Nestled in the Nilachal Hills of Guwahati lies the temple of a powerful deity – ‘Maa Bagalamukhi’. Located around 500 meters from Kamakhya Temple, the most revered center for Tantric places dedicated to Goddess Kamakhya, the main temple dedicated to Goddess Bagalamukhi is in the Kamakhya Temple Complex itself.
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The Maa Bagalamukhi Temple is one of the ten Mahavidya (a group of ten Tantrik deities in Hinduism) temples, located around the Kamakhya Temple. Unlike the other Goddesses revered in the Nilachal Hills, Maa Bagalamukhi is depicted and associated with yellow or golden color. The color symbolises control and subjugation, reflecting her divine power to overcome enemies and challenges. She is worshipped for success in legal battles, overcoming obstacles, and challenges. Dedication to her, especially at times of illness and disease, litigation, accidents, quarrels, enmity, and other unforeseen trials and turbulence, is known to have worked wonders. It is thus believed that seeking the divine intervention of Goddess Bagalamukhi in times of distress brings a lot of peace.
Commonly known as Pitambari in North India, she sits on a golden throne having pillars decorated with various jewels and has three eyes that symbolise that she can impart ultimate knowledge to the devotee. Maa Bagalamukhi is one of the ten forms of the Devi, symbolising a potent female, primeval force.
The Bagalamukhi temple is located at about 10 kilometers from Guwahati city. Taxis, autorickshaws, and buses offer convenient transportation to the temple. For anyone who wants to go to Bagalamukhi temple after visiting Kamakhya temple, they can easily walk the almost 500-meter stretch on the road, which is convenient and easy.
If we talk about the history of the Maa Bagalamukhi temple, the locals believe that its establishment predates historical records. Koch king Naranarayana built the temple in the 16th century.
Architecture and Features
The Maa Bagalamukhi Temple is a one-room structure with a shikhara (tower) topped by a golden amalaka (finial). Stone carvers adorned the temple with intricate designs, and within, the stone idol of Bagalamukhi sits serenely on her lotus pedestal. The temple is located in a secluded spot on the Nilachal Hills ahead of Kamakhya Temple, and devotees can easily walk up to Maa Bagalamukhi’s temple to reach it.
The main ritual performed at the Maa Bagalamukhi Temple is the puja (worship) of the goddess Bagalamukhi. A priest chants mantras and offers prayers to the goddess, performing the puja. Devotees also offer flowers, fruits, and other offerings to the goddess.
The main festival celebrated at the Maa Bagalamukhi Temple is the Navratri festival. Navratri transforms the temple into a dazzling display of lights and flowers, echoing with the chants and rituals of special pujas. Devotees from all over India come to the temple to offer their prayers to the goddess Bagalamukhi.
The Maa Bagalamukhi Temple is a significant place of worship for Hindus, particularly those who follow the Tantrik tradition. Devotees flock to Goddess Bagalamukhi, seeking to have their wishes granted, obstacles removed, and protection from enemies. Since the temple is located in a peaceful spot on the Nilachal Hills and is abundantly blessed with trees and nature’s bounties, a visit to this temple makes the devotee feel anew and refreshed. The atmosphere at the temple is serene, making it an ideal place for meditation and prayer. One can find devotees sitting here for hours and meditating while soaking in Maa Bagalamukhi’s divine blessings.
