Śivaśatanāma stotra from Mahāliṅgeśvara tantra (with locations of some of the Śivālayas specified)

पार्व्वत्युवाच

देवदेव महादेव संसारार्णवतारक।
शिवलिङ्गार्च्चनं सर्वं श्रुतं तव मुखात् प्रतौ॥
इदानीं श्रोतुमिच्चामि शिवस्य शतनामकम्।
यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण मुच्यते भवबन्धनात्।

श्रीसदाशिव उवाच

श्रृणु देवी प्रवक्ष्यामि यस्मात् त्वम् परिपृच्चसि।
यस्य स्मरणमात्रेण संसारान्मुच्यते नमः॥
अतिगुह्यं महापुण्यम् तव स्नेहात् प्रकाशितम्।
गोपनीयम् प्रयत्नेन न प्रकाश्यम् यथा तथा॥
मम नाम परार्द्धं च तथैव कथितं मया।
तेषां सारं समुद्धृत्य सारात्सारं परात्परम्॥
तत्र सारं समुद्धृत्य कथयामि शृणु प्रिये।
मम नामशतञ्चैव कलौ पूर्णफलप्रदम्।
केवलं स्तवपाठेन मम तुल्यो न संशयः॥
पीठादिन्याससंयुक्तमृश्यादिन्यासपूर्वकम्।
देवता-बीजसंयुक्तं शृणुश्व परमाद्भुतम्॥
नारदो’स्य ऋषि प्रोक्तश्चन्दो’नुष्टुबुदाहृतम्।
सदाशिवो महेशानि देवता परिकीर्तिता॥
षडक्षरं महाबीजं चतुर्वर्गप्रदायकम्।
सर्वातीष्टप्रसिद्ध्यर्थे विनियोगः प्रकीर्तितः॥
महाशून्ये महाकालो महाकालीयुतः सदा।
देहमध्ये महेशानि लिङ्गाकारणे वेष्टितः॥
मूलाधारे स्वयम्भुश्च कुण्डलीशक्तिसंयुतः।
स्वाधिष्ठाने महाविष्णुस्त्रैलोक्यपालकः सदा॥
मणिपूरे महारुद्रः सर्वसंहारकारकः।
अनाहते ईश्वरो’हं सर्वदेवनिषेवितः॥
विशुद्धाख्ये षोडशारे सदाशिव इति स्मृतः।
आज्ञाचक्रे शिवः साक्षात् चितिरूपेण संस्थितः॥
सहस्रारे महापद्मे त्रिकोणनिलयान्तरे।
बिन्दुरूपे महेशानि परमेश्वरः ईरितः॥
बाहुरूपे महेशानि नानारूपधरोह्यहम्।
कैलासे ज्योतिरूपेण कैलासेश्वरसम्ज्ञकः॥
हिमालये महेशानि पार्वतीप्राणवल्लभः।
काश्यां विश्वेश्वरश्चैव बाणेश्वरस्तथैव च॥
शम्भुनाथश्चन्द्रनाथश्चन्द्रशेखरपर्वते।
आदिनाथः सिन्धुतीरे कामरूपे वृषध्वजः॥
नेपाले पशुपतिनाथः केदारे पावकेश्वरः।
हिङ्गुलायां कूपनाथो रूपनाथस्तदूर्द्धतः॥
द्वारकायां हरश्चैव पुश्करे प्रमथेश्वरः।
हरिद्वारे महेशानि गङ्गाधर इति स्मृतः॥
कुरुक्षेत्रे पाशुवेशो वृन्दारण्ये च केशवः।
गोकुले गोपेशपूज्यो गोपेश्वर इतीरितः॥
मथुरायां कंसनाथो मिथिलायां धनुर्द्धरः।
अयोध्यायां कृत्तिवासाः काश्मिरे कपिलेश्वरः॥
काञ्चीनगरमध्ये तु मन्नाम त्रिपुरेश्वरः।
चित्रकुटे चन्द्रचूडो योगीन्द्रो विन्ध्यपर्वते॥
बाणलिङ्गो नर्मदायां प्रभासे शूलभृत् सदा।
भोजपूरे भोजनाथो गयायाञ्च गदाधरः।
झाडाखण्डे वैद्यनाथो वक्रेश्वरस्तथैव च॥
वीरभूमौ सिद्धिनाथौ राढे च तारकेश्वरः।
घण्टेश्वरश्च देवेशि रत्नाकरनदीतटे।
भागीरथीनदीतीरे कपिलेश्वर ईरितः॥
भद्रेश्वरश्च देवेशी कल्याणेश्वर एव च॥
नकुलेशः कालीघट्टे श्रीहट्टे हाटकेश्वरः।
कोचवधुपुरे चाहं जल्पेश्वर इति स्थ्तितं॥
उत्कले विमलाक्षेत्रे जगन्नाथो ह्यहं कलौ।
नीलाचलारण्यमध्ये भुवनेश्वर ईरितः॥
रामेश्वरः सेतुबन्धे लङ्कायां रावणेश्वरः।
रजताचलमध्ये तु कुबेरेश्वर ईरितः॥
लक्ष्मीकान्तो महेशानि सदा श्रीशैलपर्वते।
त्र्यम्बको गोमतीतीरे गोकर्णे च त्रिलोचनः॥
