Bhadrakali
Encyclopedia
Bhadrakāli is one of the forms of the Great Goddess (Devi
) mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous".
Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshipped in Kerala
. In Kerala she is seen as the auspicious and fortunate form of Kali
.
She is generally considered the consort of Shiva in the form of Rudra
. Other sources state she is the consort of Virabhadra
, who was himself born of the wrath of Rudra
.
According to Vayu Purana
and the Mahabharata
, she came into being by Devi
's wrath, when Daksha
insulted Shiva
, during the great Ashvamedha
Yagna (Horse-worship).
According to Tantra Rahasya, she arose from the North (Uttaramnaya) face (Amnayas) of Shiva, which is blue in color and with three eyes.
It is believed that Bhadrakāli was a local deity that was assimilated into the mainstream Hinduism
, particularly into Shaiva mythology. She is represented with three eyes, and four, twelve or eighteen hands. She carries a number of weapons, with flames flowing from her head, and a small tusk protruding from her mouth.
Some communities, like the Kodavas and Nairs, worship this deity. They worship certain weapons at their temples which they believe to be the weapons used by the goddess Bhadrakali. Bhadrakali is also the tutelary deity of the Nadar
community of Tamil Nadu
.
Devi, has become popular in Tamil Nadu
during the last decade. She is propitiated to ward off the effects of black magic
.
These rituals are performed in places of worship called "Kavu" (roughly translated as grove) or in small temples. Besides the general welfare of the village, these rituals aim at warding off of such calamities like smallpox and other epidemic diseases. The ritual themes generally revolve around the triumph of Bhadrakali over the demon Daruka and other evil characters.
The dance forms are:
1. Theyyam
2. Theeyattu
3. Patayani
4. Poothanumthirayum
5. Mudiyettu
6. Kuthiyottam
7. Kettukazcha
community who serve as priests in all of the Bhadrakali temples in Kerala.
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
) mentioned in the Devi Mahatmyam. In Sanskrit, the word Bhadra means "blessed", "auspicious", "fair", "beautiful", "good", "fortunate", "prosperous".
Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshipped in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. In Kerala she is seen as the auspicious and fortunate form of Kali
Kali
' , also known as ' , is the Hindu goddess associated with power, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one". Since Shiva is called Kāla - the eternal time, Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" . Hence, Kāli is...
.
She is generally considered the consort of Shiva in the form of Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....
. Other sources state she is the consort of Virabhadra
Virabhadra
According to Hindu mythology, Virabhadra or Veerabhadra was a super being created by the wrath of Rudra , when he stepped in to destroy the Yagna of Daksha, after his daughter Dakshayani - consort of Shiva, self-immolated in yagna fire...
, who was himself born of the wrath of Rudra
Rudra
' is a Rigvedic God, associated with wind or storm, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "The Roarer", or "The Howler"....
.
According to Vayu Purana
Vayu Purana
The Vayu Purana is a Shaiva Purana, a Hindu religious text, dedicated to the god Vayu , containing about 24,000 shlokas.-Date:Banabhatta refers to this work in his Kadambari and Harshacharita...
and the Mahabharata
Mahabharata
The Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India and Nepal, the other being the Ramayana. The epic is part of itihasa....
, she came into being by Devi
Devi
Devī is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism, its related masculine term is deva. Devi is synonymous with Shakti, the female aspect of the divine, as conceptualized by the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. She is the female counterpart without whom the male aspect, which represents...
's wrath, when Daksha
Daksha
In Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis, the Rishis and the Adityas. Daksha is said to be the son of Aditi and Brahma...
insulted Shiva
Shiva
Shiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
, during the great Ashvamedha
Ashvamedha
The Ashvamedha was one of the most important royal rituals of Vedic religion, described in detail in the Yajurveda...
Yagna (Horse-worship).
According to Tantra Rahasya, she arose from the North (Uttaramnaya) face (Amnayas) of Shiva, which is blue in color and with three eyes.
It is believed that Bhadrakāli was a local deity that was assimilated into the mainstream Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
, particularly into Shaiva mythology. She is represented with three eyes, and four, twelve or eighteen hands. She carries a number of weapons, with flames flowing from her head, and a small tusk protruding from her mouth.
Some communities, like the Kodavas and Nairs, worship this deity. They worship certain weapons at their temples which they believe to be the weapons used by the goddess Bhadrakali. Bhadrakali is also the tutelary deity of the Nadar
Nadar (caste)
Nadar is one of the prominent castes of Tamil Nadu, South India. The term, Nadar, in Tamil literally means one who rules the land. The Nadars are also commonly called as Annachi . Nadars are an entrepreneurial south Indian caste and constitute 12% of Tamil Nadu's population...
community of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
.
Atharvana Bhadrakali
This form of Bhadrakali, who is also known as PrathyangiraPrathyangira
Prathyangira, also known as Atharvana Bhadrakali, is a Hindu Goddess associated with shakti, the Hindu concept of feminine energy. She is described as a goddess with a lion's face and a human body...
