Pratyangira

Pratyangira
Pratyangira
	Pratyangira upon her lion mount
Other names	Narasimhi, Atharvana Bhadrakali, Pratyangira, Simhamukhi
Sanskrit	प्रत्यङ्गिरा
Affiliation	Mahadevi,Mahalakshmi,Chandi,Durga,Kaushiki,Lalita
Weapon	Trishula(Trident),Damaru(Drum),Kapala,Pasha(rope/snake rope)
Mount	Lion
Texts	Devi Bhagavata,Kalika Purana,Atharvaveda
Consort	VishnuasNarasimha

Pratyangira(Sanskrit:प्रत्यङ्गिरा,IAST:Pratyaṅgirā), also calledAtharvana Bhadrakali,Narasimhi,andNikumbala,is aHindu goddessassociated withShaktism.She is described to be the female energy and consort ofNarasimha.^[2]^[3]According to theTripura Rahasya,she is the pure manifestation of the wrath ofTripura Sundari.In theVedas,Pratyangira is represented in the form of AtharvanaBhadrakali,the goddess of theAtharva Vedaand magical spells.^[4]Narasimhi is part of theSaptamatrikamother goddesses.

Legends

There are manyHindutexts that narrate the different legends of Narasimhi.

In a tale in theDevi Mahatmyam,Narasimhi was one of theSaptamatrikas,or one of the seven mother goddesses who were forms of the goddessMahadevi.They had assembled to defeat theasuras Shumbha and Nishumbha,who had overrunSvarga(heaven).^[5]

According to manyPuranas,at the end of theKrita Yuga,a glittering spark appeared from the universe and transformed into a wicked demon named Vipulasura. Vipulasura disturbed a group of eight sages who were performing rituals ofAshta Lakshmi.This angered the goddessLakshmiwho transformed a holy lotus flower into akavachaor a strong shield. It is also mentioned that the lotus that was transformed had 562 petals in it. The shield provided a great protection to the eight sages, allowing them to perform the holy rituals without any disturbance. Following this,Laxmitook the form of Narasimhi and defeated and killed the demon Vipulasura.^[6]

According to theMarkandeya PuranaandShiva Purana,in the beginning of theTreta Yuga,Narasimha, the fourth among the ten avataras ofVishnu,killed the unruly asura kingHiranyakashipuby disembowelling him. Narasimha grew furious and unstoppable due to the evil energies contained in Hiranyakashipu's body that entered into him. The story ends withPrahladapacifying Narasimha and he returns toVaikunthaafter assuming his true form as Vishnu.^[7]In theShaivatradition,Shivaassumed the form ofSharabha,a bird-lion hybrid form with two wings of Shakti in the form of Shulini Devi and Pratyangira Devi to calm down Narasimha. Seeing this, Narasimha created Gandaberunda, a powerful two-headed bird, to fight Sharabha. Seeing that the fight between Sharabha and Gandaberunda was terrorizing the world, Pratyangira in her ugra form was released from the third eye of Sharabha. Pratyangira managed to pacify Narasimha so he could resume his Satvik form, and thus Dharma in the world was restored.^[8]

The term 'Prati'means reverse andAngirasmeans attacking. Thus, the goddess Pratyangira is the one who reverses any black magic attacks. In the temples of South India, she is also eulogised as Atharvana Bhadrakali as the she is considered the embodiment of theAtharva Veda.^[9]^[10]

Association

In some images she is shown as dark-complexioned, terrible in aspect, having a lion's face with reddened eyes and riding a lion or wearing black garments, she wears a garland of human skulls; her hair stands on end, and she holds atrident,a serpent in the form of a noose, a hand-drum and a skull in her four hands. She is associated withSharabhaand she has a variant form, Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated bywitchcraftand is said to have the power to punish anyone doingAdharma.It is said that when Narasimhi shakes her lion's mane, she throws the stars into disarray.^[11]^[12]

Literature

The Pratyangirayantra.

Prathyangira is also mentioned in the Hindu epicRamayana.Indrajitais described to have begun to perform the Nikumbalayajna,a ritual to worship Nikumbala, another name of Pratyangira, while Rama and his soldiers were waging war inLanka.Hanumanis described to have arrived at the site and stopped the ritual because its completion would have granted invincibility to Indrajita.^[13]Consequently,Lakshmanawas able to defeat and kill Indrajita in the Battle of Lanka.

