or origin.
Description: Mother Goddesses of waters and Earth; Those Who signify the reproductive forces of Nature; the Seven Mother Streams; Those Whose shrines are guarded by demons; Guardians of children; Nuturers of early Calukya kings; Those Who preside over impurities; Those Who represent the power of language by Their identification with the seven vowels as the basis of all language.
To Whom Sacred: asvattha tree (ficus religiosa); the number 7 (symbol of indefinite plurality); the 7 vowels (-- 5 pure and 2 mixed, e, o -- which, as the basis of all language, represent power).
Iconography: An Indus valley seal depicts a nude goddess standing between the parted branches of an asvattha tree below which stand seven female attendants. In other settings They are often depicted with children on Their laps or at Their sides.
Male Associates: Ganesa, Virabhadra and occasionally Skanda, Who are Their guardians.

They were not named till post-Vedic times, when they became known as:
Brahmani. All-pervading-self-existing-power, Who is linked with Vac, Creative-Word.
Camundi, Destroyer, Who is linked with Durga, Inaccessible-One.
Indrani, She-Who-kindles-thoughts-and-desires.
Kaumari, ----, linked with Durga, Inaccessible-One.
Mahesvari, Surpreme-Goddess, above.
Narasimhi, ----, Who is sometimes substituted for Camundi, Destroyer.
Vaisnavi, ----.
Varahi, {Sow}, Who is linked with Vajravarahi, {Strength-of-the-Sow}.
Source: Stutley HDH 185,269.
worked on: October 1995; August 1991; July 1990.
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