Maṛudeśa Śaktipīṭha 

Hinglaj, Balochistan 

Introduction:— 

Kālasaṃkarṣiṇī, the supreme consciousness, took various births to meet with her consort Kujeśa or Śiva. Her last unsuccessful birth was Dākṣāyaṇī Satī, in this form, she made her self immolation. To keep Lord Mahādeva (Satī's husband ) calm, Lord Viṣṇu used his discuss to cut Dākṣāyaṇī's body parts. As a result those body parts were fallen on the earth and they made the sacred seats of Kubjikā Devī. Those seats are called as Śaktipīṭhas.

Hiṅgulā Devī

Hinglaj temple is referred as a Śaktipīṭha. It is very popular Śākta shrine which is situated outside of modern India. Hinglaj is recognised as one of the oldest Śākta shrines, according to the Historians. Goddess Hiṅgulā is also known as Carcikā (चर्चिका)- who is smeared with blood, Koṭṭarī (कोट्टरी) - whose eyes are ferocious, Koṭarākṣī (कोटराक्षी) - same as Koṭṭarī, Digambarī (दिगम्बरी) - the naked one, Nānī (नानी), Indrākṣī (इन्द्राक्षी) - worshipped by Indra, Nanā (नना), Innānī (इन्नानी) etc. 

Location:— 

Hiṅgulā Devī stones 

Hinglaj Śaktipīṭha is currently situated at Lasbela district in Balochistan. Previously, the ancient texts referred this region as Maṛudeśa (मरुदेश) or Bālukādeśa (बालुकादेश). Hence, the Pīṭha was named as Maṛudeśa Śaktipīṭha. Hinglaj shrine is located at the bank of the Hingula river. She is the residing goddess of Lāsyavilāsa Kṣetra (लास्यविलास क्षेत्र) which is now known as Lasbela. 

Śāstrīya and historical talks:— 

Hiṅgulā or Maṛudeśa Śaktipīṭha is mentioned in numerous Śākta Āgamas and Purāṇas. In the Devī Gītā (a part of Devī Bhāgavata Purāṇa), it is mentioned as Hiṅgulā Sthāna. Maṛudeśa Mahāpīṭha belongs to 44th Śaktipīṭha as per the list of 51 Śaktipīṭhas in the Yoginī Hṛdaya Tantra. Lalitopākhyāna, Meru Tantra also mentions this seat in their 51 Śaktipīṭhas lists. Goddess Satī's pate (Brahmarandhra) was fallen here. The presiding goddess of this Pīṭha is Indrākṣī Devī (इन्द्राक्षी देवी). Being coated with Hiṅgula scarlet, she became known as Hiṅgulā Devī. 

The Niśisañcāra Tantra (निशिसञ्चार तन्त्र) mentions Maṛudeśa Mahāpīṭha in it's Śaktipīṭha list — 

विरजैरुडिका हाला एलापूर क्षीरिका पुरी । मायाख्या मरुदेशश्च बाह्याभ्यन्तररूपतः ॥ 

In the Jayadratha Yāmala, this seat is as addressed as Maṛukośa (मरुकोश) —

एडाभीमुदरे हालां नाभौ कन्दे तु गोश्रुतिम् । उपस्थे मरुकोशं च नगरं पौण्ड्रवर्धनम् ॥

The Manthānabhairava Āgama says, 

इन्द्राणी मरुदेशे तु त्रैलोक्याकृष्टिकारिकाम् । करालेन समोपेतां नमाम्यंकुशधारिणीम् ॥

[[ MBT : Kumārikā Khaṇḍa: Pīṭha Stava ]] 

Meaning — I salute the Goddess Indrāṇī who resides in the land of Maru (desert) along with her consort Karāla (Śiva). She holds an elephant goad (Aṅkuśa) and attracts the triple world. 

Note that, Mātṛkā Indrāṇī (मातृका इन्द्राणी) is different from Devarājñī Indrāṇī (देवराज्ञी इन्द्राणी). Devarājñī Indrāṇī is Śacī (शची), the wife of Indra. But Mātṛkā Indrāṇī is Dākṣāyaṇī Durgā herself. According to the Jayadratha Yāmala, Indrāṇī, the wife of Śiva, is the mother of crores of Indras. She is also known as Indramātā (इन्द्रमाता), Śākrī (शाक्री) and Indrākṣī (इन्द्राक्षी) . According to many scholars and historians, she was depicted as Naṇādevī (नणादेवी) in the coins of Kuṣāṇa empire. Naṇādevī was worshipped through fire in the vast Persian regions. Some scholars also connect her with Goddess Nana of Bactrian region, Goddess Nina of Palestine and Nanā(नना) of Rigveda . 