बदरिकाश्रममध्ये कपिनाथेश्वरोह्यहम्।
स्वर्गलोके देवदेवो मर्त्यलोके सदाशिवः।
पाताले वासुकिनाथो यमराट् कालमन्दिरे।
नारायणश्च वैकुण्ठे गोलोके हरिहरस्तथा॥
गन्धर्वलोके देवेशी पुश्पदन्तेश्वर्योह्यहम्॥
श्मशाने भूतनाथश्च गृहे चैव जगद्गुरुः।
अवतारे शङ्करो’हं विरूपाक्षस्तथैव च॥
कामिनीजनमध्ये तु कामेश्वर इतीरितः।
चक्रमध्ये कुलेशश्च सलिले वरुणेश्वरः।
आशुतोषो भक्तमध्ये शत्रुणां त्रिपुरान्तकः॥
शिशुमध्ये गुरुश्चाहं तथैव परमो गुरुः।
चन्द्रलोके सोमनाथः स्वर्भानुर्भानुमण्डले।
त्रैलोक्ये लोकनाथो’हं रुद्रलोके महेश्वरः।
समुद्रमथने चाहं नीलकण्ठस्त्रिलोकजित्।
जम्बुद्वीपे जगत्कर्ता शाकद्वीपे चतुर्भुजः॥
कुशद्वीपे कपर्द्दिशः क्रौञ्चद्वीपे कपालभृत्।
मीनद्वीपे मीननाथः प्लक्षद्वीपे कलाधरः॥
अहञ्च पुष्करद्वीपे पुरुषोत्तम ईरितः।
देवमध्ये वासुदेवो गुरुमध्ये निरञ्जनः॥
पुराणे परमेशानि व्यासेश्वर ईरितः।
आगमे नागभट्टो’हम् निगमे नादरूपधृक्॥
सर्वज्ञो ज्योतिषां मध्ये योगेशो योगशास्त्रके।
दीनमध्ये दीननाथ उमानाथस्तथैव च।
राजराजेश्वरश्चैव नृपानां नगनन्दिनि।
परम्ब्रह्मसत्यलोके ह्यनन्तो’स्मि रसातले॥
आब्रह्मन्तम्बपर्यन्तम् लिङ्गरूपि ह्यहम् प्रिये।
इति ते कथितम् देवी ममनामशतोत्तमम्॥
पठनात् श्रवनाच्चैव महापातककोटयः।
नश्यन्ति तत्क्षणाद्देवी सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः।
अज्ञानिनाम् ज्ञानसिद्धिर्ज्ञानिनां परमं धनम्।
अतिदीनदरिद्राणाम् चिन्तामणिस्वरूपकम्॥
रोगिणां पापिनाञ्चैव महौषधमिति स्मृतम्॥
योगिनां योगसारञ्च भोगिनाम् भोगमोक्षदम्।
एककालं द्विकालं वा त्रिकालं वा पठेद्यदि।
अथवा रजनीकाले निर्जने शिवसन्निधौ॥
यः पठेत् साधकश्रेष्ठः स एव श्रीसदाशिवः।
कृष्णां चतुर्दशीं प्राप्य पठेद्भक्तिपरायणः॥
स एव सर्वसिद्धीशो जायते भूमिमण्डले।
चतुर्द्दश्यांअमायां वा सोमवारे विशेषतः॥
यः स्वयं तत्प्रदोषे तु पूजयित्वा स्तवं पठेत्।
तस्य सङ्गे महेशानि तिष्ठामि च सदा प्रिये॥
यं यं काममुपस्कृत्य पठेत् स्तोत्रमनुत्तमम्।
तं तं काममवाप्नोति सत्यं सत्यं न संशयः॥
जले स्थले चाम्भरीके विदेशे शत्रुसंकटे।
वनमध्ये रणमध्ये सभामध्ये तथैव च॥
राजद्वारे महारोगे महाशोके महाभये।
सर्वत्रैवाशुभं हन्ति स्तवपाठप्रसादतः॥
आकर्षणम्वर्शीकार्यं मारणोच्चाटनादिकम्।
शान्तिपुष्टिस्तम्भनानि पाठमात्रम् प्रयोजते॥
अपुत्रो लभते पुत्रं मोक्षार्थी मोक्षमाप्नुयात्।
बहुकिं कथ्यते देवी शृणु मत्प्राणवल्लभे।
असाध्यं साधयेत् सर्वं स्तवस्यास्य प्रसादतः।
अहञ्च जगदाधारो ममाधारस्त्वमेव हि।
त्वत्समा प्रकृतिर्नास्ति मत्समो नास्ति पुरुषः॥
तव योनीं समासाद्य सर्वमेव करोम्यहम्।
एतज्ज्ञानम् महेशानि पाषण्डे मा वदेत् क्वचित्॥
मूर्खाय भक्तिहीनाय दुष्टाय सुदुरात्मने।
शिवभक्तिविहीनाय शक्तिनिन्दापराय च॥
न प्रकाश्यं महादेवी प्रकाशाच्छिवहा भवेत्।
शिश्याय भक्तियुक्ताय शिवविष्णुपराय च॥
अद्वैतभावयुक्ताय देवीभक्तिपराय च।
शतनाम महास्तोत्रं देयं पुण्यं महेश्वरी॥

