Mhalsa (Marathi: म्हाळसा, IAST: Mhāḷasā), also spelled as Mhalasa or Mahalasa, is a Hindu goddess. She is venerated in two distinct traditions. As an independent goddess, she is considered as a form of Mohini, the female avatar of the god Vishnu, and is called Mhalsa Narayani. Mhalsa is also worshipped as the consort of the folk god Khandoba, a form of the god Shiva. In this tradition, she is associated with Parvati, Shiva's wife, as well as Mohini.
Mhalsa
Khandoba and Mhalsa killing demons Mani-Malla — a popular oleograph, c.1880.
As an independent goddess, Mhalsa's chief temples include Mardol in Mardol, Goa in the form of Mahalasa Narayani and a temple in Nevasa as Mhalsa Mohini or Mhalsa Devi, which is considered as her birthplace as Khandoba's wife. She is worshipped as the Kuladevi (family goddess) of different castes and communities in the region.
In the Mahalasa Narayani form, Mahalasa has four hands, carrying a trishula, a sword, a severed head, and a drinking bowl. She also wears the yajnopavita (sacred thread), which is generally dedicated on male deities. She stands on a prostrate man or demon, as a tiger or lion licks blood dripping from the severed head. Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Daivajnya Brahmins as well as Vaishnavas from Goa and South Canara identify her with Mohini and call her Narayani and Rahu-matthani, the slayer of Rahu, as told in the Bhavishya Purana.[1]
As the consort of Khandoba, her chief temple - the Mohiniraj temple - is located at Nevasa taluka of Maharashtra, where she is worshipped as a four-armed goddess and identified with Mohini. Mhalsa is often depicted with two arms and accompanying Khandoba on his horse or standing besides him.
Legends
During the Samudra Manthana (churning of the ocean of milk) by the devas and the asuras, the asuras desire the pot of amrita (elixir of immortality). The god Vishnu took the form of the enchantress, Mohini. Mohini seized the amrita from the asuras, and served it to the devas. Mohini is hence worshipped as Mhalasa Narayani or Mhalasa.
According to another legend linking her to Khandoba, the god Shiva was enchanted by Mohini. She promised him to be his wife in her earthly incarnation (avatar) when he would be incarnated as Khandoba on earth.
According to another legend, Mhalsa is considered to be a form of Shiva's wife, Parvati. As per this legend, Mhalsa was born as the daughter of a rich Lingayat merchant in Newasa called Timmaseth.[2] On the divine orders of Khandoba in a dream to her father, Mhalsa was married to Khandoba on Pausha Pournima (the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Pausha) in Pali (Pembar). Two shiva lingams appeared on this occasion. An annual festival marking this event is celebrated in Pali every Pausha Pournima.
In recent years, due to the increased popularity of the goddess, new temples have been established in Verna, Karwar, Kumta, Mudgeri, Kundapura, Basruru, Shirva, Mangaluru, Kasargod, Harikhandige, Malpe and other areas mostly along coastal Karnataka. One temple is also located in Madangeri, a small town near to Gokarna.
Mhalsa is also worshipped as the consort of Khandoba.[2] She is worshipped with Khandoba in all centres of Khandoba's worship, including Jejuri.
References
^V. P. Chavan (1991). Vaishnavism of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins and a few Konkani folklore tales. Asian Educational Services. pp. 26–7. ISBN978-81-206-0645-6.
^ abcHarsha V. Dehejia (1 January 1999). Parvati: Goddess of Love. Mapin Publishing Pvt Ltd. pp. 36–7. ISBN978-81-85822-59-4.
^"NEVASA". Gazetteers Department, Maharashtra. Retrieved 5 February 2015.
