Durga Bhakti Tarangini

  Karṇapiśācinī Kālī  Debunking the myth of Devī Karṇapiśācinī being an Evil Goddess (Apadevatā - अपदेवता) Introduction:—  Karṇapiśācinī (कर्णपिशाचिनी) is a very esoteric goddess of Śaktism. She is mainly worshipped in Kālīkula (कालीकुल). Her consort is Karṇapiśācarudra (कर्णपिशाचरुद्र) . Here it is not our topic to discuss on Mā Karṇapiśācinī, we're going to refute the false claims on her. Some E-jñānīs are spreading misconceptions about her because she is "piśācinī" (पिशाचिनी). In the modern Indian society and languages, Piśāca (पिशाच) means demon or a type of ghost. Hence, they're telling that this goddess is an Apadevatā or Apavidyā. Let's check the real truth behind it.  Etymology:—  The term Piśāca (पिशाच) is derived from "√पिशित + आ + च + अ". So, the root word is Piśita (पिशित). It means flesh or none cooked meat. Consequently, Piśāca means who takes flesh as food. Piśācinī is the female term of Piśāca. Yes, The Piśāca demons eat flesh. But in som...

  Devī Śāradā or Vidyāvāgeśvarī Kālī  Introduction:-  [[ Kashmir Sharada Picture]]  The region Kashmir (Kāśmīra) is remembered as a place of studying Śāstra from ancient times. There are many Śākta pilgrimage sites or Śaktipīṭhas in Kashmir as it is one of the main region of Śaktism. The Nipātina Saṃhitā describes 22 Śaktipīṭhas of Kashmir. Śāradā Pīṭha is one of the most famous Satī Pīṭha among them. The residing goddess of the Śāradā Pīṭha is Devī Śāradā or Vāgavādinīkālī. That sacred Pīṭha is situated at neelum vally near Neelam river in Kashmir. The goddess Śāradā is a most important deity in the Uttarāmnāya or Kāśmīra Kālīkula. According to the Niruttara Tantra, she is a Mahāvidyā,  काली नीला महादुर्गा त्वरिता छिन्नमस्तका वाग्वादिनी चान्नपूर्णा तथा प्रत्यङ्गिरा पुनः । कामाख्यावासिनी बाला मातङ्गी शैलवासिनी इत्याद्याद्या सकला देव्यः कलौ पूर्णफलप्रदाः ॥  Here Vāgavādinī is none other than Kāśmīra Śāradā. Thereafter it states about the Mahāvidyās of Kālīku...

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...

  A Brief Overview on Kālīkula   ॥ कालीरूपं महेशानी साक्षात् कैवल्यप्रदायिनी ॥  Introduction:-  In Śaktism and Śaivism (Kāśmīrī), "Kula" is a famous term. Kaula system is associated with Śaktism and Trika Śaivism. But what is Kula ?  Shortly, Kula means the doctrine where a specific Goddess form of Ādi Parāśakti with her consort Śiva (in Trika Philosophy, he is Paramaśiva) , Āvaraṇa Devatās (The deities who live in the Circular group around Devī), Parivāra Devatās (family deities) are worshipped. The person who observes the Kula system is called as Kaula or Kaulika.  अकुलं शिव इत्युक्तं कुलं शक्तिः प्रकीर्त्तिता। कुलाकुलानुसन्धानान्निपुणाः कौलिकाः प्रिये ।।  [[ Reference:- Kulārṇava tantra : 17th Ullāsa, 27th Śloka]]  “Akula is Śiva, Kula is Śakti: O my beloved, those who are intent in the meditation on Kula and Akula are Kaulikas." Then Kālīkrama or Kālīkula means the path where Goddess Kālī with her consort Mahākāla (a form of Sadāśiva), her Āva...

  Goddess Siddhalakṣmī : An Introduction  Goddess Siddhalakṣmī   [[ Thanks to Mr. Animesh Nagar, Honourable Indologist and Professor for helping us to write this article. We are grateful to you sir.]] Introduction:-  [[ Goddess Siddhalakṣmī in modern art]]   According to Śākta Texts, the number of Mahāvidyās (primordial deities in Śaktism) are uncountable. The Muṅḍamālā Tantra says there are seven crore Mahāvidyās and unlimited Upavidyās. Some of them belong to Kālīkrama, some belong to Śrīkula or Saubhāgyakrama, some are in other Kramas. Siddhalakṣmī is a renowned Mahāvidyā. She is a manifestation of Ādi Parāśakti. She belongs to Kālīkrama or Kālīkula. She is one of the main deities of Uttara Āmnāya (Northern Tantric Tradition). Goddess Siddhalakṣmī is also known as Pratyāṅgirā (प्रत्याङ्गिरा), Caṇḍakāpālinī (चण्डकापालिनी) and Śivā (शिवा). According to the Śrī Tridaśaḍāmara Mahātantra, she is addressed as Siddhalakṣmī-Pratyāṅgirā in Jayadratha Yāmala Tantra (जय...