Shivadooti

Goddess Shivadooti is a powerful manifestation of the Mother Goddess Shakti. Shivadooti means, the one who has Lord Shiva as her messenger. She symbolically represents the unfathomable power of the Mother Goddess Shakti. As per the Devi Mahatmyam, in the battle against the demons Shumbha and Nishumbha, from Goddess Kaushiki appeared a divine light, which took the shape of Goddess Shivadooti. She was completely wild, and was yelping like a hundred jackals. She was given the task of asking Lord Shiva to carry a message to Shumbha and Nishumbha, that if they didn’t back down, they would be devoured by her jackals. Goddess Shivadooti is a symbolic representation of the infinite number of forms Goddess Shakti can take to put down Adharma.

According to the Kalika Purana, Goddess Shivadooti is described as having a dark complexion (with a red tint, most likely from the blood of demons), matted hair, with three eyes, and four arms. She wears a garland of skulls and a tiger skin loincloth. She holds a trident, and a scimitar, while her right foot rests on the back of a wolf and her left foot tramples a corpse of a demon. She possesses ten incarnations (Yoginis)- Kshemankari, Shantaa, Devamata, Mahodari, Karali, Kamada, Bhagasya, Bhagamalini, Bhagavaha, and Subhaga.