Goddess Devi Chandika's Temple- Behala

“Let me dive into the depth of time and bring from out the ages that have rolled a few small fragments of those wrecks sublime which human eye may never behold.” (Henry Louis Vivian Derozio)

It has been widely concluded that Devi Chandika as worshipped in Chanditala area of Behala was originally a deity of Stone Age. She existed in the fossilised form. She was worshipped as stone- deity by people around Adi Ganga. The area infested with deep forests and wild animals. As civilisation progressed the development of agriculture gave rise to a number of ponds and other water bodies that were connected with river Ganges. These canals and ponds served as navigable water ways for various types of boats. Traders especially those belonging to Vaishya community used to go to Sinhal / Srilanka, Java, Sumatra (Indonesia) on ship. They faced trials and tribulation of storms, pirates in the sea. They prayed to Goddess for their safe-journey.

DEVI CHANDIKA

Areas around Sahapur ,Gholsha pur, Punjasahapur developed as prosperous trading area. In this area Mangal Kahini’s folklore gave rise to Chand Sawadagar, Dhanapata and Srimanta Swadagar offering worship to Devi Chandi. This is also taken to be the Gangur River from which Behula Started her mythological journey towards heaven (Manasa Mangal).

Present Condition Of The Temple

Parches and other documents refer to this Chandi Temple way back in 1862 or even before this date. At that time, this temple was referred to as Jai Chandi Temple. Modern renovation of the temple started from 1968 onwards. These forefathers constructed the temple and the Natmandir. They even cleaned the nearby pond.

Description Of The Idol

One can infer influence of Tantra, Markandaypuranas and Kali of Kalighat temple. She had her third eye constructed in the fossilised rock. Her chin and tongue and her third eye are engraved in the idol. Her nose is decorated with metallic structure. There is a crown decorating her head. There is an umbrella over her head. She was seated on a stony lotus structure. She was covered with a red saree to give it the local colour. There are marks of divine footprints. All these together have made the idol a spectacular specimen of architecture and divinity.

Method Of Worship

Every married woman has to perform the brata of Devi Mangal Chandi. It is essential to follow the Brata on the first and last Tuesday of the month of Jaishtha (May- June). One has to abstain from taking fish and rice on these days. Her worship usually take place during the afternoon, after 4pm. Devotees assemble with sweets, flowers, candles are lighted in front of her.

An important offering to Goddess is ‘Khili’ which had 17 pieces of jowar, 17 pieces of rice, banana, tulsi leaves etc. these are by the devotees consumed to protected, nurture and give birth to new generation, as Davies considered to be the Goddess of fertility. When women consume them with banana pieces, they become a part of Devi herself and can perform miracles to save their family. Afterward the devotees would take in curd-beaten rice, parathas – curry and also share the food offer to Goddess.

A TREE

NILKANTA SHIVA

KUNDA

 Devi Chandi is considered to be the ancient Goddess of Behala and the eastern part of Kolkata south 24pgs. She has evolved from a sylvan Goddess to locally revered one. Goddess, she is worshipped not only by maintaining the strictures laid down in the Shastras in Shakherbazar, 2km from Behala. The development of ‘myth’ in making her a popular Goddess speaks of great anthropological sequence.

A significant aspect of this worship is the predominant role of the married woman to be the brata-priestess in her house which makes her the sacred part of the ecclesiastical force. She alone knows what ritual is to be performed in the house and what art is to be created for it. This marks the triumph of glorious role of women in Sanatan Dharma.