The Bakreshwar Shakthi Peeth Temple

Share:

Overview

The Bakreshwar Shakthi Peeth is located near Suri Town, Birbhum District and Durbajpur, West Bengal on the banks of the River Papahara. The temple is about six miles to the north west of Durbajpur Railway Station.

About the temple

Vakreshwar or Bakreshwar Shakthi Peeth is the place where Devi Sati’s part of the brain or mind (manas) fell. Here Devi Sati is worshipped as Mahishamardini and Lord Shiva as Bakrareshwar or Vakreshwar (meaning bent or curved). Bakreshwar temple gets its name from the worship of Lord Shiva as Bakreshwar locally. The temple is built in the Oriya style of architecture which is truly splendid.

About the Deity

Mahishmardini is shown as a ten-handed mother who is seated on a ferocious lion. She is slaying Mahishasur –the buffalo demon. In honour of this form of Devi Durga, a hymn called the ‘Mahishasur Mardini Stotram’ is sung everyday at the temple after the Prabhat and Sandhy Aratis

Legend and stories

According to one puranic reference, during the marriage ceremony of Lord Narayana and Lakshmi, two sages, Lomas and Subrita were invited for the marriage. But when they came the host received Rishi Lomas first. Rishi Subrita was enraged at this and he developed eight cripples in his body. Thus he got the name Ashtabakra (eight curves) Muni. Rishi Subrita wandered on earth and reached Kashi to meditate upon Lord Shiva. However, when the Muni reached Kashi, he was directed by a divine voice to proceed towards Gupta Kashi, which is in the east. Rishi Subrita, thus came to Bakreshwar and meditated for 1000 years. Lord Shiva pleased with the penance appeared before Rishi Subrita and asked him to build a temple which was later built by Vishwakarma.

Festivals

At this temple, Navaratri is celebrated with great fervour. Special pujas and Yagnas are held during Navaratri. Durga Puja and Maha Shivaratri is also celebrated with grandeur. Poush Mela is held in the month of December- January, besides other fairs such as Shivratri fair, Dharmraj puja fair (on Buddh purnima), Makar Sankranti fair and Kali puja fair.

Accessibility

Air

The Netaji Subhas Chandrabose International Airport is the biggest international airport of the state. It is situated at Dum Dum, Kolkata. One more major airport is Bagdogra airport close to Siliguri. This was initially set up to cater to the needs of the domestic travelers. However, it currently offers overseas flights to Thailand and Bhutan as well. One more international airport has been proposed and it is being built up by the West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation, Bengal Aerotropolis Projects Ltd., as well as other enterprise collaborators. In the scheme, the Changi Airports of Singapore, Citystar Infrastructure, IL&FS, Pragati 47, Lend Lease Company, and Pragati Social Infrastructure & Development Ltd. are also involved. It is under construction in the city of Durgapur, Burdwan district. It is expected that this airport will act in the form of an international airport as well and the name of this airport is going to be Kazi Nazrul Islam International Airport.

Rail

Kolkata serves as the center of operations of three zones of the Indian Railways and they are: South Eastern Railway, Eastern Railway and the newly constituted Kolkata Metro Railways Corporation (KMRC), which is the 17th zone of the Indian Railways.

Address