Devi, has become popular in Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
during the last decade. She is propitiated to ward off the effects of black magic
Black magic
Black magic is the type of magic that draws on assumed malevolent powers or is used with the intention to kill, steal, injure, cause misfortune or destruction, or for personal gain without regard to harmful consequences. As a term, "black magic" is normally used by those that do not approve of its...
.
Folk Art ritual of Kerala and Bhadrakali
Kerala has a tradition of folk artist rituals associated with worship of Devi in the form of Bhadrakali. Though the deity is often referred to as Kali, it is the Bhadrakali form.These rituals are performed in places of worship called "Kavu" (roughly translated as grove) or in small temples. Besides the general welfare of the village, these rituals aim at warding off of such calamities like smallpox and other epidemic diseases. The ritual themes generally revolve around the triumph of Bhadrakali over the demon Daruka and other evil characters.
The dance forms are:
1. Theyyam
2. Theeyattu
3. Patayani
4. Poothanumthirayum
5. Mudiyettu
6. Kuthiyottam
Kuthiyottam
Kuthiyottam is one of the main offering at the Chettikulangara Devi Temple.It is a ritualistic symbolic representation of human bali .KaliGoddess KaliMain article: Kali...
7. Kettukazcha
Priests of Bharakali temples
The Ezhavathy are a purohitPurohit
Purohit in Indian religious context means a family priest, from Sanskrit , translated as: one placed foremost, from Puras meaning front, and hita, placed. Rajpurohit is a term used to denote a priest for a royal family or a king who was the authorized person that carried out rituals for the...
community who serve as priests in all of the Bhadrakali temples in Kerala.
Famous Bhadrakali temples
- The ancient Bhadrakali TempleBhadrakali Temple-Location:Bhadrakali Temple in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh is known to be one of the oldest temples for Goddess Bhadrakali in India. This temple is located on the banks of the Bhadrakali lake, a picturesque location between Hanamkonda and Warangal about 1.5 km from Government Polytechnic.-History:As...
in Hanamakonda (Warangal), Andhra Pradesh. Bhadrakali (Maha Kali Mata) was the principal deity of the Hindu Kakatiya kingdom of Warangal (Oragallu or Ekashilanagaram) that ruled most of Andhra Pradesh during that period. Rituals and animal (and human, by some accounts) sacrifices on a large scale were performed to invoke the blessings of Goddess Bhadrakali before the Kakatiya warriors went off for battle.
- Madayi Thiruvarkkattu Bhagavati temple at Payangadi, Kannur Dt, Kerala is the first and foremost Bhadrakali Temple at a place believed to be the fortress of Darukasura. Bhadrakali beheaded Daruka here. The Shakteya Sampradaya pooja is well known here. It is done by Bhattarakas (Pdiraras) who are migrant priests from Kashmir and Bengal. The idol of Bhadrakali is around 6 feet tall and is portrayed in the form of slaying Daruka.
- Thirumandhamkunnu temple at Angadippuram, Kerala
- ManapullikavuManapullikavu-The Iconic Temple:The Manapullikavu temple is situated in Palakkad district amidst lush paddy fields. This is an ancient temple for Manapulli Bhaghavathy, a representation of Goddess Bhadrakali. The Vela festival of the temple is well known in central Kerala....
Bhagavathy Temple at East Yakkara, Palakkad, Kerala
- Kodungallur Bhagavathy TempleKodungallur Bhagavathy TempleKurumba Bhagavathi Temple or Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple is in Kodungallur town in Thrissur District of Kerala, India. The idol of the goddess Bhadrakali in the temple is unique as it has eight hands with various attributes. One is holding the head of the Asura, another a sword, next a...
at Kodungallur, Kerala
- Bhadrakali Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
- Chettikulangara Devi TempleChettikulangara Devi TempleChettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple is one of the most renowned temples in Kerala. The temple is located at Chettikulangara in Mavelikkara taluk of Alappuzha district in the south Indian state of Kerala...
, near Mavelikkara, Kerala
- PanayannarkavuPanayannarkavuPanayannarkavu Kavu temple is where the Sapta Matas, or the Seven Mother Goddesses are worshipped as the presiding power in the Indian state of Kerala. The fiercest of them all, Chamundi, is in centrally placed as Kali. There is also a temple of Siva on the premises.The modest temple is located in...
, near Mavelikkara, Kerala
- KadinamkulamKadinamkulamKadinamkulam is a town located in Kerala, India. It is situated 22 km north of Trivandrum, 20 km from the Trivandrum International Airport and 22 km from Trivandrum railway station and bus station. National Highway 47 is also 8 km away...
Padickavilakom Bharanicadu Sree Bhagavathi Temple in Kerala
- Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi templePattupurakkavu Bhagavathi templeThonnallur Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi temple is a famous Hindu temple located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala state, India. The deity in this temple is Bhadrakali. This temple is part of the famous Hindu temples at Pandalam, which include Valiyakoikkal temple, Mahadevar temple and...
