Gaḍhakālikā and the birth of Baṭukabhairavas

Gaḍhakālikā and the Birth of Baṭukabhairavas 

Introduction:— 

Gaḍhakālikā (गढ़कालिका) Śaktipīṭha is one of the most famous Śākta pilgrimages in North India. It is situated at Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh. Various ancient Śāstras mentioned this Pīṭha. Examples:- 

अश्वत्थस्था महामायामुज्जैन्या पाशधारिणीम् । 

महाकालयुतां नौमि सवीर्थप्रतिपादिनीम् ॥

[[ Reference:— Manthānabhairavatantra : Kūmārikā Khaṇḍa : 64 Pīṭha Stava]] 

Meaning:— Salutation to Devī Mahāmāyā who resides on the Aśvattha tree in Ujjainī. She holds Pāśa and her consort is Mahākāla. 

The Kubjikāmata Tantra states almost the same Śloka — 

अश्वत्थस्थां महामायामुज्जैन्यां पाशधारिणीम् ।

महाकालसमोपेतां नौमि सर्वार्थसिद्धिदाम् ॥ २७ ॥ 

[[ Reference:— Kubjikāmata Tantra: 22 Chapter]] 

Tripurā Rahasya states, 

"करवीरे महालक्ष्मीः कालिका मालवेषु सा "

Goddess Lalitā dwells as Mahālakṣmī in Karavīrapura and Kālikā in Mālava.  

[[ Śrīmad Gaḍhakālikā ]] 

Brahmāṇḍa Mahāpurāṇa also mentions Mālava Pīṭha. 

"श्रीपीठ चैकवीरं च जालन्धं मालवं तथा " 

And Bṛhad Nīla Tantra states, 

"मालवे च महाविद्या विल्वपीठे च रूपिणी" 

About Baṭukabhairava :— 

[[ Baṭuka Artwork by Sai Tharun ]]

Baṭuka (बटुक) or Baṭukeśvara(बटुकेश्वर) is one type of guardians of pilgrimage sites or Kṣetrapālas. There are numerous Baṭuka Bhairavas. They're the sons of Paramaśiva and Pārvatī. Mostly they're worshipped through Vāmācāra (वामाचार). Bali (बलि) or sacrifice is necessary for them. The Prāṇatoṣiṇī Tantra tells that they were appeared on the Tithi of Jaiṣṭhya Śukla Daśamī (जैष्ठ्य शुक्ल दशमी). —"जैष्ठ्यशुक्लदशम्यान्तु बटुकोत्पत्तिरीरिता". 

The birth of Baṭukabhairavas is directly connected to Goddess Gaḍhakālikā. 

Story of Goddess Gaḍhakālikā :— 

The 62 Chapter of Kaumārikā-khaṇḍa(कौमारिका खण्ड) of Skanda Purāṇa describes this story. This story is very similar to the Tattva of Goddess Tārā Mahāvidyā(तारा महाविद्या). 

Once, there was a demon named Dāruka(दारुक). He was given boon that he couldn't be killed by Suras and Asuras. After getting tortured by Dārukāsura, the Devatās requested Paraśiva and Pārvatī to save them. Pārvatī took the black colour of the poison from Nīlakaṇṭha's throat and created her manifestation Kālikā (कालिका). Devī Kālikā of loud roar, went up to Dārukāsura and made him dead through her roar alone. His heart was split and he died along with his followers. Then stationed in the cremation ground of Avantīpura (अवन्तीपुर), Goddess Kālī roared loudly many times. Thereby the three worlds became maimed and mutilated as though dead. She became uncontrollable. 

रवेणैव मृतं चक्रे सानुगं स्फुटितहृदम् ।

ततोवन्ती श्मशानस्था महारावानमुंचत ॥ ९ ॥

Thereafter lord Śiva took a form of child and went there. He started crying in the cremation ground. Kālikā who became merciful, kept the child on her lap and suckled it at her breasts saying, “Do not cry.” Under the pretext of sucking her milk the boy drank up the anger arising from her body. After that, Kālikā became gentle. Thereupon, Devas became afraid of danger once again from Kālikā. They said, “O boy, do not abandon the child state. Have mercy.” 

The child said to the Devatās, 

"O Devas, You need not be afraid of Kālikā because the goddess has been made gentle. If you are afraid, I shall create other boys." After saying this, Sadyōjāta(सद्योजात) created 64 Kṣetrapālas from his mouth. These Kṣetrapālas(sons of Śiva and Śakti) are called together as Baṭukabhairavas. 

Sadyōjāta Śiva spoke to the Kṣetrapālas: “Twenty-five of you will stay in the Svarga(स्वर्ग) or heavenly worlds; the same number in the Pātālaloka (पाताललोक) nether worlds  and fourteen in the Martya(मर्त्य) terrestrial world. You shall protect these regions. The vehicle shall be a dog. The food offerings for you shall be the mixture of Rājamāṣa (राजमाष) and rice. 

If any man performs any holy rite without first worshipping you, that rite of his shall be fruitless. It will be enjoyed by ghosts and demons.” After saying this, Lord Śiva vanished there itself. 

॥ ॐ क्षेत्रपालाय नमः ॥