Baglamukhi or Bagalā is one of the Mahavidyas (great wisdom/science), a group of ten Tantrik deities in Hinduism.
Mata Bagalamukhi is a revered Hindu goddess, considered the eighth Mahavidya (great wisdom) in the Dasha Mahavidya tradition.
Bagalamukhi is an aggressive form of the goddess. She is one of the manifestations of Kali, the fierce form of the divine Shakti, also known by many other names such as Parvati, Durga and Bhagavathi.
Kali is also known as Adi Parashakthi, the primordial, all-powerful feminine energy, and is worshiped in ten forms known as the Dasa Mahavidyas, the ten goddesses of great wisdom.
Goddess Bagalamukhi is considered the eighth of these ten divine aspects. She is known as the deity of power, protection and victory over obstacles.
Etymologically, ‘Bagla’ means ‘bridle’, ‘rope’ or ‘bridle’, while ‘Mukhi’ means ‘face’, ‘image or ‘face’.
Therefore, Bagalamukhi is the goddess whose face symbolizes her formidable power (through her subtle radiance) to restrain, control or rule any situation that manifests, such as negative forces and enemies.
One of the most important aspects that Bagalamukhi manifests relates to speech and therefore she resonates with the great cosmic wisdom Tara and is sometimes even considered one of her forms.
It is not so difficult to understand this connection when we realize that intense subtle radiation is often connected with the manifestation of light; therefore, Tara manifests as Bagalamukhi when the subtle energy of sound manifests as light.
The Devi has 108 different names. Bagalamukhi is commonly known as Pitambari in North India, the goddess associated with yellow color or golden color.
Bagalamukhi is strongly associated with the yellow color. She dresses in yellow clothes and jewelry. Several texts describe her affinity with the color; yellow is an integral part of her worship rituals.
Bagalamukhi is propitiated with yellow offerings by devotees dressed in yellow, seated on a yellow cloth. Yellow turmeric bead wreaths are used Japan (repetition) of her names or mantra (invocation).
The color yellow is linked to the sun, gold, earth, grain and fire, which represents prosperity, bounty and purity. Yellow turmeric is associated with marriage. This is why Goddess Bagalamukhi is also known as Pitambhara Devi.
Bagalamukhi is praised as the giver of supernatural powers (siddhis) or magical powers (riddhi).
In ‘Bagalamukhistotratram’, a part of ‘Rudrayamala’ (a famous Tantra work), there are hymns in praise of the powers of Goddess Bagalamukhi.
“Vadi mukati rangti kshatipati vaisvanara shitalati krodhi samyati durjana sujanati kshitipranugah khanjati. Garvi khanjati sarvavichcha jarati tvanmantrinamantritah shrinitye bagalamukhi pratidina tubhyam namam”
English Translation – Vadi Mukati Rankati Kshitipatirvaishwanarah Sheetati Krodhi Samyati Durjanah Sujanati Khsipranugah Khanjati. Garvi Khanjati Sarvaviccha Jarati Tvanmantrinaamantritah Srinitye Baglamukhi Pratidinam Tubhyam Namah
Meaning of the Hymn – The effect of your mantra leaves good conversationalists speechless; rich become beggars; devastating fire is cooled. The anger of the angry person is removed; an evil person becomes good. The fast moving person becomes lame. The conceited person’s conceit is reduced. A well-informed person almost becomes a fool. Greetings to the compassionate Bagalamukhi!
Mata Bagalamukhi sits on a golden throne with pillars decorated with various jewels and has three eyes, symbolizing that she can convey ultimate knowledge to the devotee.
