The Sacred Form of Shakambhari – Symbolism, Scripture and Sculpture
Shakambhari Devi is one of the most profound and
compassionate forms of the Divine Mother in Shakta tradition. Her narrative
appears prominently in the Devi Mahatmya (also called Durga Saptashati or
Chandi Patha), embedded within the Markandeya Purana, as well as in the Devi
Bhagavata Purana. According to the account, when the earth suffered a hundred
years of drought caused by the asura Durgamasura, all vegetation perished and
the sages and gods, unable to perform their rites, turned to the Goddess in supplication.
Moved by compassion, Devi manifested with countless eyes, weeping continuously
for the suffering of creation, and from her own being produced vegetables,
fruits, roots and grains to sustain all life.
The Devi Mahatmya records her own declaration of this form.
She proclaims that she will support the entire world with life sustaining
vegetation born of her own body, and that on account of this she shall be known
upon the earth as Shakambhari.
Meaning of the Name
The name is formed of two Sanskrit roots, "shaka"
meaning vegetables or greens, and "bhari" from the root
"bhri" meaning one who bears or nourishes. She is thus the Bearer of
Greens, the goddess of agricultural abundance. She is also called Shatakshi,
the hundred eyed one, referring to the countless eyes with which she watched
over suffering beings.
Iconographic Features
Since no single canonical text fixes her form rigidly,
regional and sectarian traditions present variations, yet certain elements
recur consistently across depictions and form her identifiable core:
Lotus – seated or held in one hand, representing
purity, divine consciousness and the unfolding of creation from her being.
Bow and Arrow – tools of protection, signifying her
readiness to defend devotees and destroy famine, drought and the forces that
threaten sustenance.
Fruits, Vegetables and Pomegranate – emerging
directly from her form, these represent fertility, abundance and her role as
the source of all nourishment.
Sheaves of Paddy and Grain – held or offered from her
hands, symbolizing agricultural prosperity and the sustaining of civilization
itself.
Herbs and Roots – denoting her medicinal, healing
aspect, restoring not only hunger but health.
Multiple Eyes – in many depictions she is shown with
extra eyes upon her body, representing her vigilant, all-seeing compassion.
Philosophy and Symbolism
In Hindu sculptural philosophy, a murti is never merely
decorative; every object placed in the hands of the deity encodes theology.
Shakambhari's iconography expresses the belief that the Divine Mother is
inseparable from Prakriti, material nature itself. Her body becoming the source
of food reflects the Shakta understanding that creation is not separate from
the Goddess but an emanation of her own substance. Where forms like Kali or
Durga emphasize the destructive power that restores cosmic order, Shakambhari
embodies its complement, the nurturing power that sustains life after chaos has
been overcome. Together these forms present a complete philosophical picture of
Devi as both destroyer of adversity and provider of continuity.
Regional Worship and Continuity
Temples dedicated to her exist in Sambhar in Rajasthan,
Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, and in the Banashankari or Vanashankari form near
Badami in Karnataka, where she is venerated as guardian of forests and safe
passage. This regional spread explains the variation noted at the outset, while
the recurring presence of vegetation, grain and the bow across all these
traditions remains the unmistakable signature by which she is recognized.
Relevance in Modern Art and Thought
In an age concerned with food security, sustainable agriculture and ecological balance, Shakambhari's iconography carries renewed relevance. Contemporary artists and sculptors increasingly draw upon her imagery to speak to themes of environmental stewardship, self-sufficiency and gratitude toward the earth. Her form offers a visual theology that predates but resonates strongly with modern ideas of nature as sacred provider, making her one of the more quietly powerful and increasingly revisited forms of the Goddess in current devotional and public art.