Bhagavati Katyayani

 Bhagavatī Kātyāyanī 

Introduction:— 

Bhagavatī Kātyāyanī 

Goddess Kātyāyanī is a manifestation of Ādyāśakti. "Kātyāyanī"(कात्यायनी) means the daughter of Kātyāyana (कात्यायन). This very popular form is shown as the Slayer of Mahiṣa demon. By killing that demon, she got the name "Mahiṣāsuramardinī" (महिषाषुरमर्दिनी). Her father, sage Kātyāyana was a Śāstrakāra (composer of Śāstras), Gaṇitajña Mathematician and Māyāvid. He was a great devotee of Goddess Bhavānī. But according to many scholars, Kātyāyanī may not be the daughter of Kātyāyana. The Skanda Purāṇa's Nāgara Khaṇḍa relates Kātyāyanī (or Kārtāyanī? )with her son Kārtikeya . Kārtikeya invoked Ādyāśakti to take this form. The scholars think that Kātyāyanī was the Kuladevī of Kātyāyana clan or tribe. 

Kātyāyanī killed Mahiṣāsura in this present Kalpa named Śveta Varāha Kalpa (श्वेतवराह कल्प). According to the Cāmuṇḍā Tantra (चामुण्डा तन्त्र), Kātyāyanī Tantra (कात्यायनी तन्त्र) and various texts, she is also a Mahāvidyā (महाविद्या), the great wisdom form of Ādyāśakti. Her consort is Śrīkaṇṭhaśiva (श्रीकण्ठ शिव). 

Historical Evidences:— 

Historically, the doctrine of Devī Kātyāyanī is very ancient. As per Asko Parpola, a seal from Kalibangan shows "a Durgā-like goddess of war, who is associated with the tiger". There are many ancient temples dedicated to her.  Her first mention is found in the Vedic literature. 

"ॐ कात्यायनाय विद्महे कन्यकुमारि धीमहि । तन्नो दुर्गिः प्रचोदयात् ॥" 

[[ Reference:—Yajurveda: Taittirīyāraṇyakam 4, prapāṭhakaḥ 10, anuvākaḥ 2]] 

In the Chāndas language (previous version of Sanskrit), the term "कात्यायन्यै" is mentioned as "कात्यायनाय". Kanyakumārī is most famous unmarried manifestation of Ādyāśakti in southern India. Durgiḥ or Durgī (दुर्गी) is related to Durgā. Durgiḥ is the previous and unsuccessful birth of Goddess Dākṣāyaṇī. According to the commentary of Sāyanācārya (सायनाचार्य), Durgiḥ and Durgā are same. 

In the Oḍiyāna region (Swat and portions of Afghanistan), the ruins of a six-handed Mahiṣamardinī idol has been found. The Kālikāpurāṇa mentioned "ओडियाने तु कात्यायनी". The Kālikāpurāṇa also described the location of Oḍīyāna Mahāpīṭha as in the western part of India. This sculpture is around more than 1200 years old. 

Her ancient sculptures have been found in Mathura, Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Kashmir, Pakistan, South India, Varanasi regions and even in Indonesia, Panjikent (Tajikistan), Java, Thailand and Cambodia . Ancient sculptures gave an unique portrayal of her. There she was killing buffalo by her hands only. 

Ancient Mahiṣāsuramardinī Sculpture

According to the Āsurī Kalpa, Durgā is the daughter of Atharva Veda (deity form). The text, Atharva Veda also mentioned her . 

Iconography:— 

Daśabhujā Durgā 

Being a Mahāvidyā, she has various iconographies. In the Navadurgā Pūjā description of the Rudrayāmala Mahātantra, she is described as four handed, red skinned, sitting on Mahāpreta. Her most famous iconography is ten handed Mahiṣamardinī form. Mainly this iconography belongs to Bengal and Bengal's Durgā Pūjā is dedicated to her. Kālikāpurāṇa, Brahma Vaivarta Mahāpurāṇa (Śrī Kṛṣṇajanma Khaṇḍa), Mahābhāgavata Upapurāṇa, Mahākāla Saṃhitā etc texts gave the description of this iconography. 

Vārāhī Tantra tells the weapons of Mahiṣāsuramardinī, when she has ten arms; these are— triśūla, khaḍga, bāṇa, śakti, kheṭaka, cāpa, pāśa, aṅkuśa, ghaṇṭā and paraśu. Vārāhī Tantra's another dhyāna tells that the weapons of the ten-armed Mahiṣāsuramardinī are the kartṛkā, mudgara (hammer), kunta (spear), kuṭhāra (spade), tarjanīmudrā, ḍamarū, śakti, padma, abhayamudrā and darpaṇa.

ईषद्धास्यप्रसन्नास्या योगिनीशतसंयुता । 

सिंहस्था च दशभुजा रत्नालंकारभूषिता ॥१८६

[[ Reference:— Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa: Vol IV : 27th Chapter]] 

Goddess Kātyāyanī is smiling a little, she is glad and surrounded by hundreds of Yoginīs. She is riding on a lion, she has ten hands and she is adorned with jewelleries. 

