"She is described as having bare canine teeth, rounded eyes, ghastly smile, emaciated body, lean and pendulous breasts, sunken belly and peculiar sitting posture."
Goddess Dantura, in Hinduism, represents a fierce and malevolent form of the Mother Goddess. Primarily revered in the eastern regions of India, Dantura is a deity who embodies the darker aspects of divinity. Her worship involves intricate and secretive tantric rites, reflecting her complex and formidable nature.
The name "Dantura" itself translates to "one having fangs," a reference to her fearsome appearance. She is typically described with vivid and terrifying characteristics: her bare canine teeth are prominent, enhancing her fearsome demeanor. Her eyes are rounded and intense, conveying a sense of unyielding power and otherworldly presence. Dantura's ghastly smile is a symbol of her fearsome aspect, often interpreted as a reminder of the transient nature of life and the inevitability of death.
Physically, Dantura is depicted with an emaciated body, indicating her ascetic and fierce nature. Her lean and pendulous breasts, along with a sunken belly, further accentuate her stark and intimidating form. This imagery is not just a physical description but a symbolic representation of her transcendence over worldly desires and her dominion over the more terrifying aspects of existence. Her peculiar sitting posture is also noteworthy, often symbolizing her readiness to spring into action and her perpetual vigilance.
Some scholars draw parallels between Dantura and Alakshmi, the goddess of misfortune and strife. Alakshmi is often considered the polar opposite of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity. This comparison underscores Dantura's association with chaos, misfortune, and the harsher realities of life. Alakshmi, like Dantura, embodies the darker, less palatable truths of existence, such as poverty, strife, and adversity.
The worship of Dantura, involving tantric rituals, is not merely an act of veneration but also an invocation of her potent and often destructive energies. These rites are meant to harness her power for specific purposes, often to overcome obstacles, enemies, or to gain protection from malevolent forces. Tantric practices are deeply rooted in the belief that through such rituals, devotees can connect with the divine in its most raw and powerful form, seeking both protection and empowerment.
In summary, Goddess Dantura stands as a powerful symbol of the formidable and often frightening aspects of the divine feminine. Her fearsome appearance, association with tantric rites, and her comparison to Alakshmi highlight her role as a deity who embodies the darker, yet essential, facets of the cosmos. Her worship underscores the complex and multifaceted nature of divinity in Hinduism, where both benevolent and malevolent forces are recognized and revered.