^Dhere, R C. "Chapter 2: MHAALSA". Summary of Book "FOLK GOD OF THE SOUTH: KHANDOBA". R C Dhere. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
Kuladevata Shri Mahalasa Narayani's Temple on the Internet
February 07, 2023
mhalsa, marathi, ळस, iast, mhāḷasā, also, spelled, mhalasa, mahalasa, hindu, goddess, venerated, distinct, traditions, independent, goddess, considered, form, mohini, female, avatar, vishnu, called, narayani, also, worshipped, consort, folk, khandoba, form, sh. Mhalsa Marathi म ह ळस IAST Mhaḷasa also spelled as Mhalasa or Mahalasa is a Hindu goddess She is venerated in two distinct traditions As an independent goddess she is considered as a form of Mohini the female avatar of the god Vishnu and is called Mhalsa Narayani Mhalsa is also worshipped as the consort of the folk god Khandoba a form of the god Shiva In this tradition she is associated with Parvati Shiva s wife as well as Mohini MhalsaKhandoba and Mhalsa killing demons Mani Malla a popular oleograph c 1880 Devanagariम ह ळस Sanskrit transliterationMhaḷasaAffiliationMohiniWeaponTrishulaConsortKhandobaAs an independent goddess Mhalsa s chief temples include Mardol in Mardol Goa in the form of Mahalasa Narayani and a temple in Nevasa as Mhalsa Mohini or Mhalsa Devi which is considered as her birthplace as Khandoba s wife She is worshipped as the Kuladevi family goddess of different castes and communities in the region Contents 1 Iconography 2 Legends 3 Worship 4 References 5 External linksIconography EditIn the Mahalasa Narayani form Mahalasa has four hands carrying a trishula a sword a severed head and a drinking bowl She also wears the yajnopavita sacred thread which is generally dedicated on male deities She stands on a prostrate man or demon as a tiger or lion licks blood dripping from the severed head Goud Saraswat Brahmins and Daivajnya Brahmins as well as Vaishnavas from Goa and South Canara identify her with Mohini and call her Narayani and Rahu matthani the slayer of Rahu as told in the Bhavishya Purana 1 As the consort of Khandoba her chief temple the Mohiniraj temple is located at Nevasa taluka of Maharashtra where she is worshipped as a four armed goddess and identified with Mohini Mhalsa is often depicted with two arms and accompanying Khandoba on his horse or standing besides him Legends EditDuring the Samudra Manthana churning of the ocean of milk by the devas and the asuras the asuras desire the pot of amrita elixir of immortality The god Vishnu took the form of the enchantress Mohini Mohini seized the amrita from the asuras and served it to the devas Mohini is hence worshipped as Mhalasa Narayani or Mhalasa According to another legend linking her to Khandoba the god Shiva was enchanted by Mohini She promised him to be his wife in her earthly incarnation avatar when he would be incarnated as Khandoba on earth According to another legend Mhalsa is considered to be a form of Shiva s wife Parvati As per this legend Mhalsa was born as the daughter of a rich Lingayat merchant in Newasa called Timmaseth 2 On the divine orders of Khandoba in a dream to her father Mhalsa was married to Khandoba on Pausha Pournima the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Pausha in Pali Pembar Two shiva lingams appeared on this occasion An annual festival marking this event is celebrated in Pali every Pausha Pournima Worship Edit Mardol Temple in Goa Mahalasa Mhalsa is worshipped as an independent goddess or gramadevata village guardian deity Her chief temples stand in Paithan and Nevasa called Mohiniraj 3 in Maharashtra and Mardol in Goa 2 4 Her temples also exist in the states of Karnataka Kerala and Gujarat 5 She is the Kuldevi family goddess of many Hindus from western and southern India including Goud Saraswat Brahmins Karhade Brahmins Daivajna Brahmins Bhandaris and Shimpi caste In recent years due to the increased popularity of the goddess new temples have been established in Verna Karwar Kumta Mudgeri Kundapura Basruru Shirva Mangaluru Kasargod Harikhandige Malpe and other areas mostly along coastal Karnataka One temple is also located in Madangeri a small town near to Gokarna Mhalsa is also worshipped as the consort of Khandoba 2 She is worshipped with Khandoba in all centres of Khandoba s worship including Jejuri References Edit V P Chavan 1991 Vaishnavism of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins and a few Konkani folklore tales Asian Educational Services pp 26 7 ISBN 978 81 206 0645 6 a b c Harsha V Dehejia 1 January 1999 Parvati Goddess of Love Mapin Publishing Pvt Ltd pp 36 7 ISBN 978 81 85822 59 4 NEVASA Gazetteers Department Maharashtra Retrieved 5 February 2015 Dhere R C Chapter 2 MHAALSA Summary of Book FOLK GOD OF THE SOUTH KHANDOBA R C Dhere Retrieved 14 March 2010 NT Network 11 February 2010 Music concert to be held at Mardol Navhind Times Retrieved 12 March 2010 permanent dead link External links EditKuladevata Shri Mahalasa Narayani s Temple on the Internet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mhalsa amp oldid 1117020494, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
