Bhadrakāli , is according to legends a fierce form of
KaliKali , also known as Kalika , is a Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. The name Kali means "black", but has by folk etymology come to mean "force of time ". Despite her negative connotations, Kali is today considered the goddess of time and change...
. Bhadra in Sanskrit means blessed, auspicious; fair, beautiful; good; fortunate, prosperous.
Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshiped in Kerala. In Kerala she is considered the auspicious and fortunate form of
KaliKali , also known as Kalika , is a Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. The name Kali means "black", but has by folk etymology come to mean "force of time ". Despite her negative connotations, Kali is today considered the goddess of time and change...
.
She is generally considered the consort of Shiva in the form of
RudraRudra is a Rigvedic God of the storm, the wind, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "Roarer", "Howler", "Wild One", and "Terrible".Rudra is thought to be an early form of Shiva...
. But there is also a story that she is the consort of
VirabhadraAccording 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
RudraRudra is a Rigvedic God of the storm, the wind, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "Roarer", "Howler", "Wild One", and "Terrible".Rudra is thought to be an early form of Shiva...
.
According to
Vayu PuranaThe 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
MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . The epic is part of the Hindu itihāsa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
, she came into being by
DeviDevi is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. 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 consciousness or discrimination,...
's wrath, when
DakshaIn Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis , the Rishis and the Adityas, and a son of Aditi and Brahma...
insulted
ShivaShiva , also known as Rudra is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God...
, during the great
AshvamedhaThe Ashvamedha was one of the most important royal rituals of Vedic religion, described in detail in the Yajurveda...
Yagna (Horse-sacrifice) .
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
HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
, particularly into Shaiva mythology.
Bhadrakāli , is according to legends a fierce form of
KaliKali , also known as Kalika , is a Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. The name Kali means "black", but has by folk etymology come to mean "force of time ". Despite her negative connotations, Kali is today considered the goddess of time and change...
. Bhadra in Sanskrit means blessed, auspicious; fair, beautiful; good; fortunate, prosperous.
Bhadrakali is the popular form of Devi worshiped in Kerala. In Kerala she is considered the auspicious and fortunate form of
KaliKali , also known as Kalika , is a Hindu goddess associated with eternal energy. The name Kali means "black", but has by folk etymology come to mean "force of time ". Despite her negative connotations, Kali is today considered the goddess of time and change...
.
She is generally considered the consort of Shiva in the form of
RudraRudra is a Rigvedic God of the storm, the wind, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "Roarer", "Howler", "Wild One", and "Terrible".Rudra is thought to be an early form of Shiva...
. But there is also a story that she is the consort of
VirabhadraAccording 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
RudraRudra is a Rigvedic God of the storm, the wind, and the hunt. The name has been translated as "Roarer", "Howler", "Wild One", and "Terrible".Rudra is thought to be an early form of Shiva...
.
According to
Vayu PuranaThe 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
MahabharataThe Mahabharata is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . The epic is part of the Hindu itihāsa , and forms an important part of Hindu mythology....
, she came into being by
DeviDevi is the Sanskrit word for Goddess, used mostly in Hinduism. 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 consciousness or discrimination,...
's wrath, when
DakshaIn Hinduism, Daksha, "the skilled one", is an ancient creator god, one of the Prajapatis , the Rishis and the Adityas, and a son of Aditi and Brahma...
insulted
ShivaShiva , also known as Rudra is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God...
, during the great
AshvamedhaThe Ashvamedha was one of the most important royal rituals of Vedic religion, described in detail in the Yajurveda...
Yagna (Horse-sacrifice) .
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
HinduismHinduism is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as ', a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law", by its adherents. Generic "types" of Hinduism that attempt to accommodate a variety of complex views span folk and Vedic Hinduism to bhakti tradition, as...
, particularly into Shaiva mythology. Sometimes she assumes terrible aspect, and 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.
Kshatriyas like the Kodavas and Nairs would ardently worship this deity. They worship certain weapons at their temples which they believe to be the weapons used by the goddess Bhadrakali.
