Bahulakshi
Bahulakshi (बाहुलाक्षी) is a Hindu temple. It is situated at Ketugram in West Bengal. The temple is dedicated to Hindu Goddess Bahulakshi (an incarnation of Goddess Sati). It is generally regarded as a Shakti Pitha, the most sacred temples dedicated to the Hindu Divine Mother.
Bahulakshi(बहुलाक्षी) is an Uapa pitha(small Shakti pitha). It is also known as Ranakshanda Shaktipeeth and Maraghat Shaktipeeth. It is situated at Ketugram near Bahula Shakti Pitha (distance between Bahula and Bahulakshi is around 500 meters). According to Shakti Pitha, after the death of Sati, Shiva's first wife, her body was cut into pieces and dropped at various locations on the Indian subcontinent, each becoming the location of a shrine. Hence Sati's right elbow fell here. The bhairav is known as Mahakala.[1] Bahulakshi is also known as Bahulakshmi and Bahula Lakshmi locally.
The dhyan mantras of Goddess Bahula and Goddess Bahulakshi are very similar. Bhairava Bhairuka is identified as Bhairava of Bahulakshi in the Pranatoshani Tantra,[2] although he is known as Bhairava of Bahula. Bhairava Mahakala of Bahulakshi according to Shivcharita.[3] There are 4 incarnations of Adi parashakti (Kamakshi[4]) worshipped. Vishalakshi in North,[5] Renukakshi[6](Padmakshi) in West, Meenakshi[7] in South and Bahulakshi in East.
Shakti Pitha
The mythology of Daksha yajna and Sati's self immolation is the story behind the origin of Shakti Peethas. Devi Sati's right elbow is worshipped here.
Iconography
<Dhyan Mantra>
ॐ ध्यायेच्च्यं बहुलां तनयां पद्मासनस्थां शुभम्। दोभि कंकतिकां वराभययुक्तां दार्शनित्वां शोभितां निद्रावेशम्। । वसान चित्वां त्रिनयनां वाकयुक्तं पुत्रान्वितां गौरांगीम्। मणिहार-कण्ठं नमितां चिंत्यां सुखं कामोदम्। ।
According to her dhyan mantra[8], she is a four handed goddess. She holds a comb, mirror, vara and abhaymudra. She stays with her children (Ganesh and Kartikeya).
Background
[9]According to Brahma Khanda, Ranakshanda is situated on the bank of Bakula and Bahula rivers. Northern Ishani river's banks are forested, the battlements of Maraghat or Tantra. Many people say that there is not even a drop of water in the river in summer, so it dies(mara). According to some, there was a crematorium in this place, hence Maraghat. The ghat of Maraghat is a small canal of the Bakula river. Ishani is called Bahula. Shiva used to worship here. The plaque kept in the Attahas tirtha, bears the name of Goddess Bahulakshi. There is no idol of the goddess in the present temple. Devi is worshipped in Ghata. For some reason, the goddess was rescued from the forested area and placed in the center of the village. But due to the appearance of the goddess in the place, it was revered by the people. Annual Puja of Goddess Maraghat takes place during Shivratri.
Recent
A new temple was built in AD 2000. It was established by Dakshinapada Chatterjee and Ishani Devi. But there is no idol of Devi in the temple. The temples of Ganesh and Bhairav Mahakala(Shiv temple)[10] are situated near this temple.
References
- ↑ দেবশর্মা, ধরণীকান্ত (2015). কামাখ্যা তীর্থ. মহামায়া প্রকাশন. Search this book on
- ↑ Shukla, Ramadatt (1983). Pranatoshani Tantra. p. 254. Search this book on
- ↑ Singh 'Chakra', Sudarshan (2014). Shiv Charitra. p. 344. Search this book on
- ↑ Harshananda, Swami (2012). Hindu Pilgrimage Centres (second ed.). Bangalore: Ramakrishna Math. p. 61. ISBN 978-81-7907-053-6. Search this book on
- ↑ Bangala Bhasar Abhidhaan (Dictionary of the Bengali Language), Shishu Sahitya Samsad Pvt Ltd., 32A, APC Road, Kolkata – 700009, Volume 2, p.1600. (ed. 1988)
- ↑ "Sri Renuka Amman Parameswari". Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015. Unknown parameter
|url-status=ignored (help) - ↑ William P. Harman (1992). The Sacred Marriage of a Hindu Goddess. Motilal Banarsidass. p. 24. ISBN 978-81-208-0810-2. Search this book on
- ↑ পাইন, সুগত (2021). নানারূপে সতীঅঙ্গ. p. 27. Search this book on
- ↑ Bhatt, G P (2021). Brahma Khanda ( Part 1). Search this book on
- ↑ Bahulakshi
External links
This article "Bahulakshi" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical and/or the page Edithistory:Bahulakshi. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.
