Goddess Tulja Bhavani

Goddess Tulja Bhavani

Tulja Bhavani goddess is worshiped and seen in four forms such as Tuljapur ensuring Bhavani, Saptshringi enshrining Jagadamba, Kolhapur enshrining Mahalakshmi and Mahur enshrining Mahamaya Renuka. Goddess Bhavani is worshipped four services daily here. On Tuesdays, the deity is taken out in procession. Festival of Navaratri is celebrated with great fanfare and it culminates in “Vijaya Dasami”.

The image of Goddess Bhavani is three foot high granite, with eight arms holding the weapons, bearing the head of the slain devil Mahishasura. The other names of Bhavani are Tulaja, Tvarita, Amba and Turaja.

Tulja Bhavani Temple is the famous temple dedicated to Goddess Tulja Bhavani. Bhavani Temple is it is situated in Tuljapur in Osmanabad, Maharastra, India. It is located on the hill namedYamunachala, on the slopes of the Sahayadri range near Sholapur. It is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Pithas

Bhavani is a ferocious aspect of the Hindu goddess Parvati. Bhavani means "giver of life", the power of nature or the source of creative energy. In addition to her ferocious aspect, she is also known as Karunaswaroopini, "filled with mercy".

Bhavani was the tutelary deity of the Maratha leader Shivaji, to whom she presented a sword,Bhavani Talwar. A temple to Bhavani at Tuljapur in Maharashtra, dates back to the 12th century. The temple contains a meter-high granite icon of the goddess, with eight arms holding weapons. She also holds the head of the demon Mahishasura, whom she slew in the region which is the present day Mysore.

Temples of Bhavani

The Tulja Bhavani and anthiur temple in Tuljapur in Osmanabad district of Maharashtra is considered as one of the 51 Shakti Pithas. This temple was built in c. 12th century CE. A Tulja Bhavani temple was built between 1537-1540 CE in Chittorgarh.^[1] It is located at coordinates 18.011386°N 76.125641°E.

History:

Worship of the primeval energy Shakti in the form of the mother Goddess is seen in the four Shakti Peethas of Maharashtra - Bhavani with her seat at Tuljapur, Mahalakshmi at Kolhapur, MahamayaRenuka at Mahur and Jagadamba at Saptashrungi, and also in Tamilnadu (Periyapalayam)Sri Bhavani Amman. Other Shakti temples in the state are those at Ambejogai and Aundh. (also see Daksha Yagna).

Bhavani was the tutelary deity of Shivaji, the valiant Maratha ruler and is held in great reverence throughout the state of Maharashtra. Bhavani is considered to be an embodiment of Ugra or ferocity, as well as a Karunaswaroopini - filled with mercy. A number of castes , sub-castes and families from Maharashtra consider her their family deity or Kuldevta.

The Bhavani temple in Tuljapur is located on a hill known as Yamunachala, on the slopes of the Sahayadri range in Maharashtra near Sholapur. The temple entrance is at an elevation and visitors need to transcend a flight of steps to reach the shrine. Historic records speak of the existence of this temple from as early as the 12th century CE.

Bhavani is worshipped in the form of a 3-foot-high (0.91 m) granite image, with eight arms holding weapons, bearing the head of the slain demon Mahishasura. Bhavani is also known as Tulaja, Turaja, Tvarita and Amba.

Legend has it that a demon by name Matanga wreaked havoc upon the devas and the humans who approached Bhrahma for help and upon his advice turned to the Mother Goddess Shakti, who took up the form of the destroyer, and powered by the other (Sapta) Maataas Varaahi, Bhrahmi, Vaishnavi, Kaumaari, Indraani and Saambhavi and vanquished him for peace to reign again.

Legend also has it that Bhavani vanquished another demon who had taken the form of a wild buffalo (Mahishasura), and took abode on the Yamunachala hill, which is now home to the temple.

Four worship services are offered each day here. The festivals of significance here are Gudi Padva in the month of Chaitra, Shriral Sashti, Lalita Panchami, Makara Sankranti and Rathasaptami. The deity is taken out in procession on Tuesdays. Navaratri is also celebrated with great fanfare, and it culminates in Vijaya Dasami.