इति श्रीमहालिङ्गेश्वरतन्त्रे श्रीशिवपार्वतीसंवादे शिवशतनामस्तोत्रं सम्पूर्णम्

pārvvatyuvāca

devadeva mahādeva saṃsārārṇavatāraka।
śivaliṅgārccanaṃ sarvaṃ śrutaṃ tava mukhāt pratau॥
idānīṃ śrotumiccāmi śivasya śatanāmakam।
yasya smaraṇamātreṇa mucyate bhavabandhanāt।

śrīsadāśiva uvāca

śrṛṇu devī pravakṣyāmi yasmāt tvam paripṛccasi।
yasya smaraṇamātreṇa saṃsārānmucyate namaḥ॥
atiguhyaṃ mahāpuṇyam tava snehāt prakāśitam।
gopanīyam prayatnena na prakāśyam yathā tathā॥
mama nāma parārddhaṃ ca tathaiva kathitaṃ mayā।
teṣāṃ sāraṃ samuddhṛtya sārātsāraṃ parātparam॥
tatra sāraṃ samuddhṛtya kathayāmi śṛṇu priye।
mama nāmaśatañcaiva kalau pūrṇaphalapradam।
kevalaṃ stavapāṭhena mama tulyo na saṃśayaḥ॥
pīṭhādinyāsasaṃyuktamṛśyādinyāsapūrvakam।
devatā-bījasaṃyuktaṃ śṛṇuśva paramādbhutam॥
nārado’sya ṛṣi proktaścando’nuṣṭubudāhṛtam।
sadāśivo maheśāni devatā parikīrtitā॥
ṣaḍakṣaraṃ mahābījaṃ caturvargapradāyakam।
sarvātīṣṭaprasiddhyarthe viniyogaḥ prakīrtitaḥ॥
mahāśūnye mahākālo mahākālīyutaḥ sadā।
dehamadhye maheśāni liṅgākāraṇe veṣṭitaḥ॥
mūlādhāre svayambhuśca kuṇḍalīśaktisaṃyutaḥ।
svādhiṣṭhāne mahāviṣṇustrailokyapālakaḥ sadā॥
maṇipūre mahārudraḥ sarvasaṃhārakārakaḥ।
anāhate īśvaro’haṃ sarvadevaniṣevitaḥ॥
viśuddhākhye ṣoḍaśāre sadāśiva iti smṛtaḥ।
ājñācakre śivaḥ sākṣāt citirūpeṇa saṃsthitaḥ॥
sahasrāre mahāpadme trikoṇanilayāntare।
bindurūpe maheśāni parameśvaraḥ īritaḥ॥
bāhurūpe maheśāni nānārūpadharohyaham।
kailāse jyotirūpeṇa kailāseśvarasamjñakaḥ॥
himālaye maheśāni pārvatīprāṇavallabhaḥ।
kāśyāṃ viśveśvaraścaiva bāṇeśvarastathaiva ca॥
śambhunāthaścandranāthaścandraśekharaparvate।
ādināthaḥ sindhutīre kāmarūpe vṛṣadhvajaḥ॥
nepāle paśupatināthaḥ kedāre pāvakeśvaraḥ।
hiṅgulāyāṃ kūpanātho rūpanāthastadūrddhataḥ॥
dvārakāyāṃ haraścaiva puśkare pramatheśvaraḥ।
haridvāre maheśāni gaṅgādhara iti smṛtaḥ॥
kurukṣetre pāśuveśo vṛndāraṇye ca keśavaḥ।
gokule gopeśapūjyo gopeśvara itīritaḥ॥
mathurāyāṃ kaṃsanātho mithilāyāṃ dhanurddharaḥ।
ayodhyāyāṃ kṛttivāsāḥ kāśmire kapileśvaraḥ॥
kāñcīnagaramadhye tu mannāma tripureśvaraḥ।
citrakuṭe candracūḍo yogīndro vindhyaparvate॥
bāṇaliṅgo narmadāyāṃ prabhāse śūlabhṛt sadā।
bhojapūre bhojanātho gayāyāñca gadādharaḥ।
jhāḍākhaṇḍe vaidyanātho vakreśvarastathaiva ca॥
vīrabhūmau siddhināthau rāḍhe ca tārakeśvaraḥ।
ghaṇṭeśvaraśca deveśi ratnākaranadītaṭe।
bhāgīrathīnadītīre kapileśvara īritaḥ॥
bhadreśvaraśca deveśī kalyāṇeśvara eva ca॥
nakuleśaḥ kālīghaṭṭe śrīhaṭṭe hāṭakeśvaraḥ।
kocavadhupure cāhaṃ jalpeśvara iti sthtitaṃ॥
utkale vimalākṣetre jagannātho hyahaṃ kalau।
nīlācalāraṇyamadhye bhuvaneśvara īritaḥ॥
rāmeśvaraḥ setubandhe laṅkāyāṃ rāvaṇeśvaraḥ।
rajatācalamadhye tu kubereśvara īritaḥ॥
lakṣmīkānto maheśāni sadā śrīśailaparvate।
tryambako gomatītīre gokarṇe ca trilocanaḥ॥
badarikāśramamadhye kapinātheśvarohyaham।
svargaloke devadevo martyaloke sadāśivaḥ।
pātāle vāsukinātho yamarāṭ kālamandire।
nārāyaṇaśca vaikuṇṭhe goloke hariharastathā॥
gandharvaloke deveśī puśpadanteśvaryohyaham॥
śmaśāne bhūtanāthaśca gṛhe caiva jagadguruḥ।
avatāre śaṅkaro’haṃ virūpākṣastathaiva ca॥
kāminījanamadhye tu kāmeśvara itīritaḥ।
cakramadhye kuleśaśca salile varuṇeśvaraḥ।
āśutoṣo bhaktamadhye śatruṇāṃ tripurāntakaḥ॥
śiśumadhye guruścāhaṃ tathaiva paramo guruḥ।
candraloke somanāthaḥ svarbhānurbhānumaṇḍale।
trailokye lokanātho’haṃ rudraloke maheśvaraḥ।
samudramathane cāhaṃ nīlakaṇṭhastrilokajit।
jambudvīpe jagatkartā śākadvīpe caturbhujaḥ॥
kuśadvīpe kaparddiśaḥ krauñcadvīpe kapālabhṛt।
mīnadvīpe mīnanāthaḥ plakṣadvīpe kalādharaḥ॥
ahañca puṣkaradvīpe puruṣottama īritaḥ।
devamadhye vāsudevo gurumadhye nirañjanaḥ॥
purāṇe parameśāni vyāseśvara īritaḥ।
āgame nāgabhaṭṭo’ham nigame nādarūpadhṛk॥
sarvajño jyotiṣāṃ madhye yogeśo yogaśāstrake।
dīnamadhye dīnanātha umānāthastathaiva ca।
rājarājeśvaraścaiva nṛpānāṃ naganandini।
parambrahmasatyaloke hyananto’smi rasātale॥
ābrahmantambaparyantam liṅgarūpi hyaham priye।
iti te kathitam devī mamanāmaśatottamam॥
paṭhanāt śravanāccaiva mahāpātakakoṭayaḥ।
naśyanti tatkṣaṇāddevī satyaṃ satyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ।
ajñāninām jñānasiddhirjñānināṃ paramaṃ dhanam।
atidīnadaridrāṇām cintāmaṇisvarūpakam॥
rogiṇāṃ pāpināñcaiva mahauṣadhamiti smṛtam॥
yogināṃ yogasārañca bhoginām bhogamokṣadam।
ekakālaṃ dvikālaṃ vā trikālaṃ vā paṭhedyadi।
athavā rajanīkāle nirjane śivasannidhau॥
yaḥ paṭhet sādhakaśreṣṭhaḥ sa eva śrīsadāśivaḥ।
kṛṣṇāṃ caturdaśīṃ prāpya paṭhedbhaktiparāyaṇaḥ॥
sa eva sarvasiddhīśo jāyate bhūmimaṇḍale।
caturddaśyāṃamāyāṃ vā somavāre viśeṣataḥ॥
yaḥ svayaṃ tatpradoṣe tu pūjayitvā stavaṃ paṭhet।
tasya saṅge maheśāni tiṣṭhāmi ca sadā priye॥
yaṃ yaṃ kāmamupaskṛtya paṭhet stotramanuttamam।
taṃ taṃ kāmamavāpnoti satyaṃ satyaṃ na saṃśayaḥ॥
jale sthale cāmbharīke videśe śatrusaṃkaṭe।
vanamadhye raṇamadhye sabhāmadhye tathaiva ca॥
rājadvāre mahāroge mahāśoke mahābhaye।
sarvatraivāśubhaṃ hanti stavapāṭhaprasādataḥ॥
ākarṣaṇamvarśīkāryaṃ māraṇoccāṭanādikam।
śāntipuṣṭistambhanāni pāṭhamātram prayojate॥
aputro labhate putraṃ mokṣārthī mokṣamāpnuyāt।
bahukiṃ kathyate devī śṛṇu matprāṇavallabhe।
asādhyaṃ sādhayet sarvaṃ stavasyāsya prasādataḥ।
ahañca jagadādhāro mamādhārastvameva hi।
tvatsamā prakṛtirnāsti matsamo nāsti puruṣaḥ॥
tava yonīṃ samāsādya sarvameva karomyaham।
etajjñānam maheśāni pāṣaṇḍe mā vadet kvacit॥
mūrkhāya bhaktihīnāya duṣṭāya sudurātmane।
śivabhaktivihīnāya śaktinindāparāya ca॥
na prakāśyaṃ mahādevī prakāśācchivahā bhavet।
śiśyāya bhaktiyuktāya śivaviṣṇuparāya ca॥
advaitabhāvayuktāya devībhaktiparāya ca।
śatanāma mahāstotraṃ deyaṃ puṇyaṃ maheśvarī॥

