Bagalamukhi Jayanti is a festival to celebrate the creation of Devi Bagalamukhi, who is regarded as eighth of the ten Mahavidyas (Devi’s of wisdom). Dasa Mahavidyas are the ten dimensions of Shakti, and are worshiped as ten forms of vital energy that flows in our body. Bagalamukhi means, one who has a strong control on tongue and mind. Ma Bagalamukhi is also known by the name of Pitambari Devi, in many parts of the country. As per Hindu calendar, Bagalamukhi Jayanti is celebrated on the eighth day (Ashtami tithi) in Shukla paksha, of Vaishakha month. According to the Gregorian calendar, it falls in the month of April-May.

Bagalamukhi Jayanti

Bagalamukhi is one of the ten Mahavidyas depicting the mighty power of feminine energy. Dasa Mahavidyas represent the ten directions and the vital energy that flows in our body, creating life. The ten directions are: North, South, East, West, NE, NW, SE, SW, up and down. Bagalamukhi is the eighth Mahavidya and is known to control speech and mind. Tantric practitioners perform special pujas on Bagalmukhi Jayanti, to please Ma Baglamukhi. Sadhakas are blessed with ashtsiddhis that help them with spiritual growth. She gives special power to devotees, to have control over enemies. She is also known as Pitambari Devi, as her moola virat is golden in colour. Many people think that it is yellow, though she sits on a golden throne (swarna simhasanam) in the midst of an ocean. She is mainly worshipped on Thursdays. She is decorated with a garland of yellow flowers, and adorns golden ornaments. Her stature depicts that she holds the tongue of the enemy with left hand, and strikes with a club, through her right hand. She has four arms, three eyes, and a moon shaped tikka on her forehead. Bagalamukhi is derived from the combination of three words viz. Ba– who is filled with temper to destroy demons, Ga-who gives all kinds of sidhhis to human beings, and La-who is the basis of all kinds of divine powers on earth.

DEITIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE FESTIVAL:

Bagalamukhi Jayanti is dedicated to the worship of Bagalamukhi Devi, the eighth Mahavidya or Tantric Goddess.

ORIGIN AND SIGNIFICANCE:

Bagalamukhi Devi was created along with nine other Mahavidyas, when Sati ran into an argument with Shiva, regarding attending the yagna organized by her father, Daksha. Prajapati Daksha did not invite his own daughter and son-in-law, Sati and Shiva, for the yagna. However, Sati wanted to attend the yagna, but Shiva refused. She then created 10 Vidyas, dasa Mahavidyas, who surrounded Shiva from all directions, and with their infinite intelligence and energy, confronted Shiva and won the argument. Sati then went to attend the yagna. These ten Mahavidyas are, Mahakali, Tara, Tripurasundari, Bhuvaneshwari, Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhoomavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi and Kamala. Each of these Mahavidyas, is complete in awareness, consciousness, intelligence and energy. It exists in every human body in the form of various chakras or sources of energy, thus manifesting life.

According to a legend, there was an asura named Madan, who had a boon with a unique quality of Vak siddhi which led to manifestation of his words. Madan misused his boon, and started to control and kill humans. Terrified by his actions, people rushed to Ma Bagalamukhi for help. It is said that Bagalamukhi holded his tongue with her left hand, and slayed his head with a club, through her right hand.

Significance:

Bagalamukhi Jayanti is an important day for those facing the ill effects of wrong planetary position of Mangal graha, in their birth chart. Worshiping Bagalamukhi on this day, helps in reducing the effects of Mangal Dosha. Worship of Ma Baglamukhi is recommended for everyone, to avoid the unusual happenings in life and live a stable and prosperous life. She has the power to rectify kundali doshas and also remove the negative energies that cloud one’s life. She was blessed with prosperity at home, good performance in education and career, stability in marriage and settlement of legal cases. Most important benefit of worshiping Ma Bagalamukhi is that, she helps in evolution of the soul and enlightenment.

