Bagalamukhi – The Goddess Who Paralyses Enemies

Bagalamukhi or Bagala is one of the ten mahavidyas.  She is mentioned in legends that are associated with Shiva and Vishnu. Bagala is a name that is derived from the Sanskrit term Valga, which means ‘to control’. She was known as Valgamukhi, meaning that she had that power in her face which could capture or control or even paralyze her opponents. Another name is Brahmastra Roopini, which means that she exercises her magical powers of delusion. She turns speech into silence, knowledge into ignorance, power into impotence, and defeat into victory.

Bagalamukhi is associated with magical powers and these are termed as Siddhi. One Siddhi that Bagalamukhi has is her magical power of Stambhana. It refers to the power to transfix, immobilize or paralyze a person into silence. One explanation that is based on yoga interprets Stambhana as being the control over the vital-breaths (prana). It suggests that Bagalamukhi exercises control over the vital breaths; she enables one to conquer the tongue, which means self-control over greed, speech and taste. Thus, Bagalamukhi displays both negative and positive virtues.

Forms and Characteristics of Maa Bagalamukhi

Bagalamukhi presents her as a goddess with a golden complexion dressed in yellow. She sits on a golden throne in the midst of an ocean of nectar full of lotuses. She has a crescent moon on her head and she is bedecked with gems and Champaka blossoms. She has a Dwi-Bhuja depiction which is mild. Her complexion is golden. Bagalamukhi is well dressed and bejewelled. She holds a club in her right hand with which she beats a demon, while pulling his tongue out with her left hand. This image is sometimes interpreted as an exhibition of stambhana, the power to stun or paralyse an enemy into silence. This is one of the boons for which Bagalamukhi’s devotees worship her.

She also has a Chaturbhuja (four-armed) form. Based on the Sri Tatwanidhi, she sits on a golden throne. She has a yellow complexion and has three eyes. She holds a trident, a cup, a mace and the tongue of the demon in each hand. With her right hand, she strikes him on his head. She has the features of a beautiful woman. She is adorned with garlands and ornaments. Bagala symbolises cessation of all dualities or dwandas, at the realisation of which pure consciousness emerges.

There is also a version where she is seen with a corpse laid out on her throne. Bagalamukhi is seen wrenching the tongue of the demon and this symbolizes the removing of all impurities associated with speech and tongue.

Legend about Maa Bagalamukhi

Once, legend has it that creation was in turmoil and was being destroyed in many places. Brahma was worried about His creation and wondered what the outcome of this turmoil would be. He meditated to bring peace to the universe. Not succeeding, He performed severe penance to obtain the blessings of Tripurambika, “the Mother of the Three Worlds”. She appeared before Him as Mother Bagalamukhi in a yellow form and gave him a boon.

Check out Poojas done on Bagalamukhi jayanthi