Bagalamukhi
Bagalamukhi is the eighth Mahavidya, the golden goddess of stambhana - the power to stop, paralyse and silence - shown holding a club and the tongue of a demon. Her name is glossed as 'she whose face is that of a crane' (baka), though the standard tantric image is a human golden face.
Bagalamukhi's name is glossed as 'she whose face is that of a crane' (baka), and some modern images take that literally; the standard tantric iconography is a golden human face with a club and a demon whose tongue she holds, the power of stambhana - stopping, paralysing, silencing. The crane-headed figures now circulating online are a recent iconographic drift, not the tradition's main image. The planetary, elemental, zodiacal and tarot values are a modern Western overlay.
Correspondences
- Planetary Correspondence
- Mars
Offerings
- Offerings
- Yellow flowersTurmericYellow riceChana dalSaffronLemonYellow cloth
Sacred timing
- Sacred Timing
Symbols and forms
- Alternate Names
- BaglamukhiBagalaValgamukhiPitambari
- Gender Expression
- Feminine
- Titles
- The Crane-FacedShe Who ParalysesThe Golden GoddessEighth of the Mahavidyas
- Symbols
- ClubDemon tongueYellow clothGolden throne
Practice
- Invocation Approach
- ToneFirm disciplinedAddressBagalamukhiPitambariMa BagalamukhiRelationshipThe goddess who stops what must be stoppedWarningStambhana is a power to stop not a licence to harmResonanceThose facing a lawsuit a slander or a speech that will not stop
- Modern Practice
She is invoked in the classical remedial mode - against enemies, litigation, a slander, or a paralysis of one's own speech - and her worship is famously done with yellow things. Modern practice should keep the tradition's ethical frame: stambhana is a power to stop, not a licence to harm.
Nature and meaning
- Domain
- StambhanaParalysisVictory over enemiesSpeech stoppedStillnessProtectionLitigation
- Mythology Summary
Bagalamukhi is the eighth Mahavidya, the golden goddess of stambhana - the power to stop, paralyse and silence - shown holding a club and the tongue of a demon. Her name is glossed as 'she whose face is that of a crane' (baka), though the standard tantric image is a human golden face; the crane-headed figures are a later iconographic drift. Her chief living shrine is at Nalkheda in Madhya Pradesh, and she is invoked against enemies and litigation.
Details
- Correspondences
- ColorsYellowGoldSaffron yellowScentsCamphorSaffronSandalwood whiteFrankincenseMetalsGoldBrassAnimalsCraneLion
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