There was once a beautiful caterpillar who was smart and
sweet. Her name was Devi. Her dream was to become a mother and have little
caterpillar babies after she found a handsome and kind husband. Devi knew that
she would make an excellent mother. She was ready to nurture and devote all of
her time to bringing up strong young caterpillars. All day she fantasized about
this life she hoped to create one day… when the time was right.
Devi would name her first daughter Saraswati, who would love
to read and learn. From the day Saraswati was born, Devi would read to her,
feeding her insatiable desire for knowledge. Of course, this would lead to
Saraswati’s adoration of music and the arts.
Devi would name her second daughter Parvati. Parvati would
have a gentle and nurturing demeanor. She would have the biggest most caring
heart, much like her mother’s. Parvati was especially loyal and her presence
provided a constant comforting warmth.
Devi would name her third daughter Lakshmi. Whereas
Parvati’s energy was constant and comforting, Lakshmi’s was highly active. She
would be proactive and successful in both her mundane and spiritual life.
Lakshmi may not be a traditional woman but she would be a powerful woman.
Well Devi waited and waited for a husband. She had faith
that he would come but time was passing and she was getting tired and anxious.
Eventually Devi decided that she should take a nap and rest up for her long-awaited
husband’s arrival. She made a cocoon around her tired body and fell fast
asleep.
Source: How Stuff Works: Animals.
When Devi awoke from her much needed nap, she felt like a
new person. Devi thought, “That is exactly what I needed, a nap! Maybe now I
will find a husband.”
But when Devi began to emerge from her cocoon, she realized
that that there was something very wrong… she had taken the body of another
animal. She was no longer a caterpillar!
Devi didn’t know what to do. After awhile, she worked up the
courage to fully exit the cocoon, and she didn’t know what to think. She was no
longer her beautiful citron green color. Now she was the most brilliant purple,
and she had two wings… did this mean that she could fly?!
She decided to give it a try and with a flutter of her two
wings, she took off. No longer did Devi have the desire to find a husband. She
was so much more now: a goddess!
And it just so happens that she had all of those qualities
she hoped for her children within herself.
Source: Pinterest.
Author's Note: This story is based off the goddess Devi. I learned a lot about her from Chapter 5: Devi's Secret from 7 Secrets of Hindu Calendar Art by Devout Pattanaik. The concept of the goddess as the divine feminine is very important in Hinduism. The goddess represents raw energy that can be funneled into creating a family or protecting life. The divine feminine is infinite power. Similarly to my story of the butterfly, Kanyakumari was supposed to be married but after her groom never showed, she spun all of that pent up energy to becoming the powerful woman that she had always been meant to be, even if it wasn't exactly how she had imagined her life. Furthermore, I based Devi's children on three more goddesses, Saraswati, Parvati, and Lakshmi.