CUSTOMS, TRADITIONS AND RITUALS:

Bagalamukhi Jayanti is celebrated by performing puja chanting Bagalamukhi Mantras. People also make special bhog with yellow ingredients, such as Chana Dal Halwa, Yellow peda, etc., for Devi, and make other offerings to please her. Undertaking charitable acts like donations, help in pleasing the Devi, who is here to remove all ill effects and negativities in life. Baglamukhi Mool Mantra is also chanted, whose ideal count is 1,25,000 times.

PUJA VIDHI AND KATHA:

Vidhi: Bagalamukhi Devi puja is performed as per strict vedic rituals. The puja vidhi is as follows:

• Take a bath and wear yellow-coloured clothes for the puja.
• Make a chowki where worship has to be done.
• Spread a yellow cloth on the chowki, and place the murti of Bagalamukhi on it.
• Offer yellow (golden) chunri to Devi.
• Keep Bagalamukhi yantra in front of the murti of Bagalamukhi. If you don’t have the yantra, you can also make swastika with chana dal.
• Ignite the ghee lamp in front of the murti.
• Close your eyes, join hands, and chant Ma Bagalamukhi Gayatri mantra. Chanting of Bagalamukhi mantras in a profound way, removes all sorrows, builds confidence and gives courage.
• Offer turmeric and yellow flowers to Devi, and spread yellow mustard seeds in all the four directions.
• Now chant moola Mantra of Maa Baglamukhi, and offer bhog of yellow sweets.
• Apologize to Bagalamuhki Devi for any mistake, made unintentionally, in performing the puja rituals.

Mantras:

Bagalamukhi Gayatri mantra- “Om Bagalamukhaye cha vidmahestambhinyai cha dheemahi tano bagla prachodayat”

Bagalamukhi moola mantra – “Aum Hreem Bagalamukhi sarv dushtaanam Vaacham mukham padam stambhyam Jivham kilya, budhhim vinashya hreem aum swaha”.

The best time to chant Baglamukhi mantra is early morning. Chant the mantras 125000 times, for optimum benefits.

Katha:

Centuries ago, a powerful storm hit the Earth, and destroyed everything that came on its way. The entire Earth and its species become endangered. Every part of the earth was at stake, except, Saurashtra region. Bhagwan Vishnu judged the gravity of the situation, and started doing penance on the Haridra sarovar, to Devi Tripura Sundari, so that she curbs the destruction. Tripura Devi got pleased with the devotion of Vishnu, and emerged from the turmeric lake, in the form of Devi Bagalamukhi. She calmed the storm and restored the order of the universe.

CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY:

Bagalamukhi Jayanti is celebrated all across the country with great zeal. People observe a fast throughout the day. Vaishakha Shukla ashtami is celebrated as the birth anniversary of Ma Bagalamukhi. Devotees across the country, organize yagyas and other religious practices. Kamakhya temple in Guwahati is a major temple dedicated to tantric worship and Mahavidyas. Other famous temples that celebrate Bagalamukhi Jayanti in a grand way are:

• Bagalamukhi temple in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh
• Pitambara Shakti peeth temple, Datia, Madhya Pradesh.
• Bagalamukhi temple in Nalkheda, Agar, Malwa district, Madhya Pradesh.
• Shri Raj Rajeshwari Ma Pitambara Bagalamukhi temple, Vadodara.
• Baglamukhi temple in Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu.

BENEFITS OF BAGALAMUKHI JAYANTI:

Worshiping Bagalamukhi helps to defeat one’s internal enemies viz. krodh, lobh, moh, ahankar. Admirers get an inner strength and wisdom to control negative thoughts and energies. It also gives courage to fight against adversaries and helps in influencing others. Bagalamukhi puja is beneficial for those who incur heavy loss in business, career, and have bad debts. It helps in improving financial status, and brings stability in life. Ma Bagalamukhi sadhana invokes ashtsiddhis in the sadhak, empowering him with spiritual strength. Worshiping Bagalamukhi Devi with dedication gives health, wealth, attraction and grants moksha. Sadhakas are protected from accidents and diseases. Worshiping Bagalamukhi also helps in relieving from various doshas such as pitra dosha, Kaal sarpa dosha, mangal dosha or any bad planetary composition in the birth chart.

It is not fair to say that Bagalamukhi Devi is connected with black magic powers, but being a Mahavidya, she is revered by Tantric practitioners.