Bagalamukhi Temple Lalitpur

Introduction to the Baglamukhi Temple

The Baglamukhi Temple is a Shakti Peeth and one of the most famous and ancient temples in Patan, Lalitpur district, Kathmandu Valley, Nepal.

'Bagala' means 'bridle,' and 'Mukhi' means 'face-like.' Therefore, the name Bagalamukhi means one whose face has the power to attract or control. Baglamukhi has an abundance of hypnotic power.

Legend of the Bagalamukhi Temple

According to legend, a demon named Bagala used to threaten and torture people. So, they prayed to Bagalamukhi to save their lives. Their prayers pleased her, and she rescued the innocent people by killing the demon. Hence, the people built the temple to Bagalamukhi, honored her, and called it Bagala. Later, the temple’s name became Bagalamukhi. The planet Jupiter rules the Bagalamukhi Temple.

As per another source, a demon named Madan undertook austerities and won the Vak Siddhi boon. He abused the boon by harassing innocent people. The enraged deities worshipped Bagalamukhi for relief.

She stopped the demon's violence by holding his tongue and stilling his speech. Before killing him, he worshipped her. So, she relented. That is why, in the image, the demon is depicted with her.

The Architecture of the Baglamukhi Temple

The Baglamukhi Temple displays the traditional pagoda-style temple architecture with five stories. This 14th-century temple was said to have been built by King Jayasthiti Malla.

The temple's primary deity is Bagalamukhi or Pitambaradevi, one of the ten Mahavidyas. The inner shrine is carved with silver.

Bagalamukhi is golden in color and clad in yellow clothes. She blesses her devotees by sitting on a golden throne in the center of an ocean at an altar full of yellow lotuses. A yellow crescent moon adorns her forehead. She is decked up with golden ornaments. Bagalamukhi pulls the tongue of a demon with her left hand while raising her right hand to strike him with a club.

Shiva, Vishnu, Ganesha, and Krishna have separate shrines inside the Bagalamukhi Temple. Two ponds—one inside and one outside—have stone taps.

Devotees visit the Bagalamukhi Temple and offer Agarbatties, flowers, and red and yellow dhwaja to impress Bagalamukhi and fulfill their wishes. There is a tradition of lighting three Agarbatties at once here.

Since Thursday is a special day, it attracts a huge crowd of devotees.

Bagalamukhi Temple lies in the Kumbheshwar Mahadev temple complex, where a grand fair is conducted during the Janai Purnima festival. Manakamana temple, Kumbheshwar temple, Unmanta Bhairava, Gaurikunda, Harati temple, Kedarnath temple, Badrinath temple, and Char-Narayan Temple, are major attractions of the Kumbheshwar Temple Complex.

Festivals in the Bagalamukhi Temple

Vijaya Dasami, Navaratri, and Chaite Dashain (Ram Navami) are the famous festivals celebrated in the Bagalamukhi Temple. Tourists and worshippers regularly visit this temple.

Benefits of Worshipping at the Bagalamukhi Temple

It is also believed that worshipping at this temple silences the gossip of the enemy. Bagalamukhi as Bhairavi, a form of Matrika Devi, can end the evil gossip that emerges from every tongue. Couples visit the temple every Thursday to pray for long-lasting marriage relationships.