Durga Bhakti Tarangini

  Gandheśvarī Devī : The Kuladevī of Gandhavaṇika Clan  Introduction:—  Gandheśvarī (गन्धेश्वरी), a manifestation of Durgā(दुर्गा), is mostly worshipped in Vaṅgadeśa (वङ्गदेश) - Bengal region. Gandheśvarī means the goddess of Perfumes. She was appeared on the lunar date of Vaiśākha Pūrṇimā (Full moon). Hence, her yearly worship ceremony is observed in this Tithi (lunar date). She is the Kuladevī (कुलदेवी) or Clan-Goddess of Gandhavaṇika Community. Gandhavaṇika(गन्धवणिक) means the merchants who sell the perfumes or scents.  Gandheśvarī Devī   Gandheśvarī is the protector of Vaiśya caste. They worship her for prosperity, wealth, improvement in trades etc.  She can be linked with Goddess Suvāsā (सुवासा), an Upavidyā of Bagalāmukhī Devī. Gandheśvarī's opposite form is Durgandhā Devī (दुर्गन्धा देवी). Argala stotra of Devī Māhātmya mentioned Durgandhā Devī. She protects pubic part of a Sādhaka.  Iconography:—  Commonly, Gandheśvarī is shown as a four-h...

  Kaulagiri Śaktipīṭha  Mūkāmbikā Mahālakṣmī Temple, Kollur , Karnataka  Introduction:—  Kollur Mūkāmbikā Temple is one of the famous Śākta shrines in south india. Originally it is a Śaktipīṭha, the sacred seat of Ādi Parāśakti or Dākṣāyaṇī Satī. Many ancient texts like Tantrasadbhāva Tantra (तन्त्रसद्भाव तन्त्र), Niśisañcāra Tantra (निशिसञ्चार तन्त्र), Kubjikāmata Tantra (कुब्जिकामत तन्त्र), Manthānabhairava tantra (मन्थानभैरव तन्त्र), Ambāmata Saṃhitā (अम्बामत संहिता ), Vajraḍāka Tantra (वज्रडाक तन्त्र) etcetera mentioned this Pīṭha. The "Kollur" term has been derived from "Kollagiri" or Kaulagiri (कौलगिरि).  Mūkāmbikā Devī   The peak where Kaulācāra (कौलाचार) or Vāmācāra (वामाचारी) is observed is known as Kaulagiri . Kaulagiri pilgrimage site is important for both of Śaiva and Śākta texts because Kaulācāra is observed by both sects.  Mahāmāheśvara Abhinavagupta expounds details regarding the Kula initiation ritual in the 29th chapter of Tantrāloka (...

 51 Śaktipīṭhas  Introduction:—   Pīṭha (पीठ) means sacred seat. Śaktipīṭha (शक्तिपीठ) or Satīpīṭha (सतीपीठ) means the sacred seats of Goddess Śakti, the ultimate energy.  Ancient Śākta Āgamas (e.g. Āmnāya mañjarī, Ambāmata saṃhitā, Vāmakeśvarīmata Tantra, Manthānabhairava Tantra, Rudrayāmala Āgama etc) described about the sacred seats of Śakti or Dākṣāyaṇī Satī (दाक्षायणी सती). Those are known as Pīṭhas.  The origin of Satīpīṭhas   Pīṭhas were originated from the body parts of Dākṣāyaṇī Satī. That's why Śaktipīṭhas are also known as Satīpīṭhas. The Śaktipīṭhas have a deep relationship with Śākta Lineage, rituals, Āmnāya system and doctrines. Each Śaktipīṭha has it's own presiding goddess (Śakti form) and master (Śiva's form). Sometimes it also consists sacred tree. Later periodic Purāṇa Devī Bhāgavata mentioned 108 Satīpīṭhas. But that list was copied from the Brahma Vaivarta Mahāpurāṇa's Sāvitrī Sthānas.  Here the list of 51 Śaktipīṭhas from the Yogi...

  Bhagavatī Kātyāyanī  Introduction:—  Bhagavatī Kātyāyanī   Goddess Kātyāyanī is a manifestation of Ādyāśakti (The supreme primordial energy). "Kātyāyanī"(कात्यायनी) means the daughter of Kātyāyana (कात्यायन). This very popular form is portrayed 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 ...

