Form · Shakta · Pan-India

Kaushiki

Also called: Ekanamsha

The goddess who comes out of Parvati's body. In the Matsya and Skanda Puranas she is the dark Night, Ratri, stepping out when Parvati turns golden; Brahma gives her a lion and sends her to the Vindhya mountains. In the Devi Mahatmya she is a radiant goddess who issues from Parvati, after which Parvati herself turns dark and is called Kalika.

Sources: The Matsya Puranam, Part II (chapters 129-292), translated by a Taluqdar of Oudh (Sacred Books of the Hindus 17.2, 1917); The Skanda Purana, tr. G. V. Tagare (Motilal Banarsidass), Maheshvara Khanda, Kaumarika Khanda, on wisdomlib.org; The Markandeya Purana, tr. F. E. Pargiter (Bibliotheca Indica, 1904) · see Kaushiki's web

Relations 3

Kaushiki dwells at

Vindhya mountains (Place) · Night colours the unborn Parvati
Brahma sends her to the Vindhya mountains.

Kaushiki emanates from

Parvati (Consort) Shakta · Night colours the unborn Parvati
Kaushiki issues from Parvati's body.

Kaushiki form of

Ratri (God) · Night colours the unborn Parvati
In the Matsya Purana the dark skin shed by Parvati resumes the form of Ratri and is then called Kaushiki and Ekanamsha.

Stories 1

Night colours the unborn Parvati
Legend · as the dark goddess who steps out · 3 tellings

Cited

The Matsya Puranam, Part II (chapters 129-292), translated by a Taluqdar of Oudh (Sacred Books of the Hindus 17.2, 1917) § 157.13-19 Primary text (translation)
The Skanda Purana, tr. G. V. Tagare (Motilal Banarsidass), Maheshvara Khanda, Kaumarika Khanda, on wisdomlib.org § kaumarika.29.45-51 Primary text (translation)
The Markandeya Purana, tr. F. E. Pargiter (Bibliotheca Indica, 1904) § 85.38-41 Primary text (translation)