iti śrīmahāliṅgeśvaratantre śrīśivapārvatīsaṃvāde śivaśatanāmastotraṃ sampūrṇam

Some of the locations of the more obscure Śivakṣetras specified here
Ādinātha refers to the temple at Maheshkhali,Coxs Bazar Bangladesh most probably.
Vaidyanātha refers to the Jyotirlinga temple at Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand
Bhadreśvara is in the Chandannagar area(just before Chandannagar on the Howrah Bandel rail line)[another link about the temple]
Kalyāṇeśvara is near Belur. This particular place was revered by Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Kocavadhupūra is Jalpaiguri’s Jalpesh temple.
Candranātha is the Chandranath temple in Chittagong on Chandranath hill.
Siddhinātha is the famous Malleshwar Siddhinath temple in Mallarpur in the Birbhum district.
bhāgīrathīnadītīre kapileśvara = refers to the shrine of Kapileśvara in Murshidabad district,30 miles North of Tarapith. This was worshipped by the great Tārā sādhaka Śrī Bamakhepa as well.


अतीशवागीश्वरकीर्त्योः तारामन्त्रस्य पुरश्चरणविशये कानिचन वाक्यानि

From Stephan V Bayer’s The Cult of Tara:Magic and Ritual in Tibet

If one consults the Tantra of Tara the Yogini, the author says, it
would seem that little importance is attached to daily purity and so
on; but, according to the long-established tradition of Atisa, it is
best if the practitioner washes .the dwelling, the utensils, and himself with bathing water over which has been recited the “conquering” mantra, if he gives up meat and beer and so on while he is practising the ritual service, and if in short he keeps himself in a condition of bodily purity. He should avoid garlic and onions, which
pollute the strength of his speech, and beer and drugs, which produce drowsiness; he should avoid anything that might cause contamination or distraction, and he should wash himself again and
again with water over which the mantra has been recited. In this
connection, the text recommends the ritual of Bhavabhadra
for
the practitioner to cleanse away any lapses in his vows. And before
beginning the ritual, he should first determine by an examination
of omens ….

Finally, the handbook talks of the requisite number of recitations
in the ritual service, and our author quotes Candragomin: “Reciting
300,000 or 600,000 or 1,000,000 times, one accomplishes all functions.” And Vagisvarakirti said: “The count for the syllables of the
mantra is 100,000.” Thus the basic measure of ritual service is
100,000 recitations; but it is also held that in this “age of contention”
one should recite four times as much. Drubch’en rinpoch’e said:
“It is said that if one recites the 10-syllable mantra 10,000,000
times, one’s qualities will equal those of the noble Tara herself.”
That is to say, if one completes 10,000,000 recitations, one will have
the power to accomplish all functions and magical attainments. The
oral tradition ascribed to the Chenngawa, however, holds that if the
practitioner devotes himself to a ritual service of 100,000 recitations
he will be unharmed by any impediments; since she is a deity of
active function, it is quick and easy to succeed in her ritual service.
And since there is a great deal of evidence for this position in the
expanded commentaries upon the various histories of Tara, our
author concludes, we may place our belief therein.

Taranatha’s vignette on Amarasimha the Amarakosha’s author

Also the Acarya Amarasimha was a fully ordained monk
as well as the king’s scribe and could also discourse on the
metaphysics of both Mahayana and the Theravada. Supported
by the Tara Tantra, he was able to make the Noble Lady into
his personal tutelary divinity.Having made his abode in the
land of Malava in the west, he taught Abhidharma (Metaphysics)
to about 500 advanced students for about 24 years while
he stayed there, so it is said. All of those 500 students in
attendance on him gained exceedingly pure minds. Once there
was the heretic Naga King known as Lalita in that area and he
suddenly caused a fierce, unbearable rainstorm to fall and the
rain formed a fast-running river like the Yamuna. It drew very
near to the Acarya’s abode and also to many hamlets. The
Acarya prayed to Arya Tara and as a result the water swirled
round to die right of the Acarya’s home and the city of
Utajayana (Ujjain) many times and finally flowed off into
another great river, and only the Naga’s den and a small
Turuska village were carried away. Tara prophesied to him
in the following words, “Compose a work explaining key
terms!” and he wrote the work known as the Amara-kosa,
which to this very day is extremely widely known in India
among Buddhists and non-Buddhists. The king whose scribe
he was is said to have been Vikramaditya.

Despite the anachronism of the mention of Turuṣkas which is an accretion onto the tale of Amarasimha ,Taranatha is probably recording a genuine traditional tale of the lexicographer here genuinely(as transmitted by his Indian informer).

On the ‘gender fluid Norse’

About this article by the Guardian, quoting Tristan

The actual scientific report mentioned by the article heavily implies that the person is probably of Finnic or Sami origin and that such mixed gender role burials are not as unheard on among those people.

This is supported by their jewelry being of prominent local origin and style and nothing in the burial being supportive of a real nordic origin beyond minute cultural syncretism.

I’d also mention that the conditions of the burial are not actually consistent with a high status norse religious burial, due to lack of accompanying sacrifices like animals or slaves. This is at best some kind of middle class burial they scrapped together.

Secondarily, they were not buried with a sword, the sword was buried later between their grave and then covered up (Which seems emblematic of trying to seal the grave tbh, as if people thought it might rise as a draugr – Supportive of them having a bad reputation or as a safety precaution for a deliberate humiliation of the burial conditions.) and then buried with an unhilted sword on their person (meaning unknown with speculation it may have been deliberate as an insult due to their condition).

If we assume that this is a Norse XXY Burial with good reputation, it seems likely to me that this person was probably one of those sorts who displayed severe anatomical resemblances to women and that they were presumed and raised to be such. Its possible that this was kept as a family secret until death, leading to a post-mortem awareness of the condition and subsequent steps taken to “seal” the grave afterwards.

There is literally no chance that a “Non-Binary” individual would have been openly accepted in the Norse world. There is a term for this, its Nith, and constitutes the highest of religious crimes.

Secondarily, There is not such thing as a Germanic Shaman. Let me repeat, There is not such thing as a Germanic Shaman. The Germanic people did not practice Animistic beliefs and shamanism was not a religious custom. This is a form of denigratory primitivism by assuming that “primitive and pagan” cultures all behave the same way and hold roughly the same beliefs.

