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Padmakshi Renuka Devi- shatakshi , roudri, raktakali, bhadrakali, Bhavani narayani and Padmambika are some main name of one goddess padmakshi renuka which is the rudra form of Goddess mahashodashi tripura sundari.This temple is not developed yet but this is a highly revered temple located in the village of Kavade in Alibag. She is said to be one of 51 or 108 Shakti Pithas among which this is narayani shaktipeeth known as aadya peeth. Goddess rides upon Vamshatki (an animal made up 20 Guna) as her mount or vahan. Her remarkable beauty and grace are mentioned throughout tales while her loving nature remains unparalleled. She is also called as Aai Mauli, Kali, Bhairavi, padmakosha, Amba and Ekvira.Additionally, she has an equally divine sister named Jogeshwari who adds further glory to this famous abode!
Padmakshi Renuka or Padmambika Devi herself is Mulamahamaya. Goddess Bhagwati Padmakshi Renuka is also known as Padmakshi raktakalika or bhadraKalika because she is rudra form of Goddess Mahashodashi tripura sundari. It is also believed that the entire universe was born from her womb. She She is also known as Durgambika or Renuka.
Daksha performed a yagna to avenge Lord Shankara. Daksha invited all the deities except Shiva and Sati for the yajna. The fact that she was not invited did not diminish Sati's desire to attend the yajna. She expressed her desire to Shiva, who tried his best to dissuade her from going. Relenting on her persistent insistence, Sati went to her father's yajna. However, during the sacrifice Sati was not given the respect she deserved and Daksha insulted Shiva. Enraged, Sati cursed her father and immolated herself. Enraged at the humiliation and death of his consort, Shiva in his Veerabhadra avatar destroyed Daksha's sacrifice and beheaded him. His anger unabated and grief-stricken, Shiva picked up the remains of Sati's body and performed the Tandava, the heavenly dance of destruction, across creation. Frightened, the other gods requested Vishnu to stop this destruction. As a remedy, Vishnu used Sudarshana Chakra on Sati's corpse. This caused various parts of Sati's body to fall on the earth to form the Shaktipeeth, right arm of her face fell at Verumala or chattala (today's Kavade) Sribag (Alibag) or (Kulaba). At this place, Mother Goddess appeared from a part of her body in the form of Goddess Bhavani (later known as Shambhavi). For this reason, the place of Mata came to be known as bhagvati Bhavani Shaktipeeth, whose shaktipeeth Bhairava is called chandrashekhar.
After some period Goddess Sati reincarnated as Goddess Parvati and after performing severe penance she married Lord Shiva.
Shortly thereafter Goddess Parvati took her new avatar and took birth to Bhulok named Renuka who was the mother of Parashurama i.e. the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu and renuka was a form of Adishakti. Legend has it that Renuka was the wife of sage Jamadagni(counter part of shiva) and suspected that she had betrayed him . Parashurama was ordered to behead his mother. Lord Parashurama obeyed his father's order and severed her head by his axe . This head fallen at the exact place where bhagvati Bhavani Devi i.e. Goddess Sati's body part was fallen that is Kavadepuri (earlier chattala/Virumala) Sribagh (now Alibagh).
The two adishakti goddesses Bhavani and Renuka together they evolved in form of adi para shakti parvati roudri .
Goddess roudri With the aim of protecting the world by means of penance went at neeli mountain foot for a long time, she resorted to five fires.
While she was thus performing great penance, there lived in a city rich with gems and full of forests in the midst of the sea, a powerful Asura king named "Ruru" .ruru was also known as Kumbhasura because he was born from Brahma's Kamandalu or Kumbha(pot). who had got a boon from Brahma ,He could have been killed by a virgin(kumari) girl .He was a source of terror to gods. He was like a second mahishasur and had as his followers crores of Asuras.
For a long time he fought against gods with a view to capturing the cities of the deities guarding different quarters.As the great Asura was rising with his army, the water in the sea began to swell and enter the valleys of mountains filling them with crocodiles and big fish.From within that water issued forth the Asura army with variegated weapons and armour.Came out from it big elephants with .\suras seated on them and loudly tinkling with bells tied on them.Crores of horses having white streamers came out with riders seated on golden pedestals.Similarly, came out a ceaseless stream of chariots with good wheels, shaft and poles, fitted with mechanical contrivances, and equalling in speed the chariot of the sun.
