Introduction

Being a proud Hindu, I can recall my grandmother’s name, which ends with the ‘Devi surname’. The same is with my mother, who writes her name as ‘XYZ Devi’. First, I didn’t care, but after noticing the pattern in so many Hindu women’s names, I was surprised to see the uniformity. 

I mean, such a kind of uniformity is rare in Hindu men who inherit titles from their caste, race, or gotra. But in the case of Hindu women, this uniformity is common. This is the reason why ‘Devi’ became the most common surname in India. In this article, we will learn the factors behind, trace its history, find religious significance, and check its relevance in modern times. Stay tuned for the article to the end. 

Who Is Devi?

In India & the Hindu tradition, Devi is the term used to refer to the supreme feminine power or the ‘Shakti’. She is the source of energy in the universe and also the cosmic force behind every act of creation, preservation, and transformation. When I hear the term ‘Devi’, I assume her as Goddess Durga, who is considered the ultimate mother, the supreme feminine energy, and the Mahashakti. She is the Adishakti, Jagatjanni, Jagdamba, Bhagavati. Hindu women are considered the embodiment of the same divine energy. They are regarded as no less than a form of Devi. Hence, every woman is treated with the utmost respect and worshipped as the ‘Janni’ or ‘The Giver’. 

Meaning Of Devi

Devi is a Sanskrit word used to refer to a female deity. In Hindu traditions, it is used as a respectful title for a woman, thus offering her honour and equating her to the goddess by calling her ‘Devi’. It is the feminine counterpart of the similar word ‘Deva’, which means ‘the divine masculine form‘. It also represents the English word for ‘goddess‘. 

Surname System In India

In India, in the Vedic and Medieval periods, surnames were not necessarily compulsory to use. Instead of surnames, we were using Ancestors’ names, Kul or Gotra, for identification. Women were also not using the Devi Surname uniformly. But a great shift in the naming system was witnessed during the British reign. We started using surnames based on caste, race, and occupation. See in the lines below how this shift came into our naming system gradually over time:

In the Vedic Period or Ancient Times

Before the British Era, the surname system was not as uniform as it is today. In the Vedic period, the name used to be like this ‘Vasudev Putra Krishna’ (Vasudev Son Krishna), clearly indicating a name free from a surname. We were using lineage, Gotra, Kul, Father’s, Mother’s, or Ancestor’s name for identification. 

The women were also identified by their father’s name,  lineage, Kul or Gotra,  i.e., Sita, the daughter of King Janak, is ‘Jaanaki’, Draupadi, the daughter of King Panchal, was ‘Panchali‘, Madri, the daughter of Madra Naresh, was ‘Maadri‘, and so on. 

Various examples are present where men were identified with their mother’s name. Take, for example, Kunti’s son Arjuna as ‘Kaunteya’, Radha’s son Karna as ‘Radhey’, ‘Ganga Putra Bhisma’, etc. 

In the Medieval Period

In the Medieval period, the trend of adding surnames came into existence, inheriting it from the father’s name, occupation, profession, or place. Take, for example, ‘Prithviraj Chauhan’, who was the great king of the ‘Chauhan Dynasty’, inherited his surname from his ancestors, the same is with Chandragupta Maurya, the great King of ‘Maurya Dynasty’ & Dhananad, the great king of ‘Nand Dynasty’. Like this, there are many more examples in every region or part of India. 

By that time, Hindu women also started using the ‘Devi’ surname, but not uniformly. I am adding some famous names here, for instance – Rani Padmani Devi, Rani Durgavati Devi, Rani Rudrama Devi, and Ahilyabai Devi, who chose to ‘Devi’ surname instead of their lineage or Kul. But far more or less what I believe about them is that they sense like a supplement to complete the name or to make the name impactful rather than using it like a surname.

In the British Era

The British were more prone to the standardization of Indian names than the Indians themselves. It was due to administrative purposes, but they did it intentionally to track and trace Indians, ease their census duties, alter the Hindu lineage system, and deteriorate the Indian society. They injected caste-based, race-based, occupation-based & place-based glorification among the people. Hence, we started adopting surnames based on it and abandoned lineage-based surnames. We felt glorified, identifying ourselves with these surnames instead of lineage, Kul, or Gotra..

A great shift was seen in surnames when the poor, ordinary titles like Baatliwala, Daarowala, Jhunjhunwala, Lokhandwala, Mistry, etc., replaced our traditional surnames, reflecting our rich ancestral heritage.

The women’s names were added with the Devi surname for uniformity, for easy record keeping, and to avoid naming complications arising due to changes in families before and after marriages. The Devi surname became common for women (Hindus), leading it to become the most common and popular surname in India. It is estimated that ‘Devi’ is the surname used by over 70 million women in India. 

Note: See the source here

Is the Devi Surname Relevant in Modern Times?

When checking the relevance of the Devi surname in modern times, it sounds too old-fashioned for young generations. People are shy to use it as a surname, especially the GEN Z generation and the Millennials. However, women from the Classic generation are still using the Devi surname with pride, and I will applaud them for contributing their part in preserving our rich cultural heritage.

I am also proud of my mother and my grandmother, who passed on the rich customs to the next generations. In recent times in India, Hindu women use their husband’s surname, but still, the surname is inherited from the caste, race, or occupation and not lineage-based.

So, when asked if the age-old Devi surname is still relevant in India? I would say yes, it is. I can say this by taking inspiration from my mother, grandmother, and the lakhs of women who still are carrying the Devi surname with pride, letting us realise their essence as the true embodiment of that supreme divine feminine energy, whom we worship as goddess Durga, goddess Kali, and various other manifestations. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)