Chthonia Episode 33
Kaumari
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This week’s podcast is about Kaumari, the Shakti (primal energy) of the Hindu war god Kaumara (also known as Skanda or Kartikeya). This violent goddess, associated with the vice of attachment, also has a paradoxical role as the Kanyakumari Devi, a virgin child goddess of South India and Nepal.
I know of someone who worshiped Kartikeya as the a godess of the subconscious (or of the night, the domains of the lower states of consciousness… sort of). Never found her characterized in this way and was wondering if it was only because of his personal relationship or if there is any hint of that in the Hindu tradition?
Hello, Marco! Kartikeya is actually a god–he’s another version of the god of war, and rules the planet Mars, and often associated with Agni, god of fire. Kartikeyani might be the figure you’re thinking of. I’m not aware of her as a night goddess, though all the Matrikas have a “night” aspect–they are the shaktis of the male gods that are their counterparts, meaning that they are their vital energy. There is a myth that says all the Matrikas were sent to Patala, the lowest of the Hindu underworlds, after their battle against the demons because they all became so bloodthirsty. So, that might be the underworld/night connection there. It can get confusing, as the matrikas/shaktis/wives sometimes overlap in their function and meaning, and other goddesses may be called by that name, but not necessarily have that same exact role. For instance–some say that Maheswari is really Parvati, but in Tantra she is not–they have overlapping functions, but are not the same deity. Hope that helps! – Brigid