In the same manner rushed forth the infantry with quivers, bows and arrows, quickly striking at all those that came in the way.After coming out of the waters, they vanquished the gods and darted towards the city of Indra with all the four divisions of the army.The Asura king Ruru fought Devas with fierce club, hammer, rod and arrows.
In the battle,the Asuras inflicted serious injury on Devas and so too Devas on the Asuras. In the end, Devas with their leader Indra were defeated and they ran away. When Devas were thus taking to their heels, Asuras chased them. Running in great fear, gods came to Nila mountain where the goddess Raudri was doing penance. They understood her to be Kálarátri, the cause of all destruction.Seeing Devas thus fear-stricken, she told them aloud not to be afraid.
The goddess said:
O gods, why are you so worried. Tell me the cause of your fear.
The gods said:
“O great goddess, protect us from the powerful Ruru(kumbhasura), the king of Asuras, who is pursuing us”.
Told thus by the gods, she of matchless valour, simply laughed a while and took her ugra form . As she was laughing, from her mouth arose numerous goddesses of strange forms, and the whole world became covered by them.‘They were ferocious, with expansive breasts, holding noose, goad, trident, bow and arrows.They remained around the goddess in crores.They soon fought against Asuras and annihilated their entire force.
The army of Devas together with the army of kalratri fought Asuras and sent them all to Yama’s abode. The great demon Ruru alone was left there. He then discharged towards the gods a magical power which made them all fall into a swoon.
When Devas were thus in a state of forced sleep, the goddess roudri Devi caught him she got very angry and called of all shaktis of universe like powers of all God tridev , mahalaxmi, mahakali, mahasaraswati ,64 yoginis, saptamatrika,das mahavidya, and by chanting om she took all power of parabrhma omkar and took fierce form of 16 year old Kumari known as shodashi or mahashodashi raktakalika with eight hands because of angry form she turn into red black complexion . These started the big war at last goddess took her ugra roop which is great power of shiv shakti struck at Ruru with her trident hold of him and cutoff his head by her chintamani khadag or sword , tore off his body with her nails later she came to known as chamunda too.
When he was struck, his trunk (carma) and head (munda) got separated from each other . Because of her terrific form engaged in destruction, she was known as kalratri the form of goddess adi parashakti parvati mahashodashi.Her attendant goddesses are legion and they always stand around her.
Goddess also skinned the demon. Thus that Ruru or kumbhasur was killed. she was named after this as rurujit or Kumbhasurbhainkari. goddess raktakali killed kumbhasur or ruru near sea region at kshetra chattala (kavade) in kshetra shreebag(alibag) which is bhagvati Bhavani shaktipeeth. Goddess in this temple is in form of mahashodashi raktakali.
Goddess mahashodashi bhadraKalika is in form of devi adi parashakti with as eight hands.Goddess complexion is red with three eyes. she is wearing various ornaments with fierce form seated on shava or body of sadashiv mukundeshwara(kameshwar) reclining on lion. goddess palms and eyes was beautiful like lotus so she later came known as mahashodashi padmakshi raktakali by all gods.
Mahashodashi raktkalika padmakshi mantra:
||चन्द्रार्कानल कोटिनीरदरुचाम् पाशांकुशामशुगान मुण्डं खड्गमभयमीश्वरीवरं हस्ताम्बुजैरष्टभिः । कामेशान शिवोपरि स्थितासदां त्रयक्षां वहन्तीं परा श्री चिन्तामणिमन्त्र बीज वपुर्षी ध्याये महाषोडशी||
Local people call her as renuka because her story is connected to renuka also. So she also known as padmakshi renuka devi.
after some period goddess padmakshi married lord sadashiv mukundeshwara. The wedding was so beautiful in world known as padmakshi mukundkameshwara.later mukundeshwara went to trimbakpuri today known as trimbakeshwar. but to be close with goddess padmakshi lord mukundeshwara again came to kanpur which is situated on mountain came to know as kankeshwar this mountain of kankeshwar is behind the temple of goddess mahashodashi padmakshi bhadrakali .