Worship

Tantra classifies deities as Shanta (calm), Ugra (wrathful), Prachanda (horrifying), Ghora (terrifying) and Teevara (ferocious). Pratyangira is considered as ateevara murti.Pratyangira worship is strictly prohibited for people who have namesake Bhakti. Pratyangira worship is only done by the guidance of a Guru who is proficient in Tantra.^[14]

Worships dedicated to Pratyangira is performed at many places for the welfare of the people and for eliminating the influences of evil forces. In some temples, Pratyangira Homam is performed on the days of Amavasya.^[15]

Eight kinds of Tantric acts

Like all Tantric deities, she can be invoked for the eight kinds of acts usually performed. They are appealing, growth, increasing, attracting, subduing, dissention, repealing, and killing. Detailed information is found as to what kind of materials are to be used for the respective aim, and the number of recitations to be performed. It is further said that any act performed invoking this deity, especially the bad ones like killing and subduing, it is impossible to retract it even when the doer wishes.^[16]^[17]

References

^Kindler, Babaji Bob (4 July 1996).Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali.SRV Associations.ISBN 9781891893179.
^Nagar, Shanti Lal (1989).The Universal Mother.Atma Ram & Sons. p. 71.ISBN 978-81-7043-113-8.
^Punja, Shobita (1996).Daughters of the Ocean: Discovering the Goddess Within.Viking. p. 120.ISBN 978-0-670-87053-0.
^Dr Ramamurthy, Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi: Holy Divine Mother in Ferocious Form[1]
^Bhattacharji, Sukumari; Sukumari (1998).Legends of Devi.Orient Blackswan.ISBN 978-81-250-1438-6.
^Nagar, Shanti Lal (2007).Śiva-mahāpurāṇa: Māhātmyam, Vidyeśvara saṁhitā, Rudra saṁhitā (Sr̥ṣṭi khaṇḍa, Satī khaṇḍa and Pārvatī khaṇḍa).Parimal Publications.ISBN 978-81-7110-298-3.
^Swami, Bodhasarananda (2016-03-02).Stories from the Bhagavatam.Advaita Ashrama.ISBN 978-81-7505-814-9.
^Ksham Meditation by Swami Shanmuga[2]
^Max MullerThe Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42
^Teun GoudriaanMaya: Divine And Human
^Max MullerThe Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42
^Benoytosh BhattacharyyaTHE INDIAN BUDDHIST ICONOGRAPHY
^Dharma, Krishna (2020-08-18).Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom.Simon and Schuster. p. 390.ISBN 978-1-68383-919-4.
^Ajit MookerjeeKALIBrill Archive 1988
^"Pratyangira Devi Homa".nanjangud.info.Retrieved2016-01-17.
^Max MullerThe Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42
^Teun GoudriaanMaya: Divine And Human

External links

[1] Kindler, Babaji Bob (4 July 1996).Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali.SRV Associations.ISBN 9781891893179.

[2] Nagar, Shanti Lal (1989).The Universal Mother.Atma Ram & Sons. p. 71.ISBN 978-81-7043-113-8.

[3] Punja, Shobita (1996).Daughters of the Ocean: Discovering the Goddess Within.Viking. p. 120.ISBN 978-0-670-87053-0.

[4] Dr Ramamurthy, Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi: Holy Divine Mother in Ferocious Form[1]

[5] Bhattacharji, Sukumari; Sukumari (1998).Legends of Devi.Orient Blackswan.ISBN 978-81-250-1438-6.

[6] Nagar, Shanti Lal (2007).Śiva-mahāpurāṇa: Māhātmyam, Vidyeśvara saṁhitā, Rudra saṁhitā (Sr̥ṣṭi khaṇḍa, Satī khaṇḍa and Pārvatī khaṇḍa).Parimal Publications.ISBN 978-81-7110-298-3.

[7] Swami, Bodhasarananda (2016-03-02).Stories from the Bhagavatam.Advaita Ashrama.ISBN 978-81-7505-814-9.

[8] Ksham Meditation by Swami Shanmuga[2]

[9] Max MullerThe Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42

[10] Teun GoudriaanMaya: Divine And Human

[11] Max MullerThe Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42

[12] Benoytosh BhattacharyyaTHE INDIAN BUDDHIST ICONOGRAPHY

[13] Dharma, Krishna (2020-08-18).Ramayana: India's Immortal Tale of Adventure, Love, and Wisdom.Simon and Schuster. p. 390.ISBN 978-1-68383-919-4.

[14] Ajit MookerjeeKALIBrill Archive 1988

[15] "Pratyangira Devi Homa".nanjangud.info.Retrieved2016-01-17.

[16] Max MullerThe Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42

[17] Teun GoudriaanMaya: Divine And Human

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