॥ ওড্ড্যান আদি শক্তিপীঠ ॥ চতুরাদি শক্তিপীঠ সংকলন   প্রাককথন :— শাক্ত সম্প্রদায়ের বিবিধ সুপ্রাচীন ও পবিত্র গ্রন্থানুসারে, চারটি বিশেষ স্থলকে শাক্ত ধর্মমতের জন্মস্থান বলে মনে করা হয়। তাদের একত্রে "চতুরাদি শক্তিপীঠ" বলে চিহ্নিত করা হয়। মনে করা হয়, এইসব পীঠস্থানগুলি থেকে ক্রমব্যবস্থা, কৌলমার্গ,আগমিক ধারা, শাক্ত পরম্পরার উদ্ভব হয়েছিল। কুব্জিকামত আগম, মন্থনভৈরবাগম, কালীকুলের সবিশেষ "জয়দ্রথযামল আগম", অম্বামত সংহিতা, আম্নায় মঞ্জরী প্রভৃতি তন্ত্রাগমে এসবের বিস্তৃত বর্ণনা মেলে। এমনকি, ব্রহ্মাণ্ড, ব্রহ্মবৈবর্ত, দেবী ভাগবত, অগ্নি,কালিকা -র মত পুরাণগুলিতেও এই স্থানগুলির উল্লেখ পাওয়া যায়।  পরাভট্টারিকা ওড্ড্যানেশ্বরী   চার আদি শক্তিপীঠ হল—১) ওড্ড্যান/ ওডিয়ান, ২) জলন্ধর/জালন্ধর, ৩) পূর্ণগিরি/ পূর্ণশৈল ও ৪) কামরূপ।  এই লেখায় আমরা চার আদি শক্তিপীঠের প্রথমটি, অর্থাৎ ওড্ড্যান পীঠের সম্পর্কে বিস্তারিত আলোচনা করবো ।  ওড্ড্যান মহাপীঠ:—  চতুরাদি শক্তিপীঠের প্রথমটি হ'ল ওড্ড্যান পীঠ । এটি ওডিয়ান, উড্ডীয়ান প্রভৃতি নামেও পরিচিত । গৌরী তন্ত্রানুসারে দেবী ত্রিপুরসুন্দরী হলে...

  Refutation of Tārā's Buddhist Origin  Śrī Tāriṇyai Namah  Introduction:—  Goddess Tāriṇī  Bhagavatī Tārā(तारा) is one of the major deities in Śaktism. She is also known as Tāriṇī, Ugratārā, Vajracaṇdī , Ekajatā etcetera. Tāriṇī(तारिणी) or Tārā signifies "She who rescues one from all troubles". She is recognised as 2nd Mahāvidyā among the Daśamahāvidyās. Tārā's tradition or Kula was formerly known as Cīnācārakrama (चीनाचारक्रम) primarily performed in Mahācīna (महाचीन), corresponding to the tibet region. We'll use the term Cīnācārakrama in this article.  Some neo half-knowledged historians (e.g. Benoytosh Bhattacharya ) with limited understanding claimed that Goddess Tārā was previously a Buddhist deity. Later Hindus / Śaktism adopted her . Similar claims have been made regarding deities like Chinnamastā, Vajrayoginī, Hēruka etc. But here we'll discuss about Tāriṇī's actual historical origin.  Hypocrisy of Nāstika Vajrayāna:—  Those partially info...

  Pūrṇagiri Mahāpīṭha   4 Ādi Śaktipīṭhas   Introduction:—  After Oḍiyāna and Jālandhara, the third Ādi Śaktipīṭha is Pūrṇagiri. This Pīṭha is mentioned in various Āgamas like, Rudrayāmala Mahātantra, Ambāmata Saṃhitā, Manthan Bhairava Tantra, Kubjikāmata Tantra etcetera. Even Many Purāṇas like Brahmāṇḍa Mahāpurāṇa, Kālikāpurāṇa described this Pīṭha.  ओडियानं पीठं आख्यातम् पीठं जालन्धरं स्मृतम् । पीठं पूर्णगिरिश्चैव कामरूपं तथैव च ॥  [[ Reference:— Mahāmudrātikaka Tantra : 10th Paṭala]]  Pūrṇagiri Ādipīṭha:—   The third Ādi Śaktipīṭha is Pūrṇagiri. It is also known as Pūrṇaśaila, Pūrṇādri, Saptaśṛṅgī etc. The Manthānabhairavatantra states,  पूर्णगिर्ये महाग्रीवा मुण्डखट्वाङ्गधारिणीम् । पूर्णेश्वरसमायुक्तां वन्देऽहं सर्वमङ्गलाम् ।।  Almost the same Śloka is available in Ambāmata Saṃhitā Tantra (अम्बामतसंहिता तन्त्र). — पूर्णगिर्ये महाग्रीवा मुण्डखट्वाङ्गधारिणीम् । पूर्णेश्वरसमायुक्तां वन्दे त्वां सर्वमङ्गलाम् ।। ५८  In the Pūrṇa...