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 small temples. Besides general welfare of the village, these rituals aim at warding off of such calamities like Small Pox and other epidemic diseases.
Themes generally revolve around the triumph of Bhadrakali over the demon Daruka (Daarikan) and other evil characters.
The dance forms are:
1. Theyyam
2. Theeyattu
3. Patayani
4. Poothanumthirayum
5. Mudiyettu
Famous Bhadrakali temples
- The ancient Bhadrakali temple in Hanamakonda(Warangal), Andhra Pradesh. Bhadrakali (or 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 time. Rituals and animal (and human, by some accounts) sacrifices on a massive scale were performed to invoke the blessings of Goddess Bhadrakali before the Kakatiyas went off to battle.
- Thirumaandham Kunnu temple at Angadippuram, Kerala
- Kodungallur Bhagavathy Temple at kodungallur, Kerala
- Panayannar Kavu, near mavelikkara, Kerala
- Kadinamkulam
Kadinamkulam 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. Kadinamkulam is surrounded by Kadinamkulam Kayal to the east,...
Padickavilakom Bharanicadu Sree Bhagavathi Temple in Kerala
- Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi temple
Thonnallur Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi temple is a famous Hindu temple located at Pandalam in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala state, India. The deity in this temple is Bhadrakali...
, Pandalam
- The temple of Bhadrakali is found at a place called Bajna
Bajna 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 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 sq. km...
. Raja Bhoj constructed this temple. This place is also recognized as shaktipitha in India. The excavations at this site has produced rare idols of ShivaShiva , also known as Rudra is a major Hindu god and one aspect of Trimurti. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God...
in yoga pose, LakshmiLakshmi is the Hindu goddess of wealth, prosperity, light, wisdom, fortune, fertility, generosity and courage; and the embodiment of beauty, grace and charm...
, Gajasursanhar, SuryaIn Hinduism, Sūrya is the chief solar deity, 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 NatarajaNataraj is a depiction of the Hindu god Shiva as the cosmic dancer who performs his divine dance to destroy a weary universe and make preparations for god Brahma to start the process of creation. Nataraja is most often depicted through a statue...
. The world famous 'Tripurasundari ma' temple at a distance of 60 km from this place is situated at village Talwada in Banswara district in RajasthanRājasthān is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. 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 Pakistan...
. An inscription of 1540 AD found here reveals that this temple was constructed prior to the rule of KanishkaKanishka was a king of the Kushan Empire in Central Asia, 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 ParvatiParvati is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is also regarded as a representation of Shakti, albeit the gentle aspect of that goddess because she is a mother goddess. Parvati is considered by some schools of Hinduism as the supreme Divine Mother or Lordess and all other goddesses are referred to as her...
on his thigh. GaneshaGanesha , also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations...
and Kartikeya are seated on both sides.
- Bhadrakali Temple at Bhadran
Bhadran is a village in the Indian state of Gujarat. 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....
, Gujarat.
- Bhadrakali Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal.
- Bhadrakali Temple in Gokarna
Gokarna 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...
. This is situated next to Lord Shiva's temple in Gokarna.
- Bhadrakali Temple in Kurushetra, Haryana is one of the oldest temple where Shreekrishna and Balram had their Mundan ceremony
- Bhadrakali Temple in Bhadrak
Bhadrak is a city and a municipality in Bhadrak district in the state of Orissa, India.-Geography:Bhadrak is located at . It has an average elevation of .-Demographics:...
,is one one of the oldest shakti shrine of OrissaOrissa , is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of ancient republican nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC, that led to a turning point in the Emperor's life when deeply saddened by the bloodshed...
.The name of this ancient town derived from the name of goddess Bhadrakali.
- Bhagwati Bhadrakali Shaktipeeth Ashram, Rajaldesar
Rajaldesar 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, Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar state 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. of 28,833 sq mi...
http://www.maabhadrakali.org/.