Maa Shoolini

Maa Shoolini
Goddess of Victory
Maa Shoolini
Sanskrit transliteration	शूलिनी
Affiliation	Devi, Durga, Parvati, Adi Parashakti
Abode	Mount Meru, Mount Kailash
Weapon	Trident, Discus, Conch, Bow, Arrow, Club, Scimitar
Mount	Lion
Consort	Shiva

Shoolini, (Sanskrit: शूलिनी) is the principal form of the Goddess Durga or Parvati, also known as Devi and Shakti.

In Shaktism, Goddess Shoolini (also known as Shoolini Durga, Shivani, or Saloni) is recognized as a principal, warrior form of Durga or Parvati, embodying the supreme Shakti (feminine power) of Shiva. She is regarded as both formless and embodied, serving as the cosmic source of knowledge, wisdom, creation, preservation, and annihilation. The name Shoolini derives from the Sanskrit root shoola (trident or spear), denoting her attribute as the wielder of the trident, symbolizing her capacity to destroy ignorance, ego, and malevolent forces.

Shoolini Devi Temple at Solan, Himachal Pradesh

According to Shaivite Puranic lore detailed in texts such as the Shiva Purana and Sharabha Upanishad, Goddess Shoolini manifested to assist in restoring cosmic balance after Narasimha, the fourth avatar of Vishnu, slayed the demon king Hiranyakashipu. Following the destruction of Hiranyakashipu, Narasimha's uncontrollable rage threatened the universe. To pacify him, Shiva assumed the composite beast form of Sharabha (a part-lion, part-bird entity). With Shiva's blessing, Goddess Parvati manifested as Shoolini and positioned herself in the right wing of Sharabha to assist in taming Narasimha's fury, thereby restoring universal equilibrium.