Nanā in Kushan coin

So, Indrāṇī Mātṛkā is  deeply connected to Innānā. Early Mesopotamian people like the Sumerians used this term. Innānā is the signification of the connection between Indus (Sanātana) and Mesopotamia civilizations. In the modern times, the locals address Hiṅgulā Devī as Nānī (नानी) which was derived from Innānī. Balochistan also shows us the ancient evidences of semi-mesopotamian culture. Devī Nānī is addressed as Anaiti, Ani, Tanais, Nina in the regions of Syria, Persia, Armenia, Palestine. The Bṛhannīla Tantra (5th Paṭala) says, "पारस्ये परमानन्दा"— Goddess Paramānandā dwells in Persia. 

Innānī Goddess 

Indra is addressed as Bāla(बाल) in the Vedic literature. Hence, the goddess who is worshipped by Indra, is called as Bālucī(बालुची). Bālucī's abode is known as Bālucīsthāna (बालुचीस्थान) or Balochistan. Both of Nana and Inani hold cresent moon on their heads like Durgā Devī. 

Nana of Bactria

The miraculous fact is — the muslim inhabitants of Balochistan also worship her. They call the journey of Hiṅgulā as "Nani ki Hauj". It indicates the supernatural energy of this region. 

Hiṅgulā Devī in Purāṇas :— 

In pursuance of the Vāmana Purāṇa, Devī Hiṅgulā was appeared to help Śiva for killing Andhakāsura (अन्धकासुर). She drank blood of Andhakāsua. Thereafter Lord Śiva said to her—

त्वां पूजयिष्यन्ति सुरा ऋषयः पितरोरगाः।

यक्षविद्याधराश्चैव मानवाश्च शुभंकरि॥४५

त्वां स्तोष्यन्ति सदा देवि बलिपुष्पोत्करैः करैः।

चर्च्चिकेति शुभं नाम यस्माद् रुधिरचर्चिता॥४६

इत्येवमुक्ता वरदेन चर्चिका भूतानुजाता हरिचर्मवासिनी।

महीं समन्ताद् विचचार सुन्दरी स्थानं गता हैङ्गुलताद्रिमुत्तमम्॥४७

[[ Reference:— Vāmana Purāṇa: Chapter 70]] 

Meaning — 

Lord Śiva said, "O the benignant goddess, the gods, the sages, the the Nāgas, the Yakṣas, the Vidyādharas will worship you. They will praise you by offering flowers and sacrificing animals. From now, your name is Carcikā (चर्चिका- Charchika) because you are smeared with blood." Thereafter Carcikā who was wearing tiger skin, went along with her followers to the earth. She settled herself in the Hiṅgula mountain. 

Charchika Devi in Andhakantaka sculpture 

Goddess Ambikā predicted her future incarnations after killing Śumbha Niśumbha. There she told that she would take the Charchika form to kill Andhaka.— भूयो भविष्याम्यसृगुक्षितानना हराननस्वेदजलोद्भवा सुराः ।अन्धासुरस्याप्रतिपोषणे रता नाम्ना प्रसिद्धा भुवनेषु चर्चिका ॥ ६७ 

~ Vāmana Purāṇa: Ch 56

 The Vāmana Purāṇa states that Dākṣāyaṇī after her self immolation, will incarnate herself as Kauśikī and kill Śumbha brothers. — ब्रह्मस्त्वया समाख्याता मृता दक्षात्मजा सती। सा जाता हिमवत्पुत्रीत्येवं मे वक्तुमर्हसि ॥५ 

यथा च पार्वतीकोशात् समुद्भूता हि कौशिकी। यथा हतवती शुम्भं निशुम्भं च महासुरम् ॥ ६

~ Vāmana Purāṇa : Ch 21 

So, it is clear that Hiṅgulā is none other than Umā Haimavatī. 

Rituals of Hinglaj:— 

Goddess Hiṅgulā is worshipped through Vāmācāra (वामाचार). Offering garlics and sacrificing animals are significants of left path rituals. The pilgrimages also offer coconut, Betel nut, cardamom, clove etc to the Goddess. Kalikananda Abadhut, a famous Bengali Śākta Sādhaka wrote a novel on the journey towards Hinglaj temple — "Marutirtha Hinglaj". It described a clear vision of the rituals in Balochistan. Hiṅgulā Devī is also the protector of Nātha Paramparā. Without the grace of Hiṅgulā Devī, a Nātha Sādhaka can't attain Siddhis. They says,

हिङ्गलाज माई कृपा विना, नाहि हइ सिद्धि काया ॥

References:— 

1) A journey in the world of Tantras (2004) — Dyczkowski, Mark SG. 

2) Vaman Puran with Hindi Translation — Gitapress . 

3) Prithibir Matri Sadhana, Bengali (2020) — Nigurananda , Ananda Publishers .

4) Manthānabhairava Tantra english translation— Dyczkowski, Mark SG.