Shasta (deity)
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Shasta (
Significance
Shasta is a generic term that means "Teacher, Guide, Lord, Ruler" in Sanskrit.[5] In South India, a number of deities are associated with Shasta. The Tamil song Shasta Varavu states that there are eight important incarnations and forms of Shasta. This is also present in the agamic work Dyana Ratnavali. The Ashta-Shasta (eight Shastas) are Aadhi Maha Shasta, Dharma Shasta (Ayyappan), Gnana Shasta, Kalyana Varadha Shasta, Sammohana Shasta, Santhana Prapti Shasta, Veda Shasta and Veera Shasta.[6] Brahma Shasta is another term associated with Kartikeya.[7]
Tamil Nadu
In Tamil Nadu,
Literary references to Aiyanar-Cattan are found in
Later on, the
Kerala
The Shasta religious tradition is particularly well developed in the state of
Notes
- ^ Chakravarti, Balaram (1997). The Indians and the Amerindians. Self-Employment Bureau Publication.
- ISBN 978-0-8160-7564-5.
- ISBN 978-0-691-18641-2.
- ISBN 978-1-4502-2343-0.
- ISBN 978-1-888789-04-1.
- ^ "Shrines for Sastha, in eight forms". The Hindu. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
- ISBN 9027976325.
- ^ Williams, J., Kaladarsana, p.67
- ^ Williams, J., Kaladarsana, p.66
- ^ Books, Kausiki (12 July 2021). Brahmanda Purana: 4 Lalithopakhayana : English Translation only without Slokas. Kausiki Books.
- ^ General, India Office of the Registrar (1966). Census of India, 1961. Manager of Publications.
- ^ Williams, J., Kaladarsana, p.62
See also
Nurani, a village in Palakkad, Kerala, noted for its Sastha devotion.
References
- Smith, B. L. (1978). Legitimation of Power in South Asia. ISBN 90-04-05674-2.
- Williams, Joanna (1981). Kaladarsana: American studies in the art of India. ISBN 90-04-06498-2.