Erundi Shaktipitha

 Eruṇḍī Śaktipīṭha 

Introduction:— 

Following the Pīṭha lists of the Āgamas, Eruṇḍī (एरुण्डी) is considered one of the sacred seats of the Śaktipīṭhas. In pursuance of 51 Śaktipīṭhas lists of Yoginīhṛdaya Tantra, Lalitopākhyāna, Meru Tantra and other texts, it is addressed as Kāleśvara Pīṭha (कालेश्वर पीठ). But on the other hand, Skanda Purāṇa, Manthānabhairava Tantra, Ambāmata Saṃhitā etc used 'Eruṇḍī'(एरुण्डी) or 'Airuṇḍī'(ऐरुण्डी) term of this sacred seat of Ādyāśakti. 

Location:— 

Eruṇḍī Śaktipīṭha is situated on the northern bank of the river Narmadā. The Skanda Purāṇa described this, 

ब्रह्महत्यायुतश्चासीदुत्तरे नर्मदातटे ।

धुनितं तु यतो राजन्वृषेण धर्ममूर्तिना ॥ १० ॥

तत्र धौतेश्वरीं देवीं स्थापितां वृषभेण तु ।

ददर्श भगवाञ्छम्भुः सर्वदैवतपूजिताम् ॥ ११ ॥ 

[[ Reference:— Skanda Purāṇa: Revā Khaṇḍa : Chapter 184]] 

Possessing the sin of Viriñci-slaughter, he remained on the northern bank of Narmadā. There the bull in the form of piety shook off everything and installed the goddess as Dhauteśvarī venerated by all the deities. 

And the next Chapter named this pilgrimage as Eruṇḍī Pīṭha. 

श्रीमार्कण्डेय उवाच ।

ततो गच्छेन्महीपाल एरण्डीतीर्थमुत्तमम् ।

[[Reference:— Skanda Purāṇa: Revā Khaṇḍa : Chapter 185]] 

The previous depiction says that the residing Goddess of this Pīṭha is Dhauteśvarī (धौतेश्वरी). Even her own consort, Śambhu worshipped her. — 

दृष्ट्वा धौतेश्वरीं दुर्गां ब्रह्महत्याविनाशिनीम् ।

तत्र विश्रममाणश्च शङ्करस्त्रिपुरान्तकः ॥ १२ ॥

[[ Reference:— Skanda Purāṇa: Revā Khaṇḍa : Chapter 184]] 

 Dhauteśvarī venerated by all the deities. Lord Śaṃbhu visited Goddess Durgā, Dhauteśvarī (धौतेश्वरी दुर्गा), the destroyer of the Sin of Brahmā-slaughter. After the visit Śāṅkara, the slayer of Tripura, rested there. 

Perhaps its name is related to that of the river Eraṇḍī. Nowadays, this is the river 'Uri' or 'Or', a tributary of the Narmada in the vicinity of Baroda. The junction of these two rivers, near which Karnali is situated, is a sacred place of pilgrimage. They temple might be ruined. 

Mention in Āgamic literature:— 

Eruṇḍī Pīṭha is mentioned in several Āgamic texts. 

The Khañjanīmata Tantra states, 

एरुण्डे अग्निवक्त्रां तु वज्रशक्तिधरां शुभाम् । 

घण्टारवसमोपेतां नमामि रिपुनाशनीम् ॥ 

[[ Reference:— Khañjanīmata Tantra: Pīṭha Stava]] 

I salute the goddess Agnivaktrā (अग्निवक्त्रा) who is auspicious. She holds a javelin and thunderbolt and destroys one's enemies. She resides in Eruṇḍa Pīṭha along with Ghantārava Śiva. 

The same verse is portrayed in the Kubjikāmata Tantra's Śaktipīṭha list. 

So, here we get another name of Dhauteśvarī Durgā is Agnivaktrā or Agnimukhī (The fire faced Goddess). 

The Vajraḍākatantra states, 

एरुद्याम् अग्निमुखी तु कपालकुलसम्भवा ।

वज्रशक्तिधरा देवी सम्मोहक्षेत्रसंस्थिता ॥२१॥

तस्मिन् नगरे स्थिता देवी काञ्चनवृक्षसमाश्रिता ।

क्षेत्रपालो महावीर्यो घण्टारव इति स्मृतः ॥

[[Reference:— Vajraḍākatantra: Chapter 18]]

Meaning:—“In Eruḍa, the Goddess Agnimukhī (अग्निमुखी), appeared from the Kapālakula, bearing the vajra and the śakti, resides in the Field of Enchantment (Sammohakṣetra). In that city dwells the Goddess, abiding neanear Kāñcana (orchid) tree. The Kṣetrapāla of that place, of great valor, is known as Ghaṇṭārava.”

Apart from these, Āmnāya Mañjarī (आम्नाय मञ्जरी), Ambāmata Saṃhitā (अम्बामत संहिता), Niśisañcāra Tantra (निशिसञ्चार तन्त्र) etc texts also described this Pīṭha. 

Iconography:— 

The Śrīmatottara Tantra/श्रीमतोत्तर तन्त्र (Chapter 19, verse 113-119) states the Dhyāna (iconographical verses) of Agnivaktrā Devī. 

Agnivaktrā is yellow and red. She has large teeth with a flaming tongue and is frightening. She has large red eyes and wears necklaces of pearl and nacre and a garland of white skulls. She has sixteen arms. The left hands make a Abhaya Mudrā and hold a Śūla, Sūtra, bow, Parigha, noose, elephant goad and conchshell. The right hands hold a skull, Khatvāṅga, Śakti, snake, seal, mirror, Vajra and Daṇḍa. She sits on a sheep. 

Kāleśvara (कालेश्वर) Śiva is Agnimukhī Durgā's consort. Hence, this pilgrimage site is also known as Kāleśvara Tirtha. 

Appearance story :— 

This is a tale from a bygone cosmic age (Kalpāntara), in which Lord Śiva, in order to shatter the pride of Brahmā, severs his fifth head. Thereafter the severed head of Brahmā becomes affixed to Śiva’s hand, and He is unable to free Himself from the Brahmaśiras. Wandering through many places, Mahādeva eventually reaches the sacred site of ‘Eruṇḍī’ on the banks of the Narmadā. By the radiance of Bhagavatī Dhautēśvarī Durgā, that skull slips from Śiva’s hand and is destroyed. This narrative is described in the Skanda Purāṇa, Reva-khaṇḍa.