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Ishvari

From Tibetan Buddhist Encyclopedia
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Ishwari (Sanskrit: ईश्वरी, IAST: Īśvarī) is the Divine female counterpart of Ishwara. It is shakti and infinite strength represented in a form as an all-powerful, sovereign Goddess who reigns over all the worlds.

The description quoted below for Devi pertains also to Ishwari. She is the essence of energy - the feminine / divine mother principle - as Ishwara is the essence of awareness - the masculine / divine father principle... and all forms in creation are expressions of inseparable consciousness and energy. she is the greatest source of energy in the whole universe

Because Ishwara and Ishwari are pure essences rather than forms there are no images for them, and so the Hindu Goddesses arose - such as Parvati, Durga, Kali, Uma, Saraswati, Lakshmi, and many others - from the human desire for the feminine principle to appear more relatable.


Etymology


When referring to divine as female, particularly in Shaktism, the feminine Īśwarī is sometimes used.

The root of the word is the Sanskrit syllable īś, "to be valid or powerful ; to be master of", joined with vara, "select, choicest, valuable, precious, best, most excellent or eminent among"


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