Jyoti

Jyoti

"light", "radiance", "flame", "brilliance", "brightness"; "luminary", "celestial body"

This is the light that fills the universe; the light of our consciousness. Also, jyoti is a burning light in lamps (dipas) in Indian temples.

In Hindu texts, the prefixing "jyoti" indicates the divine origin of the described objects, phenomena, deities, in other words, appeared from the divine light — the original source of creation.

It is believed that from the light of jyoti, 12 jyotir-lingams arose in various places in India – especially revered Shiva-lingams are famous Hindu shrines whose names and locations are indicated in “Shiva purana”.

From "jyoti" comes the name of traditional Indian astrology – jyotish.

The Legend of the Goddess Jyoti

Jyoti is the goddess of light and the divine spear (the vel). She is the daughter of Shiva and Parvati, and is closely related to her brother, the god of war, Skanda, who holds a spear in his right hand.

There are two myths describing the birth of the goddess. In the first, she appears from the Shiva’s aureole and is a physical manifestation of her father's mercy. The second myth points to the birth of Jati from a spark from Parvati's forehead, just as a Skanda is born from six sparks from Shiva's forehead. Along with Jyoti, a spear appears from the spark (the vel), which Parvati presents to her son as her own shakti. With this weapon, Skanda kills the demon Surapadman.

It is believed that Jyoti is eternally in a formless state (arupa) in all the temples of his brother Skanda. She is also the flame that surrounds Shiva in the form of Nataraja.