# Mhalsa
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{{short description|Hindu goddess}}
{{Infobox deity
| type = Hindu
| image = Khandoba.jpg
| caption = Khandoba and Mhalsa killing demons Mani-Malla — a popular [oleograph](/source/oleograph), c.1880.
| name = Mhalsa
| Devanagari = म्हाळसा, महालसा
| Sanskrit_transliteration = Mhāḷasā
| god_of =
| abode =
| mantra =
| weapon = [Trishula](/source/Trishula)
| consort = [Khandoba](/source/Khandoba) (when identified with Parvati)
| children =
| mount =
| affiliation = {{bulleted list|[Avatar](/source/Avatar) of [Mohini](/source/Mohini)|[Parvati](/source/Parvati) (in Khandoba Sect)}}
}}
'''Mhalsa''' ([Marathi](/source/Marathi_language): म्हाळसा [IAST](/source/IAST): Mhāḷasā), also spelled as '''Mhalasa''' or '''Mahalasa''', महालसा is a [Hindu goddess](/source/Hindu_goddess). As an independent goddess, she is worshipped as a form of [Mohini](/source/Mohini), the [avatar](/source/avatar) of [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu). Meanwhile in the [Khandoba](/source/Khandoba) sect of [Maharashtra](/source/Maharashtra), she is worshipped as the consort of the folk deity [Khandoba](/source/Khandoba), a form of [Shiva](/source/Shiva). In this tradition, she is associated with [Parvati](/source/Parvati), Shiva's wife.
Mhalsa's chief temple is at [Mardol](/source/Mahalasa_Narayani_Temple%2C_Mardol) in [Mardol, Goa](/source/Mardol%2C_Goa), where she is worshipped as a form of [Vishnu](/source/Vishnu) revered as Mahalasa Narayani. She is worshipped as the [Kuladevi](/source/Kuladevi) (family goddess) of different castes and communities in the region.
==Iconography==
In the Mahalasa Narayani form, Mahalasa has four hands, carrying a [trishula](/source/trishula), a sword, a severed head, and a drinking bowl. She also wears the [yajnopavita](/source/yajnopavita) (sacred thread), which is generally dedicated to 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 [Vaishnava](/source/Vaishnava)s from Goa and [Tulunadu](/source/Tulunadu) identify her with [Mohini](/source/Mohini) and call her [Narayani](/source/Mohini) and Rahu-matthani, the slayer of Rahu, as told in the ''[Bhavishya Purana](/source/Bhavishya_Purana)''.[{{cite book|last=V. P. Chavan|title=Vaishnavism of the Gowd Saraswat Brahmins and a few Konkani folklore tales|publisher=Asian Educational Services. |pages=26–7|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SBWQIDwNWx4C&q=mahalsa&pg=PA26|isbn=978-81-206-0645-6|year=1991}}]
Mhalsa is often depicted with two arms and accompanying Khandoba on his horse or standing beside him.
==Legends==
According to a folk legend, Mhalsa is considered to be a form of Shiva's wife, [Parvati](/source/Parvati). As per this legend, Mhalsa was born as the daughter of a rich [Lingayat](/source/Lingayat) merchant called Timmaseth.[{{cite book|author=Harsha V. Dehejia|title=Parvati: Goddess of Love|date=1 January 1999|publisher=Mapin Publishing Pvt Ltd|isbn=978-81-85822-59-4|pages=36–7}}] On the divine orders of Khandoba in a dream to her father, Mhalsa was married to Khandoba on [Pausha](/source/Pausha) Pournima (the full moon day of the Hindu calendar month of Pausha) in Pali (Pembar). Two [shiva lingams](/source/Lingam) appeared on this occasion. An annual festival marking this event is celebrated in Pali every Pausha Pournima.
== Worship ==
[[Image:mahalasatemple.jpg|thumb|Mardol Temple in [Goa](/source/Goa)]]
Mahalasa/Mhalsa is worshipped as an independent goddess or ''[gramadevata](/source/gramadevata)'' (village guardian deity). Her chief temples stand in [Mardol](/source/Mahalasa_Narayani_Temple%2C_Mardol) in [Goa](/source/Goa).[{{cite web|url=http://www.rcdhere.com/RCD_Khandoba/khandoba_3.html|title=Chapter 2: MHAALSA|last=Dhere|first=R C|work=Summary of Book "FOLK GOD OF THE SOUTH: KHANDOBA"|publisher=R C Dhere|accessdate=14 March 2010}}] Her temples also exist in the states of [Karnataka](/source/Karnataka), [Kerala](/source/Kerala), and [Gujarat](/source/Gujarat).[{{cite news|url=http://www.navhindtimes.in/buzz/8566-music-concert-to-be-held-at-mardol |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616055809/https://www.navhindtimes.in/buzz/8566-music-concert-to-be-held-at-mardol |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2022 |title=Music concert to be held at Mardol |last=NT Network |date=11 February 2010 |work=[Navhind Times](/source/Navhind_Times) |accessdate=12 March 2010 }}] She is the [Kuldevi](/source/Kuldevta) (family goddess) of many Hindus from western and southern India, including [Goud Saraswat Brahmins](/source/Goud_Saraswat_Brahmins), [Karhade Brahmin](/source/Karhade_Brahmin)s, [Padye](/source/Padye) Brahmin, [Daivajna Brahmin](/source/Daivajna_Brahmin), [Kalavant](/source/Kalavant), [Bhandaris](/source/Bhandari_caste) and many other communities.
Due to the migration of followers of the goddess, new temples have been established in recent years in [Verna](/source/Verna%2C_Goa), [Karwar](/source/Karwar), [Kumta](/source/Kumta), [Mudgeri](/source/Mudgeri), [Kundapura](/source/Kundapura), [Basrur](/source/Basrur)u, [Shirva](/source/Shirva%2C_India), [Mangaluru](/source/Mangaluru), [Kasargod](/source/Kasargod), Harikhandige, Malpe, Madangeri (a small town near [Gokarna](/source/Gokarna%2C_Karnataka)) and other places along India's west coast.
Mhalsa is also worshipped as the consort of Khandoba in Maharashtra and the reincarnation of [Goddess Parvati](/source/Goddess_Parvati).