Dinh Cô – The Palace Damsel
According to myth, once upon a time, Dinh Cô preferred death to returning to her parental home. She drowned at sea but emerged as a powerful goddess. Dinh Cô began her incarnation as a fishing goddess of the southern Vietnamese coast. She protects people at sea and thus became spiritual guardian of the mass exodus of Vietnamese known as the “boat people.” She was petitioned for safety and success. She is credited with protecting and sponsoring those who reached land, too, enabling them to start anew and find success.
Dinh Cô’s popularity has soared since the late 1980s as former refugees returned to her shrine to offer lavish gifts in gratitude, often in fulfilment of vows. These offerings testified to her prowess and attracted new devotees. As her reputation increased, Dinh Cô took on new roles: since the late 1990s, she has emerged as the matron goddess of women who work in Ho Chi Minh City’s markets. They now make up a substantial portion of her devotees. Hundreds of thousands visit her beachside shrine in Long Hai, east of Ho Chi Minh City, annually. She has a similar volatile nature as her sister goddess, Ba Chua Xu, and so it is crucial to fulfill all vows made to Dinh Cô.
ORIGIN:
Vietnam
FAVOURED PEOPLE:
Dinh Cô is the matron of female urban entrepreneurs.
Sacred site:
Her seaside shrine at Long Hai on the southern Vietnamese coast
Sacred day:
Annual festival on the twelfth day of the second month of the lunar calendar
SEE ALSO:
- Ba Chua Xu
SOURCE:
Encyclopedia of Spirits: The Ultimate Guide to the Magic of Fairies, Genies, Demons, Ghosts, Gods & Goddesses– Written by Judika Illes Copyright © 2009 by Judika Illes.