One of the few versions of the 7 line prayer to the Vajrayana master Padmasambhava I saw in an IA language

Posting it here because most versions I see are Tibetan(and the lines mean the same anyway)

ओड्डियाने वायव्ये । पद्मकेसरकाण्डे । सिद्धिर्लब्धात्यद्भुता । ख्यात पद्मसम्भव । बहुडाकीभिरावृत । तवैवानुसरामि । आयाह्यधिष्ठानार्थम्। गुरु पद्म सिद्धि हूम् ॥ इति गुरुरत्नसप्तपदप्रार्थना ।।

• HUM •At Oddiyana in the North-West • On a lotus pistil stem • With accomplishments supreme • Famous Lotus-Born! • By Dakinis ringed around • Practicing I follow you • Please come grant your blessings enow! •GURU PADMA SIDDHI HUNG •

Credit to a certain Nepalese guy Pawan Giri for sharing it on FB.

https://www.facebook.com/sevenlineprayer/posts/360271005657982 The Tibetan one. Also ‘Tsokyé Dorje’ would be ‘gaNachakra-vajra’

Gaṇapati as Brahman who humbles Vāyu Agni and other Gods and shows a Viśvarūpa form

This section is taken from the Gaṇeśa Purāṇa,11th chapter of the Krīḍā khaṇḍa. The relevant one is being posted here

इन्द्र उवाच:

न दृष्टो’स्य गुणोत्कर्षस्तावन्मान्यो भवेत्कथम्।
क उवाच:

ततो दिदेश वायुं स नयैनं व्योममण्डलम्।
तस्याज्ञानुपदं वायुर्युगान्तसदृशो ववौ।
आन्दोलयन्सर्वलोकं भ्रामयन् कुधरान्भृशम्॥
अकालप्रलयः किं नु प्रारब्धो लोकनाशनः।
इत्येवं भृशसंविग्ना ऋषयश्च चकम्पिरे॥
भग्ने वायौ तु संप्राह शुम्भाणं पाकशासनः।
दहैनं त्वं बटुं शीघ्रं द्रष्टव्या शक्तिरद्य ते।
तदाज्ञां शिरसा गुह्यं जगाम तमुषर्बुधः।
निर्दहन्निव त्रींल्लोकान्प्रलयानलसन्निभः॥
भस्मीकर्तुं दुमान्सर्वान्शोषयन्सर्वसागरान्।
तं दहन्तं जनान्सर्वान्दृष्ट्वा कश्यपनन्दनः।
तत्क्षणादगिलद्रोगी भेषजं गुटुकामिव।
गिलिते तादृशे वह्नौ क्रोधसंरक्तलोचनः॥
सहस्रलोचनो लोकां’लोकयत्सर्वलोचनैः।
तावद्ददर्श तं तत्र सहस्राधिकलोचनम्॥
असंख्यशीर्षमुकुटमनन्तश्रोत्रसंयुतम्।
अनन्तहस्तचरणमनन्तोदारविक्रमम्॥
शशिसूर्याग्निनयनं शिरस व्यापनभस्तलम्।
सप्तपातालचरणम् सप्तलोकैकमस्तकम्॥
असंख्यसूर्यसंकाशमसंख्येन्द्रसुसेवितम्।
असंक्श्यकेशसंयुक्तं नानाब्रह्माण्डरोमकम्॥
आमूलाग्राद्यथा वृक्षे भवन्त्यौदुम्बराणि वै।
औदुम्बरे वा मशकाः संख्यातीता भवन्ति हि॥
तथैवैकैकरोमाञ्चं संख्यातीताण्डसंयुतम्।
पस्यंस्तत्रवैकतरं भ्रान्तःशक्रो विवेश ह॥
पश्यन्ति स्म स तन्मध्ये त्रैलोक्यं सचराचरम्।
अरण्यकदलीकोशपत्रे पत्रे यथा फलम्॥
असंख्यातं जगत्तत्र पश्यति स्म शचीपतिः।
बभ्राम भ्रान्तचित्तो’सौ नालभन्निर्गमं ततः॥

indra uvāca:

na dṛṣṭo’sya guṇotkarṣastāvanmānyo bhavetkatham।
ka uvāca:

tato dideśa vāyuṃ sa nayainaṃ vyomamaṇḍalam।
tasyājñānupadaṃ vāyuryugāntasadṛśo vavau।
āndolayansarvalokaṃ bhrāmayan kudharānbhṛśam॥
akālapralayaḥ kiṃ nu prārabdho lokanāśanaḥ।
ityevaṃ bhṛśasaṃvignā ṛṣayaśca cakampire॥
bhagne vāyau tu saṃprāha śumbhāṇaṃ pākaśāsanaḥ।
dahainaṃ tvaṃ baṭuṃ śīghraṃ draṣṭavyā śaktiradya te।
tadājñāṃ śirasā guhyaṃ jagāma tamuṣarbudhaḥ।
nirdahanniva trīṃllokānpralayānalasannibhaḥ॥
bhasmīkartuṃ dumānsarvānśoṣayansarvasāgarān।
taṃ dahantaṃ janānsarvāndṛṣṭvā kaśyapanandanaḥ।
tatkṣaṇādagiladrogī bheṣajaṃ guṭukāmiva।
gilite tādṛśe vahnau krodhasaṃraktalocanaḥ॥
sahasralocano lokāṃ’lokayatsarvalocanaiḥ।
tāvaddadarśa taṃ tatra sahasrādhikalocanam॥
asaṃkhyaśīrṣamukuṭamanantaśrotrasaṃyutam।
anantahastacaraṇamanantodāravikramam॥
śaśisūryāgninayanaṃ śirasa vyāpanabhastalam।
saptapātālacaraṇam saptalokaikamastakam॥
asaṃkhyasūryasaṃkāśamasaṃkhyendrasusevitam।
asaṃkśyakeśasaṃyuktaṃ nānābrahmāṇḍaromakam॥
āmūlāgrādyathā vṛkṣe bhavantyaudumbarāṇi vai।
audumbare vā maśakāḥ saṃkhyātītā bhavanti hi॥
tathaivaikaikaromāñcaṃ saṃkhyātītāṇḍasaṃyutam।
pasyaṃstatravaikataraṃ bhrāntaḥśakro viveśa ha॥
paśyanti sma sa tanmadhye trailokyaṃ sacarācaram।
araṇyakadalīkośapatre patre yathā phalam॥
asaṃkhyātaṃ jagattatra paśyati sma śacīpatiḥ।
babhrāma bhrāntacitto’sau nālabhannirgamaṃ tataḥ॥

Basically there are two things happening in this section of this text(I am summarizing):

(1)Indra ordering Vayu and Agni to fetch him,and them displaying all their power and failing to move the boy like Vināyaka(not a single hair of Him moves,and Agni himself gets swallowed like a pill). He then himself goes out with His thousand eyes shining like fire to Vināyaka. This part echoes the 3rd and 4th khaṇḍa of the Kena Upaniṣad.

(2)A ‘universal vision’ of the great Vināyaka,who is brahmasvarūpa. He has more than a thousand eyes,uncountable ears and crowns,eyes of suns,moons and fiire and His hairs filling space,feet being the seven netherworlds,looking like uncountable suns,attended upon by uncountable Indras,and his bodily hairs were several brahmāṇdas…and Indra entered one of them saw the moving and unmoving beings in one of those brahmāṇdas and his mind started wandering and could not find his way out,and then he bowed to Vināyaka.

Steps in the making of the mahāprasāda of Jagannātha

  1. After ācamana,pādya and ācamana again,the naivedya is ritually purified before it can be offered to Śrīpuruṣottama. For the offering to Puruśottama only a small portion of the bhoga is taken out of all the earthen pots and placed in a metallic plate in front of the devatās of the ratnavedī. The steps of purification of the naivedya before it can be offered to the devatā are as follows.
  2. Vikṣaṇa(worshipper looks at the naivedya uttering the mūlamantra while placing the index and thumb finger of the right hand as a span on the forehead,while the rest forms a fist)
  3. Prokṣaṇa:With kuśa grass in the prokṣaṇī-pātra(vessel) he sprinkles the naivedya thrice with the asramantra(praṇava asurāntakacakrāya svāha,astrāya phaṭ)
  4. Abhirakṣaṇa:The cakramudrā is deployed and the mantra (praṇava) namaḥ sudarśanāya astrāya phaṭ is uttered,and the naivedya is protected
  5. Tālatraya and digbandhana
  6. Avaguṇṭhana:Performed with the appropriate mudrā.
  7. Pariśoṣaṇa:Using the vāyubīja yaṃ the impurities of the naivedya are dried up
  8. Dāhana:Using the agnibīja raṃ the defilement of human touch is burned up,thus making it fit to be offered
  9. Āplāvana:Using the bīja of the svādhiṣṭhāna cakra,the new nectarine naivedya is recreated now which is entirely different from the old naivedya
  10. Amṛtīkaraṇa:The naivedya is touched with the right hand of the worshipper,the mūlamantra recited 8 times and thus turned into amṛta. It is worshipped tulasī and candana.

Offering the naivedya to the devatā

The deity is requested to accept the naivedya with the following śloka:

devāsuramanuṣyāditṛpteḥ paramakāraṇam
nānāvidhamayaṃ/(var.idam) deva naivedyaṃ pratigṛhyatām

The mūlamatra is uttered with the devatā taking a few drops of water in the palm along with the words śrīkṛṣṇāya saṇgāya sarvātmane idaṃ naivedyam svāhā and water is sprinkled with kuśa grass.

The deity is requested to take the naivedya with the formula nivedayāmī bhagavate juṣanedaṃ havir hare and the tejas of the deity is imagined as entering into the mouth of the deity and a few drops is offered as āpośāna with the appropriate mantra(OṂ amṛtopastaraṇamasi svāhā)

After this the first five morsels of the naivedya is offered to the devatā just like it happens in the bhojana of any dvija jāti. (with the five set of mantras prānāya svāha,apānāya svāhā,vyānāya svāhā,udānāya svāha,samānāya svahā with praṇava prefixed).

The whole naivedya is then offered to the devatā with the naivedya mudrā/dravya mudrā with the mantra ṭhvauṃ namaḥ parāya avātmane aniruddhāya naivedyaṃ kalpayāmi.

The offered material to Jagannātha is next offered to Bhagavatī Vimalā as Her naivedya,and then only after that,it is known as Mahāprasāda.

All credit is to Gaya Charan Tripathi and his excellent work on Jagannātha:(Communication with God:The Daily Pūjā ceremony in the Jagannātha temple)

Eranshahr’s encounter with Christiantiy

Thoughts of a Niyogi

Christianity is certainly not the first thing that comes to ones mind when Iran is mentioned. But the cult has had a long history there, and the extent of Christian subversion in Pre-Islamic Iran is an understudied topic. From the faith of captured Roman soldiers and traitors to that of the King of Kings’ inner circle, it is an intriguing story that deserves to be told.

The Beginning

The earliest encounters between the Iranians and Christianity occurred during the Arsacid Parthian Empire. Christian lore speaks of the Magi bringing gifts to the newborn Jesus and according to the Book of Acts, the first group of converts to Christianity included some Persians. Christian accounts of this period speak of numerous missions sent to the east and it is likely that they had some success in converting the well established Jewish community in Arsacid held Mesopotamia. In the border cities between the…

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The sixteen names of Durgā and their explanations(from the 57th adhyaya of the Brahmavaivarta Purāṇa)

nārada uvāca

sarvākhyānaṃ ṣrutaṃ brahmaktratīva paramādbhūtam|
adhūnā śrotumicchāmi durgopākhyānamuttamam||
dūrgā nārāyañīśānā viṣṇumāyā śivā satī|
nityā satyā bhagavatī śarvāṇī sarvamaṇgalā||
ambikā vaiṣṇavī gaurī pārvatī ca sanātanī|
nāmāni kauthumoktāni sarveṣaṃ śubhadāni ca||

Nārada said:Oh Brāhmaṇa,I have listened to this astonishing story. Kindly tell me the story of Durgā that I want to listen from you. Her names as described in the Kauthuma śākhā(of the Sāmaveda) are Durgā,Nārāyaṇī,Īśānī,Viṣṇumāyā,Śivā,Satī,Nityā,Satyā,Bhagavatī,Śarvāṇī,Sarvamaṇgalā,Ambikā,Vaiṣṇavī,Gaurī,Pārvatī,Sanātanī and they bestow auspiciousness.

atha śoḍaśanāmnāṃ ca sarveṣāmīpsitaṃ varaṃ।
brūhi vedavidāṃ śreṣṭhaṃ vedoktaṃ sarvasampatam॥

O best of the ones learned in the vedas, please kindly state the meanings of the sixteen names which bestow welfare upon all and are mentioned in the veda.

kena vā pūjitā sadak dvitīye kena vā pūrā।
tṛtīye vā catūrthe vā kena sarvatra pūjitā॥

Who was the first to worship Her?After that, who was the second, third and fourth to worship Her?

nārāyaṇa uvāca

atha ṣoḍaśanāmnāṃ sa viṣṇuvedi cakāra saḥ।
jñātvā punaḥ pṛccasi tvaṃ kathayāmi yathāgamam॥

Nārāyaṇa said:Viṣṇu has already given the sixteen names in the vedas and you are well aware of them. In spite of that you are asking me the question again and I am now speaking what has been said in the śāstra.

durgo daitye mahāvighne bhavabandhe ca karmaṇi।
śoke duḥkhe ca narake yamadaṇḍe ca janmani॥
mahābhaye’tiroge cāpyāśabdo hantṛvācakaḥ।
etānhantyeva yā devī sā ḍurga parikīrtitā॥

The word ‘Durga’ stands for a daitya who was a great obstruction representing worldly bondage,karmas,sorrows,hells,yama’s rod, births,great dangers, disease and ‘a’ represents the killer of the same. Therefore the one who destroys them all is famed as ‘Durgā’.

yaśasā tejasā rūpairnārāyaṇasamā guṇaiḥ।
śaktirnārāyaṇasyeyaṃ ṭena nārāyaṇī smṛtā॥

In glory,lusture,beauty and qualities She is like Nārāyaṇa and She is His śakti. Hence She is called Nārāyaṇī.

