Durga Bhakti Tarangini

  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...

Kolhāpura Mahālakṣmī Śaktipīṭha   ॥ Debunking the myth of Kolhāpura Ambābāī being Viṣṇu's wife ॥ ( NOTE : The following article has been authored primarily from a Shakta and Shaiva standpoint and perspectives. Individuals are encouraged to disregard this if they aren't interested, offended or find an issue about it. )  Introduction :-  Kolhāpura or Karavīrapura city is a renowned Sanātana pilgrimage in Maharashtra. It is famous for Ambabai( Ambābāī-अम्बाबाई) temple. Ambābāī is also known as Mahālakṣmī. The term Mahālakṣmī confuses many people. As a result some Vaiṣṇavas claim that Ambābāī is none other than the wife of Veṅkaṭeśvara or Viṣṇu. But it is a mere imagining. Kolhāpura pilgrimage is recognised as a Satī Pīṭha (where Dākṣāyaṇī's body part was fallen) and the deity is none other than Śaṅkarapriyā Ādi Parāśakti. We are going to reveal the history, etymology, religious significance of this Pīṭha and the truth behind the interpolation of some Śāstras by hypocrite peo...

Who is the main deity of Durga Kula? Is it Ashtabhuja Durgambika or Chaturbhuja Jagadhatri? Answer:-  There is actually no such term "Durgāmbikā". Now-a-days people are addressing Śerāvālī Mātā (शेरावाली माता) or Mātārāṇī (माताराणी) as Aṣṭabhūjā Durgā (अष्टभूजा दुर्गा),  Parāmbikā Durgā (पराम्बिका दुर्गा) Bhavānī Durgā (भवानी दुर्गा) or Durgāmbikā (दुर्गाम्बिका).  [[ Sherawali - शेरावाली]]  But there's no such term in the Śāstras indicating the specific iconography of Śerāvālī or Sherawali . The Rudra Saṃhitā of Śiva Mahāpurāṇa didn't mention even "Durgāmbikā" term. It addressed Sadāśiva's wife as only Ambikā. But the Dakṣiṇāmūrti Saṃhitā described a Dhyāna of Durgāmbikā. It is below:—  दीपान्तर्ज्वलितारविन्दसदृशा सिंहासनस्था शिवा शूलेष्वासशरारि शङ्ख कमलाभीतीष्ट हस्तोज्ज्वला । सम्पूज्याऽमरलोक वासिभिरसावाखेलयन्ती मुदा स्वाभादीप्तनिशा महेशरमणी दुर्गाम्बिका रक्षतात् ॥   Salutations to the goddess Durgāmbikā who is the flaming potency of Fire. Her face is ...

  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...