Dhumawati, the widow goddess, is one of the ten Mahavidyas. While
Lord Shiva and
Parvati were in the
Himalayas, the Goddess became extremely hungry and asked the Lord for something to eat. Shiva refused to give her food. Feeling hungry, Parvati swallowed the Lord, thus widowing herself. The Lord asked her to disgorge him and later when she did it, he cursed her. This curse made her to assume the form of the widow Dhumawati.
Dhumawati is portrayed as an ugly Goddess with rough and ugly ears, and long teeth and nose. She is tall and wears dirty clothes. The unsatisfied Goddess is always hungry and thirsty, and has a rude nature. She holds a winnowing basket in one hand and the other hand gestured to bestow boons. Her vehicle is a chariot with an emblem of a crow.
[Source (80) 20-July-2005]
