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18. SAKTISM
Rig Veda tenth chapter includes - Sri suktham, describing the glory of goddesses, appears to be a late supplement to the Rig Veda differing both in language and in subject. Khilaratri sukta also mentions the Goddesses Mahalaxmi ,Mahasaraswati and Mahakali
uttānapad, 650 CE - Badami Museum, India.
In the Rig Veda X we have description of Vedic description Aditi which later became popular during the Gupta period as uttānapad ("she who crouches with legs spread"), and as Lajja Gauri idols with a faceless, lotus-headed goddess in birthing posture. The explanation is given as:
"In the first age of the gods, existence was born from non-existence. The quarters of the sky were born from she who crouched with legs spread. The earth was born from she who crouched with legs spread, and from the earth the quarters of the sky were born." Rigveda, X.72.3-4, cited in Doniger, p. 38.
Yajur Veda - Shatpat Brahman (a part of the white Yajur Veda) says when Prajapati, tired of creating beings, relaxed, Sri came forth from him. The Gods were jealous and wanted to kill her but Prajapati intervened and saved her life. In fact Taittirya aranakyas (a part of the black Yajur Veda) is the first to mention the name Durga.
Sama Veda - is the earliest known text where Sakti is acknowledged by the Aryans. Kena Upanishad tells of how the Aryan Gods had no knowledge of the Brahman and failed to recognise or acknowledge that their powers were granted by the 'Brahman'. When Brahman appeared before them as an Yaksha they could not recognize him. Indra sent Agni (Fire) to find out who this Adorable Spirit is. Brhaman placed a straw before Agni and asked him to burn it. He was unable to burn the straw offered by the
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