Annapoornaa Maa
Annapoornaa is the mother of all materials and food, Once when Shiv told Paarvatee that, "The world is an illusion, nature is an illusion, Matter is a mirage, here one moment goes and the next one comes. Even food is just Maayaa." Hearing this Paarvatee Jee lost her temper and said - "If I am just an illusion, lets see how you and the rest of the world get along without me? saying this she disappeared from the world.

This disappearance caused a havoc in the cosmos. Time stood still, seasons did not change, the earth became barren and there was a terrible drought. There was no food to be found anywhere in the three worlds. Gods, demons and humans suffered the pangs of hunger. They wept like children who seek their mothers. Sages cried, "Salvation makes no sense to an empty stomach." After a long period of time news reached Shiv that Paarvatee had reappeared at Kaashee and had set up a Kitchen there for the benefit of the world. He ran there as fast as he could, along with every other hungry creature in the world. As he presented his bowl to her and said, ''Now I realize that the material world, like spirit, cannot be dismissed as an illusion."

Paarvatee smiled and fed Shiv with her own hands. Since then Paarvatee has come to be known as Annapoornaa - the goddess of food. The image of her serving food to Shiv is still worshipped at Kaashee in Uttar Pradesh, India. She is also worshiped in Unja (Gujraat) where she is known as Umiyaa Maataa. It is believed that she does not eat even a morsel unless her devotees have been fed.

Chaamundaa Devee
Chaamundaa Maataa or Ran-Chandee (warrior goddess) is the Devee of Power and anothyer Roop of Durgaa. Her manifestation is twin-like - Chandee-Chaamundaa. She has big eyes, dressed in red and green, adorned with garland of flowers. Her vehicle Lion is in front of her. Her very famous temple is in Gujaraat on a Mount Chotilaa. Two demons Chand and Mund, once pleased Brahmaa Jee with their penance. Pleased with them, Brahmaa Jee gave them Var that they will be very powerful and will take over the Heaven. Now the demons became very greedy and after taking over Heaven they tried to take over he three abodes of Vishnu (Vaikunth), Shiv (Kailaash), and Brahmaa (Brahm Lok). The three gods went to Maa Paarvatee, she took the form of Chaamundaa and slain those two demons.

Durgaa Maa
Durgaa or Mahishaasur-mardinee is a fierce goddess who slayed the buffalo headed demon Mahishaasur. When the demon did hard penance to Brahmaa, he asked Brahma to grant him a boon that he would be a very strong warrior that would never die being slain from any gods nor any animal or creature and if he was to be killed it would be by the hands of a Kanyaa kumaaree (female virgin) only. Brahmaa gave him the boon and Mahishaasur began to cause chaos in the world, by harming and hurting the people. Rishi and Muni who worshipped Shiv and Paarvatee and other Gods.

By this chaos in the world, the three gods, Brahmaa, Vishnu and Shiv were terrified and helpless therefore they went to the mother goddess Paarvatee. The three goddesses Paarvatee, Lakshmee and Saraswatee got together and created a new Mother goddess. This was Durgaa Maataa. All the gods came and gave her gifts of various weapons arms and powers to kill the demon. The goddess was so fierce that the gods stood back as she shouted "Pralaya Ho" and saying this she was ready for the battle.

Durgaa mounted on a Lion and left for the battle. Not only Mahishaasur but she killed other demons and beasts also and her lion ate their meat. She sliced the heads of demons and burnt them into ashes in the 'Hom Kund' which she holds on her top right hand. The battle lasted for nine days and nine nights. It is believed that Mahishaasur was slain on the eighth day which is known as (Ashtame). The slaying of Mahishaasur is the reason behind why Hindu and Sikh celebrate Nav Raatri celebrating the victory of good over evil.

