Parnashavari
Parṇaśabarī /Paranasabari"Parnashavari" [1][2][3] / Paranasavari[1][4] (Hindi: पार्णशबरी) is a Hindu deity adopted as Buddhist deity of diseases, worship of which is believed to offer effective protection against out-breaks of epidemics.[5]
Statues of Paranasabari have been found in Pala period excavations in Dacca. Also in India, the Kurkihar hoard contains seven bronze images of Paranasabari belonging to 10th- 12th century AD.[2]
Tara is the only female goddess worshiped not only in Nepal, Tibet and India but also around South Asia and the Russian Empire too.[1] In Buddhism , Paranasabari is depicted as an attendant of the Buddhist deity of same name, Tara.[1] Some say that the term Paranasabari is an attempt to connect the deity with Vindya region, as Sabaras held a stronghold over the region.[1]
Paranasabari is also depicted in some images of the Pala period found in Dacca, as a main goddess and escorted by Hindu deities Jvarasura and Shitala.[3] Both of these escorts are again disease related Hindu deities.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e Reflections on the Tantras. S̄udhakar Chattopadhyaya. p. 76.
- ^ a b History of the tantric religion: a historical, ritualistic, and philosophical study. Narendra Nath Bhattacharyya. 1982. p. 394.
- ^ a b c Studies in Hindu and Buddhist art. By P. K. Mishra. 1999. p. 107.
- ^ The social function of art by Radhakamal Mukerjee. Philosophical Library. 1954. p. 151.
- ^ The Indian Buddhist Iconography art. 1958. p. 520. ISBN 9788173053139.