Tulja Bhawani
| Bhavani | |
|---|---|
| Goddess of Power, Goddess of justice | |
A shrine to Bhavani
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| Devanagari | भवानी |
| Affiliation | Shakti, Parvati, Devi |
| Abode | Mount Kailash, Himalayas |
| Weapon | Bow and Arrow,Sword |
| Mount | Tiger, Lion |
| Consort | Shiva |
Bhavani (also known as Tulaja, Turaja, Tvarita, Amba and Jagdamba) is an avatar of the Hindu Goddess Parvati. She is a form of Durga who is mostly worshiped in Maharashtra. Bhavani translates to "giver of life", meaning the power of nature or the source of creative energy. She is considered to be a mother who provides to her devotees and also plays the role of dispensing justice by killing demon Asuras.
Bhavani was the protective patron deity of the Maratha King Shivaji, in whose veneration he dedicated his sword, Bhavani Talwar. Lot of Marathi folk stories rejoice her. Shivaji's mother was said to be a great devotee of Bhavani. The town of Tuljapur in Maharashtra is the location of the annual Tulja Bhavani fair during Navaratri (September to October), and home to the Tulja Bhavani Temple which dates to the 12th century. The temple contains a granite icon of the goddess, one metre (approximately 3 feet) in height, with eight arms holding weapons and the head of the slain demon Mahishasura.
The Tulja Bhavani temple in Tuljapur in the Osmanabad District of Maharashtra is considered one of the 51 Shakti Pithas (pilgrimage sites). This temple was built close to the 12th century CE. Another Tulja Bhavani temple was constructed between 1537 and 1540 CE in Chittorgarh, located at coordinates 18°00′41″N 76°07′32″E / 18.011386°N 76.125641°E.
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