Home > Society > Religion in India > Goddess Bhadrakali
Goddess Bhadrakali
Goddess Bhadrakali is one of the forms of devi mentioned in Devi Mahatmyam. She is mostly worshipped in the state of Kerala.

Share this Article:

Goddess BhadrakaliBhadrakali is considered as the most auspicious form of Goddess Kali. Bhadra word in Sanskrit means blessed, auspicious, air, beautiful, fortunate and prosperous. Bhadrakali is the popular form of devi worshiped in Kerala. Bhadrakali is considered as the consort of Lord Shiva in the form of Rudra. There is also a legend that she is the consort of Virabhadra, who was born of the wrath of Rudra.

Bhadrakali`s origin is attributed to Devi`s wrath according to Vayu Purana and the Mahabharata. Devi was enraged when Daksha insulted Shiva, during the great Ashvamedha Yagna. According to Tantra Rahasya, she arose from the North face of Shiva, which is blue in colour and has three eyes.

Bhadrakali is considered as a local deity that was assimilated into the mainstream Hinduism, particularly into mythology of Shiva. She is represented with three eyes and four, twelve or eighteen hands that carries several weapons, with flames flowing from her head and a tusk that protrudes from her mouth.

Nair and Kodavas communities worship this deity. Certain weapons are also worshipped at their temples which they believe to be the weapons used by the goddess Bhadrakali. She is also the tutelary deity of the Nadar caste of Tamil Nadu.

Atharvana Bhadrakali is also known as Prathyangira Devi who is popular in Tamil Nadu. Her origin is also attributed to the Puranas. It is believed that she can ward off the effects of black magic.

Kerala has a tradition of rituals that are associated with worship of Devi in the form of Bhadrakali. These are performed in small temples. Themes centre on the triumph of Bhadrakali over the demon Daruka and other evil characters. The dance types are: Theyyam, Thiyyattu, Patayani, Poothanumthirayum, Mudiyettu and Kuthiyottam

Famous Bhadrakali Temples
* Ancient Bhadrakali Temple in Hanamakonda, Andhra Pradesh.
* Thirumandhamkunnu temple at Angadippuram, Kerala
* Kodungallur Bhagawati Temple at Kodungallur, Kerala
* Bhadrakali Temple in Kathmandu, Nepal
* Chettikulangara Devi Temple, near Mavelikkara, Kerala
* Panayannarkavu, near Mavelikkara, Kerala
* Kadinamkulam Padickavilakom Bharanicadu Sree Bhagavathi Temple in Kerala
* Pattupurakkavu Bhagavathi temple, Pandalam
* Bhadrakali temple, Bajna, Malwa
* Bhadrakali Temple at Bhadran, Gujarat.
* Bhadrakali Temple in Gokarna. This deity is said to be the protector of Gokarna.
* Bhadrakali Temple in Kurukshetra, Haryana
* Bhadrakali Temple in Bhadrak, is one of the oldest shakti shrine of Orissa. The name of this ancient town derived from the name of goddess Bhadrakali.
* Bhagwati Bhadrakali Shaktipeeth Ashram, Rajaldesar, Churu, Rajasthan.
* Bhadrakali Temple at Itkhori, Jharkhand
* Bhadrakali Temple in Hanumangarh , Rajasthan
* Shree Devi Bhadrakali Temple in Revandi north of Malvan, Sindhudurg district, Maharashtra.


Share this Article:

Subscribe to Newsletter
Learn unknown facts about India from a curated list of informative articles.

Related Articles

More Articles in Religion in India

Religion in Indus Valley Civilization
Religion in Indus Valley Civilisation included Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. Details about the religion in Indus Valley Civilization have been gathered from archaeological artefacts.
Shaivism Religion
Shaivism is the second largest “religious community” in modern India with its roots deeply seated in the Hindu Vedic belief.
Vaishnavism
Vaishnavism is among the more popular denominations of Hinduism, with its own distinctive ideas about spirituality and morality. Vaishnavism concentrates on worshipping god Vishnu and of his incarnations.
Hinduism Religion
Hinduism is more of a philosophy which is a way of living according to the understanding of the principles of Vedas and Upanishads.
Islam
Islam is a religion that beliefs in Allah as the one and only God and creator of the Universe. Islamic law or Sharia is characterised by the five pillars of Islam which comprise the essential duties of every Muslim.
Christianity
Christianity is a religion based on the teachings and life of Jesus Christ and it is the largest religion in the world.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and a philosophy that encompasses a wide variety of beliefs, practices and traditions that are chiefly based on the teachings of Gautama Buddha and its later disciples.
Jainism
Jainism chronologically preceded the religion of Buddhism. It is considered as one of the oldest religions of India. Jainism in India shared with Hinduism and Buddhism. It is an integral part of South Asian religious belief and practice, but it is not a Hindu sect and not a Buddhist heresy, as earlier scholars believed.
Zoroastrianism
Zoroastrianism, closely related to Judaism, Christianity and Islam was founded by Zoroaster.
Sikhism
Sikhism is a religion started by Guru Nanak in land of Punjab in 15th century A.D.
Iyer Brahmin
Iyer Brahmins are originally from Tamil Nadu of South India. The Iyers have always taken an interest in preserving the arts and sciences.
Barai Caste
Barai Caste is the professional cultivator caste of betel leaf. Tamboli and Pansari are the terms used indifferently for Barai Caste. The diversity of names of the sub-divisions of Barai Caste discloses the mixed elements that formed the caste.
Dangi Caste
Dangi Caste is largely distributed in the high land regions, and the word Dangi is said to have originated from the geographical features of their territory. Main occupation of the members of Dangi Caste is cultivation.
Nadar Caste
One of the most renowned castes of Tamil Nadu is the Nadar caste. The Nadar community is a mixture of sub-castes and classes of different origins, which came under one banner of Nadar caste gradually.
Kumbhakar Caste
Kumbhakar is the potter caste who manufactures all kinds of earthen vessels.
Gujjars in Maharashtra
Gujjars in Maharashtra have several sub-castes. Here, in this state the Gurjars are listed as a separate caste. They are included in the Maharashtra OBC list.
Awasthi Brahmin
Awasthi is a surname or a family name of a particular sub-caste of Brahmins in the Indian continent.
Bhoyar Caste
Bhoyar Caste is largely found in the Central Provinces of the country. Traditional occupation of Bhoyars is agriculture. They are good cultivators and mostly grow sugarcane.
Gujjars in Mughal Era
Gujjars in the Mughal era enjoyed great power. Further their power increased with the decline of Aurangzeb, Mughal emperor.
Origin of Vaishnavism
Origin of Vaishnavism shares its attributes to many sources and religious evolution, dating back to pre-Vedic epoch.