Deities

Devi

देवी · devī

Definition

Goddess; in Shaktism, the supreme being itself. Manifests as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, the 10 Mahavidyas, the Nava-Durgas, etc. Devi is part of the deities vocabulary of Sanatana Dharma. This is a deity term used in worship, stories, names, forms, and devotional practice. Devi is useful when reading Hindu texts, listening to pravachan, following puja or vrata instructions, and connecting related ideas such as shakti, durga, kali, mahadevi. Related terms include shakti, durga, kali, mahadevi, which give the word its surrounding vocabulary. References for this entry include Devi Mahatmya, Devi Bhagavata, Devi Bhagavata Purana, Shakta traditions; exact usage can vary by sampradaya, text, and family practice.

हिन्दी अर्थ

देवी; परम स्त्री-शक्ति।

Sources Cited

· Devi Mahatmya
· Devi Bhagavata
· Devi Bhagavata Purana
· Shakta traditions

How Devi Fits into Sanātana Dharma

Hindu thought is built from a vocabulary of carefully-distinguished terms. Words like devi are not loose translations — each has a precise scriptural genealogy, a specific role in ritual or philosophy, and often a counterpart that completes its meaning. Many of the major Hindu darśanas (Sāṅkhya, Yoga, Vedānta, Mīmāṃsā, Nyāya, Vaiśeṣika) refined their vocabulary over centuries; the same Sanskrit term can carry different shades in different schools.

Devi sits within a cluster of related concepts — shakti, durga, kali, mahadevi. Reading these together gives you the actual texture of the idea, rather than treating it as an isolated definition. Each Sanskrit term in this glossary is cross-linked to the others it presupposes.

Where useful we cite the primary scriptural source — the Upaniṣad, sūtra, or smṛti passage where the term is given its classical sense — alongside trusted modern dictionaries (Monier-Williams, V.S. Apte, Sanskrit Heritage). For practical questions about usage in pūjā or daily life, ask a paṇḍita in your tradition.

Concept Context

Devi is part of the deities vocabulary of Sanatana Dharma. This is a deity term used in worship, stories, names, forms, and devotional practice.

Devi is useful when reading Hindu texts, listening to pravachan, following puja or vrata instructions, and connecting related ideas such as shakti, durga, kali, mahadevi.

FAQs

What does Devi mean?

Goddess; in Shaktism, the supreme being itself. Manifests as Durga, Kali, Lakshmi, Saraswati, Parvati, the 10 Mahavidyas, the Nava-Durgas, etc.

How is Devi used in Hindu practice or study?

Devi is used in deities contexts and should be understood with related Sanskrit terms, scripture, and living tradition.

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