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Tarapith Temple

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Coordinates: 24°07′N 87°48′E / 24.11°N 87.80°E / 24.11; 87.80
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Tarapith Temple
View of the Tarapith Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DeityTara
Festivals
Governing bodyTarapith Rampurhat Development Authority
Location
LocationTarapith
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Geographic coordinates24°07′N 87°48′E / 24.11°N 87.80°E / 24.11; 87.80
Architecture
TypeBengal architecture
Website
tarapith.in

Tarapith Temple is a Hindu temple in Tarapith, Birbhum, West Bengal in India, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Tara, one of the 10 Mahavidyas in Hinduism.[4][5] It is one of the 108 Shakti Pithas in India.[6][7]

As per the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Kalika Purana, Markandeya Purana and Shakti Peetha Stotram, the third eye of Goddess Sati fell here, after Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra splintered her body into many parts to calm down Mahadev's rage, during his cosmic dance.[4] Vashishta Muni, who first saw it, started worshipping there and the place was later developed into a temple. In addition to the temple, Tarapith is closely associated with the mystic saint Bamakhepa, who is said to have had deep spiritual experiences in this area. The cremation ground accompanying the temple is one of the most revered and popular sites for tantric practices in Shaktism.[8]

Legend and importance

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The Temple of Tarapith

There are several legends narrated on the origin and importance of this place, all related to the goddess Tara deified in the Tarapith temple.[9] A well-known legend relates to the Shakti Piths.[10] Sati, the consort of Shiva, felt insulted when her father Daksha deliberately did not invite Shiva to the great yajña "the fire sacrifice" he organized. Despite Shiva's refusal citing that they're not invited, when Sati however arrived to the scene, Daksha insulted Shiva by saying cuss words for him in front of all the attendants. Unable to bear this humiliation, Sati gave up her life by jumping into the yajña fire. Infuriated by this tragic turn of events, Shiva went wild. Then, Vishnu, in order to pacify Shiva, decimated the body of Sati with his chakram. Sati's body part fell all over the Indian subcontinent. The places where the body parts fell have become centres of worship of the Goddess in different manifestations. There are 51 such holy temples which are called Shakti Piths; in West Bengal, there are many such piths, such as the Kalighat.[11][12]

Vashistha had seen this form and worshipped the goddess Sati in the form of Tara. Another legend describes the following: Shiva had drunk the poison that had emerged by the churning of the cosmic oceans, to save the universe. To relieve the intense burning in his throat, Sati – in the form of Tara – breast fed Shiva to relieve him of the effect of poison in his throat.[13] Another local narration is that Vasishtha chose this place for the worship of Sati as it was already known as a Tarapith.[14] Among piths, Tarapith is a siddha pith, which grants enlightenment, wisdom, happiness and siddhis ("supernatural powers").[15]

Another oral legend about the temple states that the sage Vashishtha practised austerities toward Tara, but was unsuccessful, so on the advice of a divine voice, he went to meet the Buddha – an avatar of Vishnu according to some schools of Hinduism – in Tibet. The Buddha instructed Vasishtha to worship Tara through the practices of vamachara. During this time, Buddha had a vision of Tarapith as an ideal location for a temple that would serve to enshrine the image of Tara. Buddha advised Vasishtha to go to Tarapith, the abode of Tara. At Tarapith, Vasishtha performed penance by reciting Tara mantra 300,000 times. Tara was pleased with Vasishtha's penance and appeared before him. Vasishtha appealed to Tara to appear before him in the form of a mother suckling Shiva on her breast, the form that Buddha had seen in his divine vision. Tara then incarnated herself in that form before Vasishtha and turned into a stone image. Since then Tara is worshipped in the Tarapith temple in the form of a mother suckling Shiva on her breast.[14][16]

Tarapith, Kalighat and Nabadwip are considered the most important tirthas (holy places with a sacred water body) for Bengali Hindus.[15][17]

The shrine as a Sidhha Pith - Tarapith

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Gateway of Tarapith
Main articles: Daksha Yaga and Shakti Peethas

The shrine gets its name being a Sidhha Pith - Sidhha Pith holy temple of Tara Maa.[18][13] They are believed to have originated due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth all over South Asia is linked to the 51 letters in Sanskrit. The Shakti Peethas are associated with the mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati's self immolation. These shrines are important place of worship for Tantra practitioners.[19][20]

Maa Tara and the rituals

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Maa Mundamalini at Mundamalini Temple in Tarapith
Inside the temple complex