īśānaḥ sarvasiddharthe cāśabdo dātṛvācakaḥ।
sarvasiddhipradātrī yā sā’pīśānā prakīrtitā॥

Īśāna is a word used for sarvasiddhi(all-accomplishment) and ‘ā’ stands for its giver. Therefore the one who bestows sarvasiddhi is called Īśānā.

sṛṣṭā māyā purā sṛṣṭau viṣṇunā paramātmanā।
mohitaṃ māyayā viśvaṃ viṣṇumāyā prakīrtitā॥

In times of yore,Viṣnu created māyā,by means of which the whole universe was deluded by Her. She is thus called Viṣnumāyā.

śive kalyāṇarūpā ca śivadā ca śivapriyā।
priye dātari cāśabdo śivā tena prakīrtitā॥

She’s beloved of Śiva and is the form of Śiva’s auspiciousness and giver of Śiva,hence She is called Śivā.

sadbuddhyadhiṣātṛdevī vidyamānā yuge yuge।
pativratā suśīlā ca sā satī parikīrtitā॥

Every Yuga after Yuga,She’s the presiding deity of sad-buddhi(right intelligence),She is a chaste lady and well-disposed,hence She is called Satī.

yathā nityo hi bhagavān nityā bhagavatī tathā।
svamāyayā tirobhūtā tatreśe prākṛte laye॥
ābrahmastambaparyantaṃ sarvaṃ mithyaiva kṛtrimam।
dūrgā satyasvarūpā sā prakṛtirbhagavānyathā॥
siddhaiśvaryādikaṃ sarvaṃ yasyāmasti yuge yuge।
saiddhādike bhago jñeyastena sā bhagavatī smṛtā॥

She is eternal like Viṣṇu,and merges into Him at the time of the dissolution of the universe. Everything from a straw to Brahmā is transient and artificial(in contrast). She is also of the nature of Satya(truth) like Viṣṇu. ‘Bhaga’ denotes all siddhi and aiśvarya(lordliness/wealth),and since She is of that nature,She is called ‘Bhagavatī’.

sarvānmokṣaṃ prāpayati janmamṛtyujarādikaṃ।
carācarāśca viśvasthāñcharvāṇī tena kīrtitā॥

She gives mokṣa to all and is the cause of birth, death and old age of all, hence She is called Śarvāṇī.

maṅgalaṃ mokṣavacanaṃ cāśabdo dātṛvācakaḥ।
sarvānmokṣānyā dadādi saivasyātsarvamaṅgalā॥

The word ‘Maṇgala’ means auspiciousness and ‘ā’ stands for its giver. Since she gives auspiciousness to all,She is called sarvamaṇgalā.

harṣe saṃpādi kalyāṇe maṅgalaṃ parikīrtitaṃ।
tāndadāti ca sarvebhyastena sā sarvamaṅgalā॥

The word ‘Maṇgala’ means pleasures and auspiciousness which She bestows upon all. Hence She is called Sarvamaṇgalā.

ambeti mātṛvacano vandane pūjate sadā।
pūjitā vanditā yātā jagatāṃ tena sā’mbikā॥

The word Ambā means mother and is used for worship and adoration. Hence,the Mother who is worshipped by all is called Ambikā.

viṣṇubhaktā viṣṇurūpā viṣṇoḥ śaktisvarūpiṇī।
sṛṣṭau ca viṣṇunā sraṣṭā vaiṣṇavī tena kīrtitā॥

The devotees of Viṣṇu call Her Vaiṣṇavī because She is the form and energy of Viṣṇu,and by Her is the whole universe is created.

gauraḥ pīte ca nirlipte pare brahmāṇi nirmale।
tasyātmanaḥ śaktiriyaṃ gaurī ṭena prakīrtitā॥
guruḥ śambhuśca sareveṣāṃ tasya śaktiḥ priyā sati।
guruḥ kṛṣṇaśca tanmāyā gaurī tena prakīrtitā॥
tithibhede parvabhede kalpabhede’nyabhedake।
khyātau teṣu ca vikhyātā pārvatī tena kīrtitā॥
mahotsavaviśeṣe ca parvatriti sukīrtitā।
tasyādhidevī yā sā ca pārvatī parikīrtitā॥
parvatasya sutā devī sāvirbhūtā ca parvate।
parvatādhiṣṭhātṛdevī pārvatī tena kīrtitā॥

She is golden complexioned, clad in yellow garments, unattached and spotless. Because She is the śakti of the Ātman She is called Gaurī. She’s is tithibheda,kalpabheda,and one who causes the bhedas between these tithes,kalpas and other bhedas. She is thus called Pārvatī. During special celebrations, the word pavan is used, and since She is the Goddess of all parvenus,She is called Pārvatī. She is also called Pārvatī because She is the daughter of the mountain, appeared over the (Himalaya) mountain, and is the Goddess of mountains.

sarvakAle sanA prokto vistR^ite cha tanIti cha|
sarvatra sarvakAle cha vidyamAnA sanAtanI||
arthaH ShoDashanAmnAM cha kIrtitashcha mahAmune|
yathAgamaM taM vedoktopAkhyAnaM cha nishAmaya||

The word ‘sanā’ is used for all times, and in expanded form,’tanī’ is added to it. Since She is present in all times and all places,She is called Sanātanī. O sage,I have explained the meanings of Her sixteen names. I am now narrating the stories of Her as told in the vedas. Listen to me!

prathame pūjitā sā ca kṛṣṇena paramātmanā।
vṛndāvane ca sṛṣṭyādau goloke rāsamaṇḍale॥
madhukaiṭabhabhītena brahmaṇā sā dvitīyate।
tripurapraritenaiva tṛtiye ca tripurāriṇā॥
bhraṣṭaśriyā mahendreṇa śāpāhurvāsasaḥ purā।
caturthe pūjitā devī bhaktyā bhagavatī satī॥
tadā munīndraiḥ siddhendrairdevaiśca munipuṅgavaiḥ।
pūjitā sarvaviśveṣu samabhūtsarvataḥ sadā॥

In times of yore, at the beginning of creation and in the Rāsamaṇdala of Goloka in Vṛndāvana,Kṛṣṇa adored Her. Secondly,Brahmā adored Her to get relief from Madhu and Kaiṭabha. Thirdly,Śiva adored Her when He went to war with Tripura. Fourthly,Indra adored Her after He was cursed by Durvāsā,as a result of which He lost all riches and glory. Since then,She has been popularly adored by all the sages,siddhas,Gods and Ṛṣis everywhere.