In the same chapter, she is referred to be Goddess Gaurī, the beloved wife of lord Śaṅkara. — 

हे गौरि शंकरार्धाङ्गे तथा त्वं शंकरप्रिया।

तथा मां कुरु कल्याणि कान्तकान्तां सुदुर्लभाम् ॥ १२७

According to the Mahābhāgavata Purāṇa, Daśabhujā Kātyāyanī is called as the residing goddess of Gaurīloka, the abode of Pārvatī. 

शम्भुलोकस्य वामे तु गौरीलोको मनोरमः । विचित्रमणिमाणिक्यसमूहैरतिशोभितः ॥ १७॥ 

तत्र या वैदिकी मूर्तिर्देव्या दशभुजापरा । अतसीकुसुमाभासा सिंहपृष्ठनिषेदुषी ॥१८॥ 

[[ Reference:— Mahābhāgavata Purāṇa: Chapter 43]] 

Meaning — Gaurīloka, the abode of Umā, is situated in the left side of the Śivaloka, the abode of Māheśvara. It is decorated with many precious jewels. Goddess Gaurī dwells there as her Vaidika manifestation. She has ten hands, her complexion is as glorious as Atasī (flax) flower and she rides on a lion. 

Kātyāyanī in Ancient Āgamic literature :— 

Ancient Durgā idol in Uttarpradesh 

According to the various texts of Kubjikā cult, Devī Kubjikā, the supreme Goddess took various births. She manifested as Mokṣalakṣmī, Dākṣāyaṇī, Pārvatī etc forms to unite with her consort Śiva. Unlike those forms, Kātyāyanī was born to kill Mahiṣāsura. 

According to the Tantrasadbhāva Tantra , Dakṣa's daughter Umā will born as Kātyāyanī. 

सुरूपा गौरवर्णा च दक्षस्य दुहिता शुभा । अपमानात्  तु दक्षस्य स्वतनुदाहिता पुनः ॥१०३० ॥ 

In the sixth she is known as Gaurī (the White One). Her colour (was) white and, beautiful, (she was) Dakṣa's auspicious daughter. Due to Daksa's insult she burnt her own body.

दक्षाध्वरे पुनर् जाता भद्रकालीति नामतः। एका तु सा इत्यपरा मूर्तिरीशाद् विनिसृताः ॥१०३४ ॥ 

इदं चतुर्युगं प्राप्य द्वापरे विष्णुना सह । महिषस्य वधार्थाय उत्पन्ना कृष्णपिङ्गला ॥१०३५ ॥ 

कात्यायनीति दुर्गेति विविधैर्नामपर्ययैः । मानुषाणाम् तु भक्तानाम् वरदा भक्तिवत्सला ॥१०३६ ॥ 

अवतीर्णा पूर्वं एव विन्ध्यपर्वतमूर्धनि । 

[[ Reference:— Tantra Sadbhāva: 10th chapter]] 

Born again in Dakṣa's sacrifice with the name Bhadrakālī, she is one and has emerged a little (īsāt) in another form. When this set of four ages came, (she is) with Viṣṇu in the Dvāpara (age). In order to kill (the demon) Mahiṣa, (she) became manifest (utpannā) (in a) black and brown (form) with many names, including Kātyāyanī and Durgā. The beloved of devotion and the one who bestows boons to the people who are your devotees, she descended first of all onto the peak of the Vindhya mountain.

Also, as per the Jayadratha Yāmala Mahātantra, 

दक्षस्य मखविध्वंशाद् एकानंशाह्युमा स्मृता ॥३५९॥ 

भद्रकालीति चान्यासौ नाम प्राप्ता तनुद्वया । अस्मिन् चतुर्युगे कृष्णसहिता कृष्णपिङ्गला ॥३६०॥ 

अवधीर्माहिषं तेन दुर्गासौ विन्ध्यवासिनी । भक्तानां अनुकम्पार्थं अवतीर्य सुमध्यमा ॥ ३६१॥

[[ Reference:— Jayadratha Yāmala: 1st Ṣaṭaka: 9th Chapter]] 

The nineteenth birth who is said to be Umā (and came into the world) due to the destruction of Dakṣa's sacrifice, is another. She received the name Bhadrakālī and has two bodies in this the fourth age (yuga). (In one body) she is accompanied by Kṛṣṇa and (in the other) she is black and brown and is the (veritable embodiment of the) destruction of (the demon) Mahiṣa and so is Durgā, Vindhyavāsinī (She who lives in the Vindhyas). She with a beautiful waist, came down to grace (her) devotees.

