According to Hindu mythology Devi Sati laid
down her life when her father, King
Daksha insulted her husband, Lord Shiva. Enraged, Lord Shiva came and took away
the dead body of his wife and started his Tandava Dance. Afraid that this might
Hamper the civilisation, Lord Vishnu cut
off the dead body into 108 parts with his Sudarshan Chackra. There are several
doubts over the veracity of the claims regarding the places where the parts
fell. We come to know of 51 places where different body parts of Goddess Sati
fell. Each of these places developed into a holy, religious place of worship
for the devout Hindus.
Location
It is in Tamluk in present East Medinipur in West Bengal.It was once a famous port during the Indus Valley
Period. It is now a major station in South-Western Railway in West Bengal in
India.
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| MAA BARGOVIMA |
Background
According to a legend, a fisherman was asked
to deliver fresh fish to the house of King Garurdhwaj or Tamradhwaj. One day,
he could not find any fish and was punished. When he was shedding tears,
Goddess Bargovima appeared and asked the fisher man to sprinkle water of a holy
well to dead fish to make them alive. And when they were sprinkled, the fish
were rejuvenated. The king become curious and tried to see the holy well. The
well disappeared before him and Devi Bargovima appeared before him. She
instructed the King to build the Holy Temple.
There is also popular legend that a trader got
the temple constructed when all his objects were turned to gold by magic
religious water of the well. It was even said that Kalapahar, the infamous
destroyer of Hindu Temples, was made to go away by the prowess of the Goddess.
Even the Bargis paid their holy offerings to her.
Structure
It is said that Devi Bargovima had the left ankle of Devi Sati. The goddess
is called Kripalini, and Bhairav is called Sarbananda, according to Tantric
Cult. The eastern part of Lying-in room (GarvoGhriha) has an elevated structure
that houses Devi along, with Shiva to the right. She has four hands – right
hands bear the trishul and sword left hand bear the human skull and scimitar.
Devi provides the blessings in all four planes – Dharma, Artha, Kama, and
Moksha. Her holy Consort Shiva is called Kapali Bhutnath.
The temple is built in Orissa Art of Temple
Construction pattern. It bears the inflence of Buddhism. This religious place
was visited by Chinese pilgrims, Fa Hien and Hiuen Tsang. Bodhidrum started his
journey towards Sri Lanka from here.
Adjoining
Structures
There are nearly 22 steps to reach the
temple-floor, signifying penance one has to undergo to reach the Goddess. There
are a number of Devi’s idols located around the holy altar.. There are
Natmandir Jogmohan and place for Sacrificial Offerings (Yagna). There is also a
Kunda (a deep well) in which people has to go to touch the holy waterto purify
themselves.
Offerings
Devotees offer flowers, clothes special sweets
to the Goddess. Devi is offered sumptuous meal of rice, fried vegetables, fish,
payas and other items. Even the devotees can have a share of this food by
paying a token amount.
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| TEMPLE AREA |
Special
Occasions
Bengali New Year Day, Annual Special Puja in
the month of December (Poush), Kali Puja in the Month of October-November are
all celebrated in this holy place with
great enthusiasm.
Ways
To Go
One can visit this by taking Satabdi Express
from Howrah, Padatik Express from Howrah and getting down at Tamluk. Otherwise,
one can travel to Mecheda by local Emu Train (from Howrah, West Bengal) and
reach Tamluk by bus. From Tamluk in west Bengal, India, one can reach the site
by Toto, Rickshaw etc.
Other
Sites To Visit
A visitor can also visit Shahid Matangini
Hazra’s martyrdom site, Radhha Krishna Temple etc.
Though there are controversies regarding the
authenticity of Tamluk being a Devi Pith, noted historian Dinesh Chandra Sarkar
certifies it to be an authentic Devi Pitha. The Real significance lies in the
mind of devotees who pray fervently and get their prayers answered.
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