Monday, October 19, 2026

Do you worship or know about any lesser known Indian Goddesses?

 “Worship” and “know about” are two very different things.

I regularly worship the Goddesses Kamadhenu and Lalitambika, who are somewhat lesser-known than the most famous Indian Goddesses.

I worshipped Kuteti Devi at her old temple in the Uttarkashi valley. Kuteti Devi is definitely a lesser-known Indian Goddess, a Rajasthani Kuladevi. A princess of Kota, Rajasthan married a man from Uttarkashi in the Himalayas, and moved there. She missed her beloved Kuladevi, so she and her husband prayed to the Goddess to come to her in her new home. Kuteti Devi appeared in their dreams and informed them that she would appear in the form of Pindis (holy stones) on the mountainside across the river Ganga from the Uttarkashi Vishwanath temple. The princess and her husband searched there and discovered three stones with miraculous heavenly aromas, and built the Kuteti Devi Temple on the site, with a beautiful view of the Uttarkashi valley, two kilometers up the road on a gentle saddle in the hill. I visited this temple and worshipped Kuteti Devi there.

I worshipped Manasa, a somewhat lesser-known Indian Goddess of snakes, Queen of Nagas, in her great temple atop a green forested hill overlooking the city of Haridwar. I was embarking on a Naga pilgrimage in her territory in Garhwal, and worshipped her to seek her blessings and protection in this undertaking. Also at that temple I worshipped her sister Mangalachandi.

I worshipped Shitala, a somewhat lesser-known Indian Goddess of pustular diseases, at her temple in Kankhal, India, and at Maya Devi Shakti Peeth.

I have worshipped Mariamman, though far more in Sri Lanka than in India - but she is also worshipped in South India and can certainly be considered an Indian Goddess.

I worshipped Chhathi Maiya, Surya’s sister, at the great Chhath festival.

I worshipped Surkanda Devi at her mountaintop Shakti Peeth.

I have worshipped all of the Dashamahavidya Goddesses, if you count them as lesser-known.

I have also worshipped the Goddess Varahi, the Ashtamatrika Goddesses, and Varuni in various contexts. I have worshipped Subhadra, Krishna’s sister; does she count as lesser-known? I have worshipped both of the wives of Murugan, the Goddesses Devayani and Valli - again mainly in Sri Lanka but they are very much also Indian Goddesses.

I have worshipped Neemari Devi, Goddess of Neem trees.

I have worshipped the Goddess Kamru Kamakhya, and Jwaala the Fire Goddess.

I have visited shrines to dozens of obscure Indian Goddesses whose names I don’t even remember, and bowed down to them in respect.

I know about many more lesser-known Indian Goddesses. For example Aranyani, a
Vedic forest goddess, elusive, more often heard than seen, as she avoids even small villages. But the closest I personally have come to
worshipping Aranyani is that once when I was with my Guru, my Guru sang a bhajan to Aranyani - a very rare and curious thing. I paid very close attention to it and was quite intrigued.

As for merely knowing about lesser-known Indian Goddesses, without having personally worshipped them, yes I know about many - Ratri the Goddess of Night, Ushas the Dawn Goddess, Sarama the Dog Goddess, Vrinda Devi the Plant Goddess, Vasanti the Goddess of Spring, Karni Mata the Rat Goddess, Kotravai the War Goddess, Parnashavari the Leaf-Clad Lady, Chandi the Queen of Dust, Aiyai the Huntress, Budhi Pallien the great Tigress, Bonbibi the forest guardian, Khodiyaar Maa the Crocodile Mother, many River Goddesses, Kalabau, Bahuchara, Danu, Vindhyavasini, Janguli, Nirriti, Anjana, Neela Saraswati, Talavasini, Puliyidaivalaiyamman, Kadambariyamman, Maisamma, Asvayujau, Dinsana, Raka, Purandhi, Parendi, Bharati, Mahi, Jangubai, Phouoibi, Bhadra, Garelaisama, Swasthani… I could go on listing them indefinitely.

I also worship and know about many lesser-known Indian male Gods.