OMKAR DATTATRAY
Baglamukhi or Bagala is the female form of a personification of the mahavidyas ,a group of ten Tantrik deities in Hinduism .Davi Baglamukhi smashes the devotees misconception and delusions with her cudgel .The word ‘Bagala ‘is derived from the word ‘Valga’ meaning -bridle or to rein in which became Vagla and then Bagala.
The Davi has 108 different names and some others call her by 1108 names .Baglamukhi is commonly known as Pitambari in North India ,the goddess associated with yellow color or golden color .She sits on golden throne having pillars decorated with various and has three eyes ,that symbolizes that she can impart ultimate knowledge to the devotees .Bagalamikhi is one of the ten forms of the Davi ,symbolizing potent female ,primeval force .
The main temples dedicated to Bagalamukhi or Bagala Davi temples are located at Shri Bagalamukhi Shaktipeetham ,Shivampet ,Narsapur ,Telangana state ,Bagalamukhi temple Datia MP,Buglidhar ,Ghuttu Uttarakhand ,Kamakhya temple ,Guwahati ,Assam ,Bagalamukhi temple of Lilitpur ,Nepal and Banghandi ,Kangra ,Himachal Pradesh .She is known as the deity of power ,protection and victory over obstacles .Bagla means bridle or rein while Mukhi means faced or facing .
The name Baglamukhi symbolizes her power to restrain or control negative forces and enemies.
Maa Baglamukhi is a revered Hindu goddess ,considered to be the eighth Mahavidaya -Great Wisdom in the Dasha Mahavidya tradition .She is known as the deity of power ,protection ,and victory over obstacles.
The name Baglamukhi symbolizes her power to restrain or control negative forces and enemies .Bagalamukhi is commonly known as Pitambari in North India ,the goddess associated with yellow color or golden color .She sits on golden throne having pillars.
It is believed that in Satya Yuga ,a great storm started destroying creation .
The god Vishnu was disturbed and performed austerities to appease goddess Parvati on shore of Haridra Sarovar ,the lake of turmeric Pleased with Vishnu ,the goddess appeared and brought forth her manifestation Bahalamukhi from the lake.
Bagalamukhi calmed the storm ,restoring order in the universe .Another tale records that a demon named Madan acquired Vak-Siddhi ,by which whatever he said came true .He misused it to trouble humans and murder people .
The gods beseeched Bagalamukhi. The goddess grabbed the demon’s tongue and immobilized his power. Madan requested the goddess that he be worshipped with her ,the goddess granted him this boon ,before slaying him .
Bagalamukhi is strongly associated with yellow color .She dresses in yellow clothes and ornaments .Various texts describe her affinity to the color ,yellow is an integral part worship ritual .
Bagalamukhi is propitiated with yellow offerings by devotees dressed in yellow ,seated on a yellow cloth .Yellow turmeric bead rosary are used in her Japa of her names or mantra(invocation). The color yellow is linked to sun ,gold ,the earth ,grain and fire ,signifying auspiciousness ,bountifulness and purity.
The yellow turmeric is associated with marriage. This is why goddess Bagalamukhi is also known as Pitambhara Devi.
Bagalamukhi is praised as the giver of supernatural powers (Siddhis) or magical powers (riddhis meaning good fortune ,prosperity ,wealth).
In Bagalamukhi stotratram a part ofv Rudrayamala (a famous Tantra work) ,there are hymns in praise of the powers of Goddess Bagalamukhi.
Bagalamukshi is one of the ten Mahavidyas of the astuteness goddesses ,symbolizing the intense female primitive power in Hinduism.
Goddess Bagalamukhi is the maker ,controller and destroyer of the entire universe. She is Aadi Shakti .She is the vitality which is the explanation behind the presence of this entire universe.
Without vitality ,nobody can survive. She is the incomparable power .She is the eighth Mahavidya .Bagalamukhi Davi crushes the aficionado’s confusions and hallucinations with her club.
Bagalamukhi implies the rear of Shiva.There is an only Bagalamukhi temple situated on the banks of Rambir canal on Jammu-Akhnoor Road near Muthi camp .
It is a rectangular yellow colored temple dedicated to goddess Bagalamukhi.
There is a small idol of Davi Bagalamukhi down stairs the temple which is in yellow color and her attire and ornaments also are in yellow or golden color.
The walls of the temple are also painted yellow and it is because of the fact that Bagalamukhi loves the yellow/golden color and even the devotees visiting the temple wear yellow color clothes.
People in large numbers visit the temple and pay their obeisance to the goddess Baglamukhi.
Besides the idol of Baglamukhi ,there are the idols of Ganesh, Shiv, Shani Dav, Hanuman ,Ram ,Sita and Lakhman and there is also the statute of Sai Babha, and the idols of Mata Kali and Jagatamba as well .
There is a big place for conducting Hawans and the lunger is sometimes also served to the devotees.
Being on the national highway ,the drivers ,conductors and the passengers stop at this place and partake of the Prasad. This temple has the distinction of being the only temple dedicated to Goddess Bagalamukhi and hence the people in large numbers visit the temple and offer the Ladoos of yellow color to the goddess and preferably the Ladoos are made of Bassian atta.
Since Bagalamukhi is the destroyer of all obstacles and giver of happiness and so people offer their prayers so that Goddess is pleased and bestow power ,health ,wealth and prosperity.
May Goddess Bagalamukhi remove all the obstacles in the development of the Jammu and Kashmir so that people are benefitted and live in peace and development.
(The author is a columnist,social and KP activist).