The Tara temple in Tarapith is a medium-sized temple in the rural precincts of Bengal. Its fame as a pilgrimage centre with the deity of Tara enshrined in it.[21][22]

The temple base is thick with thick walls, built of red brick. The superstructure has covered passages with many arches raising to the pinnacle with a spire (shikara). The image of the deity is enshrined under the eaves in the sanctum. There are two Tara images in the sanctum. The stone image of Tara depicted as a mother suckling Shiva – the "primordial image" (seen in the inset of the fierce form of the image of Tara) is camouflaged by a three feet metal image, that the devotee normally seen.[23] It represents Tara in her fiery form with four arms, wearing a garland of skulls and a protruding tongue.[24] Crowned with a silver crown and with flowing hair, the outer image wrapped in a sari and decked in marigold garlands with a silver umbrella over its head.[25][26] The forehead of the metal image is adorned with red kumkum (vermilion). Priests take a speck of this kumkum and apply it on the foreheads of the devotees as a mark of Tara's blessings.[27] The devotees offer coconuts, bananas and silk saris, and unusually bottles of whisky.[28][29] The primordial image of Tara has been described as a "dramatic Hindu image of Tara's gentler aspect".[14]

Devotees at the Tarapith temple in Birbhum

The priests of the temple offer puja (worship) with great reverence, in order to reveal her motherly aspect to the devotees.[30] Their worship blends the fierce North Indian depiction of the Sati myth of the goddess with the peaceful motherly visionary form of Tara, as seen by Buddha and his disciple Vasishtha of the Tantric tradition – the Buddhist Tara form.[31] At Tarapith, though the softer motherly aspect of the fierce goddess is emphasized. The chanting of hymns or stotrams in her praise is also a part of the devotional appeal made to the goddess.[31]

The devotees take a holy bath at the sacred tank (Jivita Kunda) adjacent to the temple before entering the temple premises to offer worship and even after the worship. The waters of the tank is said to have healing powers and even restore life to the dead.[32][31]

Blood sacrifice of goats is the daily norm in the temple. Devotees who offer such goat sacrifices seek blessings from the deity.[33] They bathe the goats in the holy tank near the temple before the sacrifice. They also purify themselves by taking bath in the holy tank before offering worship to the deity. The goat is then tethered to a stake, the designated post in a sand pit, and the neck of the goat butchered with a single stroke by a special sword. A small quantity of the blood of the goat is then collected in a vessel and offered to the deity in the temple. The devotees also smear their forehead with a bit of blood from the pit, as a mark of reverence to the deity.[29][34]

Prasadam

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Tarapith is one of the few temples in India where non-veg food is served as the prasad.[35] As per the age old rituals, Tarapith had has been a Tantric temple, where goat sacrifices are performed to seek blessings of the goddess. Goat meat (mutton) and shol maach are the two most indispensable part of the bhog served.[36] On special events like Kaushiki Amavasya, Phalaharini Amavasya and Ambubachi, special bhog is served. It includes rice, fried rice, pulao, moong dal, five types of fried vegetables, five types of curries, slaughtered mutton, shol maach pora, maach bhaja, five types of sweets and payesh.[37]

Cremation ground

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Cremation ground at Tarapith

The cremation ground (maha smasan), amidst dark forest surroundings, is located on the river side at the end of town limits, away from the village life and practices of the Bengali social order. In Bengal, the cremation ground of Tarapith is also considered integral to the Shakti pith. It is believed that goddess Tara can be seen in shadows drinking blood of goats which are sacrificed every day at her altar, to satiate her anger and seek favours.[38]

Tantric practitioners believe that Tara is attracted to bones and skeletons and the cremation ground is her preferred residence. Goddess Tara's iconographic depictions show her amidst cremation grounds.[39] Tantric practitioners have, therefore, been flocking these grounds for generations for performing their Tantric sadhana (spiritual practice); many Sadhus permanently reside here.[40][41] The cremation grounds are flowed by the "dread locked ash-smeared sadhus".[42] Sadhus have built their hutments, amidst banyan trees and embellished their huts with red-painted skulls embedded into the mud walls. In addition, calendar pictures of Hindu goddesses, saints of Tarapith and a trishul (trident) decorated with marigold garlands and skulls at the entrance are a common sight in front of the huts. Human as well as animal skulls like those of jackals and vultures – which are unfit for Tantric rites – and snake skins decorate the huts. Good skulls used for tantric rituals and for drinking purpose by the Tantrics are cured before use; skulls of virgins and people who have committed suicide are said to be powerful.[41][43]