Kularatnoddyota Tantra (कुलरत्नोद्द्योत तन्त्र) said,  

महाभैरवसंयुक्ता महामातृगणार्चिता । सती चाष्टदशे कल्पे शर्वदेवपतिर्युता ॥२०॥ 

The wife of Mahābhairava , took birth as Satī (or Dākṣāyaṇī) in 14th Kalpa .  She is worshipped by Mātṛgaṇas and her husband is Śarva. 

Thereafter it said, 

तदग्रे चण्डमुण्डाख्यौ भविष्यतोऽसुराधिपौ ॥२५॥ ताभ्यां वधाय देवेशि अवतारक्रियां तव । करिष्यसि कुलेशानि  सृष्टिकर्मकरः पुमान् ॥ २६ ॥

विष्णुर्नाम द्वितीयस्तु सृष्टिपालनकर्मकृत् । आराध्य भक्त्या त्वां देवि उग्रेण तपसा प्रिये ॥२७ ॥

महिषो नाम दैत्यस्तु भविष्यति सुरद्विषः। वधार्थं तस्य तं देवि अवतारं करिष्यसि ॥२८ ॥

कृष्णपिङ्गलरूपेण दुर्गा कात्यायनीति च । सर्वार्थसाधनी देवी प्रणतार्तिविनाशनी ॥२९

[[ Reference:— Kularatnoddyota Tantra: 9th Chapter]] 

O mistress of the gods, before that, there will be two lords of the demons, namely, Caṇḍa and Caṇḍa. O Mistress of Kula, there is a Man who brings about creation (srstikarmakara) who will bring about your descent (into the world) in order to kill them. O goddess, beloved, his second name is Viṣṇu and he creates and destroys, having worshipped you with devotion and terrible austerity.

There will be a demon called Mahiṣa who hates the gods. O goddess, you will descend into the world in order to kill him as Durgā and Kātyāyaṇī in a black and brown form (Kṛṣṇapiṅgalā). O goddess, (you will be) the means to achieve every goal and you will destroy the suffering of those who bow before you.  

By comparing the Āgamas, it has been proven that Goddess Dākṣāyaṇī took the birth of Kātyāyanī. There is no difference between them.

Kātyāyanī in the Epics (Itihāsa Śāstras) :— 

Vindhyavāsinī Devī

It is to be noted that the Āgamas are using Kṛṣṇapiṅgalā term as the name of the Goddess. It is almost uncommon in later periodic works. But in the Mahābharata, it is available.— 

नमस्ते सिद्धसेनानि आर्ये मन्दरवासिनि ।

कुमारि कालि कापालि कपिले कृष्णपिङ्गले ॥  

[[ Reference:— Mahābharata : Udyōga Parva: Durgā Stuti by Arjuna ]] 

In this stotra, Arjuna addressed her as the sister of Vāsudeva and the daughter of Nanda. 

Also, Yudhiṣṭhīra recited a stotra for Goddess Durgā in the Virāṭa Parva of Mahābhārata. — 

वासुदेवस्य भगिनीं दिव्यमाल्य विभूषिताम् ।

दिव्याम्बरधरां देवीं खद्गखेटकधारिणीम् ॥ 

Here, he addressed Devī as the sister of Vāsudeva. He also said,

नमोऽस्तु वरदे कृष्णे कुमारि ब्रह्मचारिणि ।

बालार्क सदृशाकारे पूर्णचन्द्रनिभानने ॥ 

Kṛṣṇapiṅgalā(कृष्णपिङ्गला), the sister of lord Kṛṣṇa is actually unmarried (Kumārī) and virgin (Brahmacāriṇī) goddess. 

There great epic  Śivarahasya Mahētihāsa described a beautiful hymn called "Mahiṣāsuramardinī Stotra" dedicated to her. It was composed by Lord Indra. But in the modern times, that stotra has been copied, changed and published on the name of Ādi Śaṅkarācārya. 

The Devī Māhātmya (देवीमाहात्म्य) or Śrīśrī Caṇḍī (श्रीश्रीचण्डी) highlighted the concept of the sister of Nārāyaṇa ( Devī Nārāyaṇī Vindhyavāsinī) rather than the wife of Śaṅkara (Devī Śāmbhavī). Because Mahiṣāsuramardinī is Vindhyavāsinī Kātyāyanī. When Devī Dākṣāyaṇī (दाक्षायणी), the beloved wife of Paramaśiva, took the incarnation of Kātyāyanī, she became unmarried. But sometimes she is worshipped with Śrīkaṇṭhaśiva. 

Lastly, we can conclude by reciting this — 

ब्रह्मेशविष्णु नमितां प्रणमामि सदा उमां । विंध्यस्था विंध्यनिलयां दिव्यस्थाननिवासिनीं ॥ 

[[ Reference:— Vārāhī Tantra : 29 Paṭala: Kātyāyanī Pūjā Vidhi ]] 

I always bow to Umā, who is revered by Brahmā, īśa (Rudra), and Viṣṇu.

Who abides in the Vindhya mountains, who dwells in the Vindhya region, who resides in the divine abodes.