The text after this then alludes to Suratha and Samādhi who adored the Goddess,and one attained the position of Sāvarṇi manu while Samādhi attained Goloka by Her grace.

jagannAtha as puruShottama

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This article is to be read in conjunction with the previous article on how the wooden God was initially considered as narasiMha.

In quite a few Sanskrit works on the temple,we find the Lord of Puri being referred to as puruShottama. One might ask,what is the origin behind this name and why this particular name has been linked with jagannAtha historically? I am summarizing GC Tripathi’s work here

Early sAtavata conception

The early sAtavata conception of this term is noted in the 15th chapter of the Gita embedded in the Mahabharata,where kR^iShNa is identified as puruShottama,as beyond the kShara and akShara puruSha,and having an identity with them. Also the shloka that goes “…atō.smi lōkē vēdē ca prathitaḥ puruṣōttamaḥ৷” is indicative of Krishna-Vishnu being identified with the puruSha concept even in vaidika terms. In ritual that is extant even today,the puruSha sukta is used for worshipping viShNu in pUjAs that require 16 upAchAras(each of the mantras of the sukta being used for a particular upAchAra). That the fact this ritual is old is attested in the Bombay recension of the Skanda Purana.

puruShottama as used in early literary records and epigraphy of the Jagannath temple

  1. anargharAghava of murAri(circa 900s CE):puruShottama is described as being on the salt ocean and drawing patterns on the breasts of kamalA with paste of musk and His yAtrA.
  2. prabodhachandrodaya of kR^iShNamishra(was written between 1060-70CE) where the kShetra of puruShottama is referred to
  3. puruShottama mAhAtmya of the skanda purANa(1300s CE)
  4. mahApuruShavidyA(1600s CE?)
  5. Maihar inscription at a sarasvatI temple(middle of the 10th century)
  6. Dasgoba Copper plate grant of Rajarajadeva,recording the construction of the new temple of Jagannath Chodagangadeva.

 

puruShottama in tAntrika literature

Now that we have noted the earliest literary and epigraphical references to that term puruShottama,we should now turn to the tAntrika literature which has been influential in the usage of this term(and which has influenced the ritualism of the shrImandira) to understand what did the people in those eras mean when they said puruShottama(as already noticed in the anargharAghava,the deity is already alluded to as having an erotic component and is in play with lakShmI)

The aspects of puruShottama can be noted under the following headings in the shAradAtIlaka according to Tripathi

  1. puruShottama-trailokyamohana
  2. shrIkara-puruShottama
  3. kAma-puruShottama
  4. kR^iShNa gopijanavallabha

In later works like kramadIpikA of keshavabhaTTa(which has been influential on most of the existing pUjAvidhis of jagannAtha) and the gautamIya-tantra(one of the most influential Agamika texts on the worship of kR^iShNa) puruShottama is noted as puruShottama-bhuvanamohana  and puruShottama-trailokyamohana and invoked in the former in a highly erotic form with the yonI of lakShmI getting wet due to amorous excitement and the divine couple being surrounded by thousands of damsels of devas,nAgas etc intoxicated and languid due to the effect of love,and the gautamIyatantra’s description of the couple has shrI embracing Him tightly seducing Him with amorous gestures(sakAmalIlAya devam mohayantI). In these texts,it is puruShottama alone who is referred to as jagannAtha,which facilitated the name interchangeability. Whereas,in earlier texts like the shAradAtIlaka,trialokyamohanA whose link with kAma is obvious in His gAyatrI,and the dhyAna as elaborated by rAghavabhaTTa who notes that lakShmI embraces(dakShiNena Ali~Nganam) Him,and His eyes are enlarged and languid,due to the effect of liquor:And worshipping Him grants the 4 puruShArthas of life;in the later two texts,kR^iShNa becomes prominent and the puruShottama aspect becomes reduced to usages in special rites,while the jagannAtha epithet of puruShottama acquired more and more popularity amongst even literature in the vernacular and the masses.

The testimony of the skandapurANa’s puruShottama mAhAtmya

The puruShottama mAhAtmya refers to subhadrA as lakShmI at three incidents(two of which are being cited here),and interestingly,when referring to events cited as happening in the hoary past.

  1. The incident of puNDarIka and ambarISha;two mahApApIs who could visualize jagannAtha as being with lakShmI who is offering Him a betel-leaf(5th adhyaya). Later too SHe is described as shrI standing between viShNu and shesha
  2. The 19th adhyaya explicitly pleads for the identification of the female deity as shrI(lakShmI),and not any fraternal identity

The testimony of the mahApuruShavidyA

This mahApuruShavidyA(also called puruShottama mAhAtmya) is a text which,according to Tripathi has been composed by shAkta brAhmaNas of the Sasana villages near Puri,who are also with a great affinity towards the Jagannath cult sometime around the 1500s. In this text,the female deity is almost invariably identified as lakShmI even under the mere name of subhadrA

vAmA~NgarUpiNIM lakShmIM tasya dakShiNapArShvagam|
apashyad divyayA dR^iShTyA subhadrArUpadhAriNIM||

And She sports with Her lord like an ordinary human being in the cave of the nIlAchala mountain(nIlAchalaguhAmadhye naralIlAvihAravAn…)

The actual temple layout and aspects of ritual

  1. The garbhagR^iha has space for two(and only two) deities[implying that yes,balabhadra was added later,this is a matter that will be dealt with in a future article] representing puruShottama and lakShmI
  2. These two deities were represented by (kAma)-puruShottama and lakShmI
  3. In existing ritual at the shrImandira:the pIThashaktis of kAma-puruShottama reappear as the mates of bhUvaneshvarI(the current identity of the deity known as ‘subhadrA’). The artificial form of the names of these deities signify that these were originally meant for the worship of kAma-puruShottama and not bhuvaneshvarI initially,and were readapted into Her yantra here at a later date. Also when lakShmI is considered to be of golden complexion when She is in union with puruShottama in the shAradAtIlaka,the same bodily complexion of the deity identified as subhadrA today,the possibility of the female deity having being considered as the sister of viShNu is unlikely to have been the historical conception of the deity initially.
  4. The yantra for pUjA for jagannAtha Himself is a mixture of the yantras of trailokyamohana-puruShottama and shrIkR^iShNa gopijanavallabha in the sense that a sexagon is central,but an 8-petalled lotus is involved,rather than the standard 10 petalled lotus for shrIkR^iShNa.

 

namo gopIjanavallabhAya|