Durga Bhakti Tarangini

 Gaṅgāsāgara Māhātmya   यथाभागीरथीगंगासागरेणसमागता   ~Agastya Saṃhitā   Introduction:—  Warm greetings to all readers on the auspicious occasions of Makara Saṃkrānti (मकर संक्रान्ति) and Pauṣapārvaṇa (पौषपार्वण). Goddess Ganga One of the most renowned sacred pilgrimage sites of the holy land of Bengal (Vaṅgadeśa-वङ्गदेश) is Gaṅgāsāgara (गङ्गासागर). Like Devīkoṭṭa (देवीकोट्ट), Trisrota (त्रिस्रोत), Aṭṭahāsa (अट्टहास), the sanctity and greatness of this tīrtha are attested in the Mahābhārata, other Itihāsa śāstras, and various Purāṇas. The hermitage of Sage Kapila (कपिल मुनि), the propounder of Sāṃkhya philosophy (सांख्य दर्शन), is situated at this very site. Here the sacred river Gaṅgā meets the ocean at the Gaṅgāsāgara confluence and merges into it. Therefore, Gaṅgāsāgara is regarded as the southernmost and final tīrtha of Goddess Gaṅgā. The spiritual glory of this sacred place is truly immeasurable.  Śāstrīya statements:—   In the celebrated...

  Mahākāla and Bhairavopāsanā Introduction:—  Śiva is Mahākāla (महाकाल), beyond of time. He's the consort of Mahākālī (महाकाली) or Kālasaṅkarṣiṇī (कालसङ्कर्षिणी).  The Parādevīrahasya Tantra of Rudrayāmala says,  "कालिकाया महाकालः सुमुख्या अमृतेश्वरः।  विश्वनाथस्तु पार्वत्या राज्ञ्या भूतेश्वरः शिवः ॥"  [[ Parādevīrahasya Tantra: Śiva Paṭala]]  Lord Śiva manifests himself as Mahākāla for being the husband of Kālikā, Amṛteśvara for Sumukhī, Viśvanātha for Pārvatī and Bhūteśvara for Rājñī Kṣīrabhavānī.  The Jālandhara Māhātmya states,  कालिकां रामजयदां प्रणमामि शिवप्रियाम् । मुण्डमालान्वितां मुण्डहस्तां खड्गसमन्विताम् ॥ १॥  महाकालप्रियां कालीं तां नमामि अखण्डिताम् ।  शवारूढां जगद्वन्द्यां शुम्भाद्यासुरघातिकाम् ॥ २॥  The Rudrayāmala Āgama has a separate section dedicated to lord Mahākāla. It is Mahākāla Pañcāṅga (महाकाल पञ्चाङ्ग).  Today is the auspicious date of Mahākāla's appearance. Ācārya Rāmatoṣaṇa Vidyālaṅkāra on his Prā...

  12 Upjyotirliṅgas ( द्वादश उपज्योतिर्लिङ्गानि)  Introduction:—   Śrī Paramśiva   The concept of "12 Jyotirliṅgas" is very famous in Sanātana Dharma. These are the greatest Śivaliṅgas among all liṅgas in the world. They're —  सौराष्ट्रे सोमनाथञ्च श्रीशैले मल्लिकार्जुनम् । उज्जयिन्यां महाकालमोङ्कारपरमेश्वरम् ॥१७॥ केदारं हिमवत्पृष्ठे च डाकिन्यां भीमाशङ्करम् । वाराणस्याञ्च विश्वेशं त्र्यम्बकं गौतमीतटे ॥१८॥ वैद्यनाथञ्चिताभूमौ नागेशं दारुकावने । सेतुबन्धे च रामेशं घुश्मेशं च शिवालये ॥१९॥ द्वादशैतानि नामानि प्रातरुत्थाय यः पठेत्। सर्वपापविनिर्मुक्तो सर्वसिद्धिफलोलभेत् ॥२०॥ [[ Reference:— Śiva Mahāpurāṇa: Jñāna Saṃhitā: Chapter 38]]  Meaning :— Somanātha in Saurāṣṭra (Gujrat), Mallikārjuna in Śrīśaila, Mahākāleśvara in Ujjayinī, Oṃkāreśvara in Parameśvara (Narmadā valley), Kedāra in Himālaya (Uttarakhand), Bhīmāśaṅkara in Ḍākinī, Viśśeśvara in Vārāṇasī, Tryambaka at the bank of Gautamī river, Vaidyanātha in Citābhūmi region (Jharkhand), Nāgeśa in Dāruka...