Question

According to Prothero the goddesses in Hinduism are either mild or wild. Which goddesses tend to be mild?

a) Goddesses who are female consorts of male gods.
b) Unmarried, childless goddesses.
c) Trick question.
d) They are all wild.

Answer 1

Goddesses who are female consorts of male gods tend to be the mild ones in Hinduism. They include deities like Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati, symbolizing nurturing aspects like knowledge and wealth, contrasting with independent 'wild' goddesses like Kali.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the understanding of Hindu deities, goddesses who are female consorts of male gods tend to be the mild ones. In the Hindu pantheon, goddesses like Saraswati, Lakshmi, and Parvati are seen as consorts to the major deities Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva respectively. These goddesses embody nurturing and benevolent qualities and often represent different aspects of domesticity, wealth, knowledge, and motherhood. They contrast with more fierce or 'wild' goddesses who may not be tied to male gods as consorts and embody more independent and sometimes warlike attributes, such as the goddess Kali. This distinction can be linked to the wider shift in Hinduism from Vedic ritualism to a form of worship emphasizing personal devotion, where consort goddesses play a significant role.