Kāmeśvari
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By Swami Harshananda
Sometimes transliterated as: Kamesvari, KAmeZvari, Kaameshvari
Kāmeśvari literally means ‘goddess lording over desires,’ ‘granter of desires’. She is the counterpart of Śiva as Kāmeśvara and an aspect of Kāmākhyā. Iconographical works describe her as dark in complexion. She has six faces, eighteen eyes and twelve arms.
Multicolored garments and tiger skin adorn her. Worship of Kāmeśvari is done in the Śrīcakra.
Weapons of Kāmeśvari
She carries:
- Pustaka - book
- Siddhasutra - thread
- Pañcabāṇa - five arrows
- Khaḍga - sword
- Śakti and śula - spears
- Akṣamālā - rosary
- Padma - lotus
- Kodaṇḍa - bow
- Abhaya mudrā - gesture of protection
- Carma - shield
- Pināka - spear-bow
Significance of Faces
Her six faces are of different colors and represent six deities:
- White - Māheśvarī
- Red - Kāmākhyā
- Yellow - Tripurā
- Green - Śāradā
- Black - Kāmeśvarī
- Variegated - Candrā
References
- The Concise Encyclopedia of Hinduism, Swami Harshananda, Ram Krishna Math, Bangalore