, Pandalam
- Another temple of Bhadrakali is found at a place called BajnaBajnaBajna is a town and a nagar panchayat in Mathura district in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India.-Geography:Bajna is located at . It has an average elevation of 183 metres .-Demographics:...
at a distance of 36 km from Ratlam city in Malwa region. This Bhadrakali temple is of the period of Parmara rulers and known as Garhkhankhai mataji. This temple is situated in dense forested area of the valley at the sangam of Karan river and Mahi riverMahi RiverThe Mahi is a river in western India. It rises in Madhya Pradesh and, after flowing through the Vagad region of Rajasthan, enters Gujarat and falls into the sea by a wide estuary near Khambhat. Its total length is 500 km. and its estimated drainage area 40,000 km2...
. Raja Bhoj constructed this temple. This place is also recognized as shaktipitha in India. The excavations at this site has produced rare idols of ShivaShivaShiva is a major Hindu deity, and is the destroyer god or transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. God Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power lives a life of a...
in yoga pose, LakshmiLakshmiLakshmi or Lakumi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity , light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm. Representations of Lakshmi are also found in Jain monuments...
, Gajasursanhar, SuryaSuryaSurya Suraya or Phra Athit is the chief solar deity in Hinduism, one of the Adityas, son of Kasyapa and one of his wives, Aditi; of Indra; or of Dyaus Pitar . The term Surya also refers to the Sun, in general. Surya has hair and arms of gold...
and NatarajaNatarajaNataraja or Nataraj , The Lord of Dance; Tamil: கூத்தன் ;Telugu:నటరాజ is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer Koothan who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation...
. The world famous 'Tripurasundari ma' temple at a distance of 60 km from this place is situated at village Talwada in Banswara district in RajasthanRajasthanRājasthān the land of Rajasthanis, , is the largest state of the Republic of India by area. It is located in the northwest of India. It encompasses most of the area of the large, inhospitable Great Indian Desert , which has an edge paralleling the Sutlej-Indus river valley along its border with...
. An inscription of 1540 AD found here reveals that this temple was constructed prior to the rule of KanishkaKanishkaKanishka ) was an emperor of the Kushan Empire, ruling an empire extending from Bactria to large parts of northern India in the 2nd century of the common era, and famous for his military, political, and spiritual achievements...
. Some people believe it to be constructed before 3rd century AD. There was a very ancient place here known as 'Garhpoli' which is called as 'Umarai' at present. Excavations in 1982 at this place have produced idols of Shiva with ParvatiParvatiParvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess...
on his thigh. GaneshaGaneshaGanesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh, also known as Ganapati , Vinayaka , and Pillaiyar , is one of the deities best-known and most widely worshipped in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India and Nepal. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
and Kartikeya are seated on both sides.
- Bhadrakali Temple at BhadranBhadranBhadran is a village in the state of Gujarat, in far western India. It is in the Anand district. Bhadran was nicknamed the "Paris of Gaekwad state" due to its prosperity and civil works carried out by Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad III, the visionary ruler of Baroda.-Legend:Years ago in Padampur,...
, Gujarat.
- Bhadrakali Temple in GokarnaGokarna, IndiaGokarna is a village in the Uttara Kannada district of the Karnataka state, India. It is a Hindu pilgrimage centre as well as a tourist destination in India. Gokarna is a temple town and is referred to in a number of Hindu historical literature pieces. The main deity is Lord Mahabhaleshwara, a...
. This deity is said to be the protector of Gokarna.
- Bhadrakali Temple in Kurushetra, HaryanaHaryanaHaryana is a state in India. Historically, it has been a part of the Kuru region in North India. The name Haryana is found mentioned in the 12th century AD by the apabhramsha writer Vibudh Shridhar . It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, and by Rajasthan to the west and south...
is one of the oldest temple where Shreekrishna and Balram had their Mundan ceremony
- Bhadrakali Temple in BhadrakBhadrakBhadrak is a city and a municipality in Bhadrak district in the state of Orissa, India.-Demographics: India census, Bhadrak had a population of 1,33,4000. Males constitute 52% of the population and females 48%. Bhadrak has an average literacy rate of 73.86, higher than the national average of...
,is one one of the oldest shakti shrine of OrissaOrissaOrissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
.The name of this ancient town derived from the name of goddess Bhadrakali.
- Bhagwati Bhadrakali Shaktipeeth Ashram, RajaldesarRajaldesarRajaldesar is a city and a municipality in Churu district in the Indian state of Rajasthan.-Geography:Rajaldesar is located at . It has an average elevation of 318 metres .-Demographics:...
, Churu, Rajasthan.
- Bhadrakali Temple at Itkhori, JharkhandJharkhandJharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
http://www.maabhadrakali.org/.
- Shri Mayura Temple in Colombo, Sri Lanka
- Bhadrakali Temple in Hanumangarh , Rajasthan
- Shree Devi Bhadrakali Temple in Revandi north of Malvan, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra.