imported>Rodw at 13:44, 24 August 2021

2021-08-24T13:44:50Z

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{{More references|date=October 2018}}
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{{short description|Hindu goddess of victory}}

{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Maashoolini.jpeg
| caption = Maa Shoolini
| name = Maa Shoolini
| Sanskrit_transliteration = शूलिनी
| affiliation = [[Devi]], [[Durga]], [[Parvati]], [[Adi Parashakti]]
| god_of = Goddess of Victory
| abode = [[Mount Meru]], [[Mount Kailash]]
| consort = [[Shiva]]
| weapon = [[Trident]], [[Discus]], [[Conch]], [[Bow and arrow|Bow]], [[Arrow]], [[Club (weapon)|Club]], [[Scimitar]]
| mount = [[Lion]]
}}

'''Shoolini''', ([[Sanskrit]]: शूलिनी) is the principal form of the Goddess [[Durga]] or [[Parvati]], also known as [[Devi]] and [[Shakti]].

'''Maa Shoolini''' ([[Devi|Mahashakti]]), the form and formless, is the root of knowledge, wisdom, creation, preservation and annihilation. She is [[Shakti]] or power of Lord [[Shiva]].

[[Narasimha]], the fourth incarnation of Lord [[Vishnu]], couldn't control his rage after killing the unruly demon king [[Hiranyakashipu]]. He was becoming a threat to the entire universe. So, Lord Shiva, in order to pacify Narasimha, manifestated as [[Sharabha]]. Shoolini was also manifested with the blessing of Lord Shiva to tame Narasimha.

'''Maa Shoolini''' is also popularly known as '''Shoolini Durga''', '''Shivani''', and '''Saloni''', often being compared to Goddesses such as [[Durga]] and [[Parvati]].

She is also the Kula Devi (family deity), of Solan people.

== Manifestation or Incarnation of Maa Shoolini ==

[[File:Shivshambhu.jpeg|Jai shankar|thumb|left]]

It was the time when Lord Vishnu took the form of Lord Narasimha to save his devotee Prahlada. This was the 4th avatar of Lord Vishnu. Narasimha was half-man and half-lion, having a human-like torso and lower body, with a lion-like face and claws.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Williams, George M. (George Mason), 1940-|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/124166483|title=Handbook of Hindu mythology|date=2008|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-533261-2|location=Oxford|oclc=124166483}}</ref>

After Narasimha killed the demon Hranyakashyapu, the devas or demigods were unable to calm his fury. Narasimha started on a spree of destruction, and no one could calm him. On seeing this, Lord Shiva decided to tame Lord Narasimha. <blockquote>Thus Lord Shiva took on the incarnated form of '''Sharabha, Sarabeshwara,''' to tame Narasimha. This form was part bird and part lion, and is also called '''Sharabeshwaramurti'''. </blockquote>
[[File:Boomshankarrr.JPEG|thumb|386x386px|alt=By Suraj Shanu|Lord Sharbha, Right Wing is Maa Shoolini]]Sarabha was an eight-legged beast, mightier than a lion or an elephant and capable of pacifying a lion.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-02-26|title=Cologne Scan|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226140735/http://www.sanskrit-lexicon.uni-koeln.de/cgi-bin/monier/serveimg.pl?file=/scans/MWScan/MWScanjpg/mw1057-zaryahan.jpg|access-date=2020-09-13|website=web.archive.org}}</ref>

Goddess Paravat then manifestated as Maa Shoolini and appeared in the right wing of Sharabhaji. She is black in color - that is why she is called Saloni. She is also holding a weapon called a 'Shool' and so she is also called 'Shool Dharini' - and is a form of Maa Kali or Maa Durga. She is also known as '''Shoolini Durga'''.

[[File:Sharbavsgandaberuda.jpg|Sharbha (Lord Shiva) Gandaberuda (Lord Vishnu)|442x442px|thumb]]

But this was not the end.After '''Lord Shiva''' manifestated as Sarabha, Lord Narasimha got angry and assumed the form of Gandaberunda, a ferocious two-headed-bird-animal to combat Sharabha. Gandaberuda had two heads, rows of teeth, was black in complexion and had wide wings. Gandaberuda, along with [[Varaha]] (the boar avatar of Vishnu) fought fiercely with Sharabha (Lord Shiva) for eighteen days. After such a fierce fight Lord Vishnu in the form of Gandaberuda defeated and tore apart Sarabha (Lord Shiva) and thus ended the fight.

[[File:Thodo ground during Shoolini Mahotsav.jpg|thumb|342x342px]]
Shoolini Mela Solan, the Mushroom city of India acquires its name from the sacred shrine of '''Goddess Shoolini''' positioned in Solan. The marvellous temple of '''Shoolini Devi''' is principally reckoned for the Shoolini Mela celebrated here in the last week of June every year.

Dedicated to the patron Goddess of Solan i.e. Maa Shoolini, celebrated in the honor of '''Goddess Shoolini''' commemorates the three days visit of the Goddess Shoolini Devi to her elder sister. The citizens of Solan as well as the devotees alight here from neighbouring regions congregate at the '''Shoolini Devi''' Temple.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Service|first=Tribune News|title=Historic Shoolini fair takes off|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/archive/himachal/historic-shoolini-fair-takes-off-791270|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Tribuneindia News Service|language=en}}</ref>

'''Goddess Shoolini''' is taken out of her temple in an extravagantly ornamented palanquin.<ref>{{Cite web|title=शूलिनी मेले की सांस्कृतिक संध्याओं पर खर्च होंगे 21 लाख|url=https://www.jagran.com/himachal-pradesh/solan-meeting-shoolini-mela-in-solan-singer-name-not-final-19307838.html|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Dainik Jagran|language=hi}}</ref> The procession passes through different locales of Solan and everywhere it is escorted in a very ostentatious manner. The Mata Durga Temple of the Ganj Bazar is the ultimate destination of Goddess Shoolini which is regarded to be the abode of her sister Durga Devi. The Goddess Shoolini halts at her sister's place for three days and then returns to her own domicile.

The return journey of the Goddess to her own temple is celebrated on the last day of Shoolini Mela with even more pomp and grandeur. On the third day, the festivity reaches its culmination. Solan is jampacked with a deluge of devotees and visitors and the entire township throbs with unequalled gusto and fervour.

Shoolini Mela is the quintessence of Solan's traditional.<ref>{{Cite web|title=राज्य स्तरीय शूलिनी मेला स्थगित, ऑनलाइन मां के दर्शन कर सकेंगे श्रद्धालु|url=https://www.amarujala.com/shimla/shoolini-fair-in-solan-2020-online-darshan-of-goddess-shoolini|access-date=2020-09-05|website=Amar Ujala|language=hi}}</ref>

== Temple of Maa Shoolini ==
[[File:Maamandir.jpeg|alt=Maa Shoolini Temple|thumb|380x380px|shoolini devi mandir]]
;[[Himachal Pradesh]]
* Shoolini Devi temple at [[Solan]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Hindu folk deities]]

Maa Shoolini - Revision history

imported>Rodw at 13:44, 24 August 2021