Many of these depictions are not necessarily by yogis and seers who alone can see and discern the form of gods. Most images are rather made by devotees who have received some touch or influence of the higher mind. The images are therefore symbolic and not what the goddess actually looks like. For example, the third eye is often depicted to indicate a deeper vision, a power to see what is hidden behind the screen of ignorance, even a power to penetrate and act at the roots of the problem. The moon represents the spiritual mind in its various degrees of ascension. Cobra represents the force of evolution. Lotus is the aspect of a benevolent divinity. The weapons are each a power that destroys darkness and thereby liberates the truth within. The vahana or vehicle, an animal or bird again represents the specific nature of the action.
Shiva is tamoguni, a power of destruction that destroys darkness of the ignorance. He acts in the Inconscient to release the Force imprisoned within it.
Affectioantely,
Alok Da
