Pratyangira

Pratyangira (Sanskrit: प्रत्यङ्गिरा, Pratyaṅgirā), also called Atharvana Bhadrakali, Narasimhi, Simhamukhi, and Nikumbala, is a Hindu goddess associated with Shaktism. She is described to be the female energy and consort of Narasimha.[2][3] According to the Tripura Rahasya, she is the pure manifestation of the wrath of Tripura Sundari. In the Vedas, Pratyangira is represented in the form of Atharvana Bhadrakali, the goddess of the Atharva Veda and magical spells.[4] Narasimhi is part of the Saptamatrika mother goddesses.

Pratyangira
Narasimhi upon her mount
Other namesNarasimhi, Atharvana Bhadrakāli, Pratyanigara, Simhamukhi
Sanskritप्रत्यङ्गिरा
AffiliationMahadevi, Chandi, Durga, Kaushiki, Mahalakshmi, Lalita
WeaponTrishula (Trident), Damaru (Drum), Kapala, Pasha (rope/snake rope)
MountLion
TextsDevi Bhagavata, Kalika Purana, Atharvaveda
ConsortVishnu as Narasimha[1]

Legends

There are many Hindu texts that state different legends of Narasimhi.

In a tale of the Devi Mahatmya, Narasimhi was one of the Ashtamatrikas, or one of the eight forms of Parvati as eight mother goddesses who assembled to defeat the forces of the asuras Sumbha and Nisumbha, who had overrun Svarga (heaven) and these eight Matrikas then defeated and killed the asuras Sumbha and Nisumbha and their forces finally.[5]

According to many Puranas, at the end of the Satya 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 of Ashta Lakshmi. This angered the goddess Lakshmi who transformed a holy lotus flower into a kavacha or 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, Lakshmi took the form of Narasimhi and then she defeated and killed the demon Vipulasura.[6]

According to the Markandeya Purana and Shiva Purana, in the beginning of the Treta Yuga, Narasimha, the fourth among the ten avataras of Vishnu, killed the unruly asura king Hiranyakashipu by disembowelling him and ripping his body to shreds. Narasimha grew furious and unstoppable due to the evil powers contained in Hiranyakashipu's body. While the original story ended with Prahlada pacifying him and convincing him to return to Vaikuntha,after which he returned to Vaikuntha,[7] in the Shaiva and Vaishnava traditions, Shiva assumed the form of Sharabha, a bird-lion hybrid. Sharabha tried to carry Narasimha in his talons, but Narasimha in turn assumed the form of Gandabherunda and engulfed Sharabha. Upon the prayers of Shiva, Parvati took the form of Pratyangira and emerged out of the head of Sharabha, pacifying Narasimha and taking her place as his consort, Narasimhi, after which Narashima released Sharabha and Vishnu with Shiva and Parvati returning to their abodes of Vaikuntha and Kailasha respectively.[8]

In another version, it is mentioned that in ancient times, when two Rishis, Pratyangira and Angiras were meditating, they re-discovered a form of the Goddess Parvati through a Moola Mantra who was nameless. Later, she prized the rishis by naming herself after them, henceforth called Pratyangira.

The term 'Prati' means reverse and 'Angiras' means 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 the Atharva 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 a trident, a serpent in the form of a noose, a hand-drum and a skull in her four hands. She is associated with Sharabha and she has a variant form, Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali. She is considered to be a powerful repellent of the influences generated by witchcraft and is said to have the power to punish anyone doing Adharma. It is said that when Narashimhika shakes her Lion's Mane, she throws the stars into disarray.[11][12]

In Hindu Epics
The Pratyangira yantra.

Prathyangira is also mentioned in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Indrajit was performing "Nikumbala yaga" (a sacred ritual to worship Goddess Nikumbala, which is another name of Goddess Prathyangira)[13] while Rama and his soldiers were waging war in Lanka. Hanuman came down to stop this ritual because he knew that if Indrajit completed it, he would become invincible.

Worship

Tantra classifies deities as Shanta (calm), Ugra (wrathful), Prachanda (horrifying), Ghora (terrifying) and Teevra (ferocious). Pratyangira is considered as a teevra 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 Devi Homam (Havan) is performed on 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]

See also

References
  1. Kindler, Babaji Bob (4 July 1996). Twenty-Four Aspects of Mother Kali. 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
  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. Session, Indian Art History Congress (2000). Proceedings of the ... Session of Indian Art History Congress. Indian Art History Congress.
  9. Max Muller The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42
  10. Teun Goudriaan Maya: Divine And Human
  11. Max Muller The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42
  12. Benoytosh Bhattacharyya THE INDIAN BUDDHIST ICONOGRAPHY
  13. "Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi: The Goddess to Counter Black Magic". Indiadivine.org. Retrieved 2014-06-14.
  14. Ajit Mookerjee KALI Brill Archive 1988
  15. "Pratyangira Devi Homa". nanjangud.info. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  16. Max Muller The Hymns of the Atharva-Veda: The Sacred Books of the East V42
  17. Teun Goudriaan Maya: Divine And Human


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