Gaayatree Devee
Gaayatree is a Devee also who removes ignorance and lets her Bhakt see the spiritual sunlight. She is depicted with five faces with different colors, carrying different things, with ten graceful eyes, sitting on a red lotus. Each of her five faces signifies a specific meaning such as ---
(1) Pearl Color - Pearls are collected from the sea from shells. These shells come to the shore of the sea with their eyes and mouth open. When it rains, the rain drops fall into their mouth and if at the time the rain drops fall into their mouth, the Swaati Nakshatra (star) is in the sky, they absorb its radiation into them, then the rain drops are converted into original pearls (as distinct from cultured Pearls). These original pearls are Divine in nature. Thus the first face of Gaayatree is of Pearl color, giving out the luster of Pearls representing brilliance.
(2) Coral Color - (bright red) Coral is one of the nine gems. The second face develops the principle of Nishchal Tattwa in the aspirants mind - still mind.
(3) Gold Color - Very bright both in color and quality. Mere seeing the gold and exposing ourselves into its luster promote good quality and external charm in the aspirant.
(4) Blue color - represents the Sky. Sea is also blue in color. Vishnu is also blue in color - Vishnu Tattwa. This face fosters the aspirant with all wealth and also Divine Grace from Naaraayan.
(5) White face -This face represents purity. It develops purity in the mind of the aspirant and also grants divine grace from Saraswatee - the goddess for wisdom.

Kaamaakshee Devee
Kaamaakshee is the goddess of beauty and the embodiment of tranquility. She is in the Shree Chakra - a Yantra (a kind of spiritual diagram made of many quadrilaterals used to view and concentrate during Yog meditation). She is also known as Lalitaambikaa and Tripur-sundaree. She is seen in a glamorous and beautiful form seated in a lotus dressed in red and adorned with golden jewels with gems and pearls. The four armed goddess has a noose and goad in her upper left and right hands, and a lotus and a bow of sugar cane (symbolizes sweetness in life) in her lower left and right hands.

She appeared when Kaam Dev (Cupid) was burnt into ashes by the opening of Shiv's third eye. Chitrakarmaa (the god of art) collected the ashes and drew a picture of a man from the sprinkling of that ash. As Shiv glanced at the ash figure it leaped into life. Chitrakarmaa advised the man that he was born due to the glance of Shiv's merciful eyes hence he should do penance to Shiv and recite the Shat Rudreeya (Mantra).

He did so and after Shiv was pleased he blessed him with the lordship of the world for 60,000 years. Hearing this Brahmaa feared that there would be havoc and chaos in the world, so he cried out in despair "Bhand, Hey Bhand", Therefore the man was known as Bhand. He took over Indra's Heaven and Earth and caused a great havoc. Due to this Indra decided to do a Hom (Yagya) to please "Shakti". From this fire arose a beautiful Shree Chakra from which appeared this Devee known as Kaamaakshee. Kaaamaakshee told the gods and goddesses not to fear and that Bhand will soon come to an end. There was a big battle which lasted for four days and the Goddess Kaamaakshee killed Bhand along with all his kinsmen.

Meenaakshee
Meenaakshee is another form of Paarvatee. Meen means fish and Akshi means eyes, that is why Meenaakshee means "who has fish-like eyes". Her main famous temple is in Madurai, (Tamilnaadu), She was the powerful princess of Madurai. She rode horses, tamed elephants, wrestled with bulls and lions. She won all the four corners of the world, but at the foot of Himaalaya, one ascetic refused to recognize her. She fell in love with Shiv, married him in Madurai with the blessings of Vishnu.

Santoshee Maa
Santoshee Maa is the goddess of patience. She is the daughter of Lord Ganesh. This Devee appeared when two sons of Manasaa Devee wanted a sister to tie them a Raakhee on their wrists. Women pay oaths and seek her blessings by keeping a fast on Fridays by avoiding sour food. Devee appeared on Earth to help her devotees in their difficult conditions. Once there was a conflict between Paarvatee, Saraswatee and Lakshmee, she helped her devotees to show that she was also powerful as others.

She holds a sword in her upper left hand, a trident in her upper right hand, her lower left hand showing Abhaya Mudraa and blessings and her lower right hand holding a bowl of Kheer which is Mother's favorite food.