Yet, Lord Mukundeshwara comes to Kavadepuri every year in the form of a snake to meet his wife Padmakshi Renuka Devi .
Triśakti Māhātmya of Varāhapurāņa. She is addressed as kalratri, Chamunda, mahamari, raktakali etc. She killed Ruru demon (father of Durgamasura) in Rathantara Kalpa, Manava Kalpa and many others kalpas. Her iconography changes in different kalpas. In Skanda Purāņa, she is described as 6 handed. But in Vamakesvara Tantra, her Dhyāna is described as 4 handed form. Also she is described in form of mahashodashi raktakalika which is fierce form of goddess Lalita tripura sundari with 8 hands ashtabhuja.
Her pranam mantra in varaha puran
नमस्तेहस्तु भद्रकालि भेदप्रभिन्नैरभिन्नयुग्रे । रुरुभञ्जिनि नमोहस्तु नीलोत्पलदलाङ्गि नमः ।। नमस्ते घोररूपिणि नमस्ते मुण्डमर्दिनि । त्रिपुरमथनभामिनि नमस्तेस्तु शिवायै सततं नमः ।। नमो नमस्ते विशालाक्षि त्वामहं शरणं गतः विश्वेश्वरस्य भार्यासि विशालाक्षि नमोनमः ।।
There is another goddess beside padmakshi devi known as jogeshwari devi she is form goddess raktadantika . she is powerful feminine form of God kalabhairva or wife of kala bhairva also known as bhairavi. During the war of goddess padmakshi bhadraKalika with demon ruru or Kumbhasura goddess raktadantika in form of jogeshwari lead all shaktis and saptamatrika to help goddess padmakshi.
Here are some more aspects of goddess padmakshi Mahashodashi raktakalika
- *Sixteen Arms*: Her sixteen arms represent the sixteen lunar days, and each arm holds a different weapon or symbol, signifying her power and versatility.
- *Shri Yantra*: She is often depicted sitting on the Shri Yantra, a geometric symbol representing the union of masculine and feminine energies.
- *Tripura Sundari*: Mahashodashi is also known as Tripura Sundari, meaning "Beautiful Goddess of the Three Worlds".
- *Tantric Significance*: In Tantric traditions, she represents the union of Shiva and Shakti, the divine masculine and feminine principles.
- *Worship*: Her worship involves rituals, mantras, and offerings, aimed at seeking her blessings for spiritual growth, protection, and fulfillment of desires.
- *Navaratri*: She is worshipped on the fourth night of Navaratri, a nine-day festival celebrating the divine feminine.
- *Symbolism*: Mahashodashi symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, the power of the divine feminine, and the beauty and strength that lies within.
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Devi Padmakshi Renuka Devasthanam is situated by a lake at Kavade (earlier Anala/Virumala) in Alibag taluka. It is Sri Kshetra Kavade village at a distance of 18 km from Alibag. The temple of the goddess is still not built but it is her Kavalaru temple in traditional style in a scenic location. Devotees lakhs of pilgrims come here every year during Sharadiya Navratri and Vaishakh Purnima to see Goddess. Before entering the temple, devotees have to wash their feet in the pure and pure Ganga which flows from the mountain at the foot of the temple. It is believed that Lord Mukundabhairav i.e. Kankeshwar who is located in the mountain behind the goddess, this Ganga originated from there. This goddess is in Tandla form. This goddess is a form of Bhagwati with Renuka in the form of kali and Narayani in the form of sati shambhavi. Goddess Tripurasundari took her red form and destroyed those asuras and seated herself in this place in a powerful form.
This place is said to have been created in the sat Yuga. Goddess Bhagwati is seated here on a vamshtakaki (lion) holding a lotus in one hand and a trikal chintamani stone in the other. She is known as Kumbhasurbhayankari. It is believed that people who do not know their clan deity, if they worship Padmakshi Renuka Devi as their clan deity, she will surely reach the clan deity they do not know and it is the belief of the devotees that this goddess will definitely accept the devotee's vows.
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