Bamakhepa

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Main article: Bamakhepa
Bamakhepa, the tantric saint of Tarapith in the 19th century

A saint, held in great reverence in Tarapith and whose shrine is also located in the vicinity of the Tara temple, was Bamakhepa (1837–1911)[40] popularly known as the "mad saint". Bama-khepa, literally means the mad ("khepa") follower of "left handed" ("Bama" or "Vama" in Sanskrit) path – the Tantric way of worship.[13] Bamakhepa, goddess Tara's ardent devotee lived near the temple and meditated in the cremation grounds.[40] He was a contemporary of another famous Bengali saint Ramakrishna. At a young age, he left his house and came under the tutelage of a saint named Kailsahpathi Baba, who lived in Tarapith. He perfected yoga and Tantric sadhana (worship), which resulted in his becoming the spiritual head of Tarapith. He also went to Devi Moulakhsi Temple at Maluti village for worship. People came to him seeking blessings or cures for their illness, in distress or just to meet him. He did not follow the set rules of the temple and, as a result, was once assaulted by temple priests for having taken food meant as an offering for the deity.Tara Ma appeared in the dream of Maharani ("Queen") of Natore- Rani Annadasundari Devi and told her to feed the saint first as he was her son.[44] After this incident, Bamakhepa was fed first in the temple before the deity and nobody obstructed him.[45] It is believed that Tara gave a vision to Bamakhepa in the cremation grounds, in her ferocious form, before taking him to her breast.[40][46]

References

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  1. ^ "Security arrangements discussed ahead of Tarapith temple festival". The Statesman. 29 August 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024. The Kaushiki Amavasya is the biggest festival of Tarapith temple and attracts lakhs of pilgrims from all over the country in the temple town.
  2. ^ Mitra, Anamika (5 June 2024). "Phalaharini Kali Puja: তারাপীঠে ফলহারিণী অমাবস্যার পুজোয় মায়ের রাজেশ্বরী বেশ, সঙ্গে থাকে বিশেষ ভোগ". Hindustan Times (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  3. ^ "অম্বুবাচীতেও খোলা তারাপীঠ মন্দির, চলছে পুজোপাঠ, জানুন এর রহস্য". Indian Express (in Bengali). 25 June 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  4. ^ a b "তারাপীঠ কেন 'মহাপীঠ' জানেন?". Ei Samay (in Bengali). 30 March 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  5. ^ Majumder, Suparna (8 October 2022). "মা তারার রাজবেশ দেখতে তারাপীঠে উপচে পড়া ভিড়, মহা ধুমধামে পালিত দেবীর আবির্ভাব দিবস". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  6. ^ আচার্য, পার্থপ্রতিম (7 January 2019). "৫১ পীঠের অবস্থান এবং কোথায় দেবীর কোন অঙ্গ পড়েছিল জানেন?". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  7. ^ "Tarapith temple bans cell phones inside". The Statesman. 19 December 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2024. Tarapith is one of the main Shaktipeeths in India.
  8. ^ "The Last Destination: Manikarnika And Tarapith". Times Now. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024. The two crematorium grounds are sacred for Hindus and it's believed that souls who get cremated here have the blessings of Lord Shiva and Maa Tara respectively.
  9. ^ মুখোপাধ্যায়, ভাস্কর (31 October 2024). "Tarapith: পঞ্চ উপাচারে মঙ্গলারতি, বিশেষ নিশি পুজো, তারাপীঠে সাড়ম্বরে তারা মায়ের পুজো". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  10. ^ Dalrymple, pp. 210-211
  11. ^ Kinsley p. 109
  12. ^ Saha, Pritam (30 May 2023). "10 Most Popular Maa Kali Temples in India". Zee News. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  13. ^ a b c "Satipeeth Tarapeeth became Siddhapeeth, the influence of Maa Tara is still alive, know the secret behind it". Prabhat Khabar (in Hindi). 13 September 2023. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c Kinsely, p. 106
  15. ^ a b Bowen, Paul, ed. (1998). Themes and issues in Hinduism. World Religions: Themes and issues. Continuum International Publishing Group. pp. 237, 239. ISBN 9780304338511.
  16. ^ Kinsley pp. 97-8
  17. ^ "বছরের শেষ দিনে তারাপীঠ মন্দিরে ভিড়, পরিস্থিতি সামলাতে বাড়তি পুলিশ মোতায়েন". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). 31 December 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  18. ^ Sen, Sayani (14 September 2023). "মাঝরাত থেকে পুজোর লাইন, কৌশিকী অমাবস্যায় তারাপীঠে ভক্তের ