In some images she is shown with a dark complexion, ferocious in aspect, having a lion’s face with reddened eyes and riding a lion, entirely nude or wearing black garments, she wears a garland of human skulls; her hair strands on end, and she holds a trident, a serpent in the form of a noose, a hand-drum and a skull in her four hands. She is also associated with Bhairava, and she has a variant form, namely Atharvana-Bhadra-Kali. She is also known by the name Narasimhi. Narasimha is an ugra or ferocious from of Narayana, or Vishnu. By drinking the blood of rakshasas, Lord Narasimha was in a very destructive mode, which made everyone tremble. Shiva came to pacify him and he could not succeed. Lord Shiva took the form of Sharabha a bird and human combination with two wings of shakti. One wing was Shoolini and the other was Pratyangira. This form of Shiva is called Sharabheshwara. Sharabheshwara’s efforts or Shoolini’s efforts could not control the Ugra Narasimha. Pratyangira was released from his wing and then she took the female form of Narasimha, and calmed down the Lord. Pratyangira is the lion headed form of the divine mother. It is told that if her mantra is used to harm others for material gains and settle enmity it can react and adversely affect the individual performing such rites. Many of the protective forms of deities also have destructive powers, like Pratyangira, Shulini, Siddhakubjika, Raktakali, Aghora, Vatuka, Bhairava, Sharabheshwara, Narasimha, and Sudarshana. They all have destructive aspects and destructive applications are described in the scriptures. It is said that when Lord Narasimhadeva, an incarnation of the supreme Lord Vishnu, did not calm down after the slaying of the demon Hiranyakshipu, many great sages were praying for his peaceful form. Even Lord Shiva was asked to appear in his special form as Sharabha (a bird like creature who devours lions and elephants) to cool down Lord Narasimha. However, when Sharabha approached Lord Narasimha, he became even more ferocious and revealed His special form as Asta Muhka Ganda Berundha Narasimha, having 8 heads. Garuda (eagle face, giving health and counteracting poisons), Varahadeva (a boar face, removing black magic), Hanuman (monkey face,protecting from evil forces, and returning lost objects), Baluka (bear face, protectig in darkness and giving opulence), Hayagriva (horse face, giving wisdom and life force), Vyagra (tiger face, giving protection in battle and liberating from all kinds of diseases, evil spirits and demons), Gandaberundha (two faces of a special bird like phoenix, giving peace of mind) and Lord Narasimha himself (lion face, giving liberation and devotional service to the Supreme). The Sharabha Form of Shiva was then torn apart in a hundred pieces, and only Lakshmidevi in her secret tantric form as Sri Narasimhi was able to bring Lord Narasimha back to His shanti Rupa, peacefully reclining in company with Laxmi devi on Anantashesha. The Pratyangira aspect of the Divine has been a bit of a secret for most of these past ages. Many believed that direct experience with this energy was reserved for saints and rishis. Seeing Pratyangira in any form was considered an enormous blessing, and an indication that you were in similar company. Pratyangira comes from a deep, deep place within the Divine Mother. As Pratyangira energy manifests, it’s often a very swift and sometimes ferocious current. Many of the saints who’ve seen it’s energetic expression have described it as half lion and half human. The lion head is that of a male and the body is that of a female, representing the union of Shiva and Shakti. In her full form, she is humongous, with 1008 heads (symbolically representing the 1008-petalled Sahasrara Chakra, the universal chakra of cosmic energy) and 2016 hands, riding majestically on a chariot pulled by 4 lions (representing the 4 Vedas), carrying many swords for removing obstacles. The jaws of so many lions makes it very powerful for destroying negative karmas, and a great blessing for anyone on a spiritual path. However, such a current can be understandably rough, so it’s wise to approach with respect and some consideration of what our heart is asking for. Two rishis in the ancient times, Pratyangira and Angiras, in their deep meditation, discovered this goddess through her moola mantra in the ethereal waves of the sound current. And though this Mother is nameless, she honored these Rishis by giving the blessings to be named after them. She has hence been known as Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi. The beejaksharam (seed letter) of her mantra is ksham (bliss). Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi is all powerful and secretly protects devotees and others. She is always by the side of Her devotees. She is within each and every being in all planes of existence, and there to be awakened within. An awareness of Sri Maha Pratyangira Devi has been only quietly known, until recently. Although the siddha masters and great maha rishis like Sri Dhurvasha Munivar and Puli Paani Siddhar have been devotees of this mother.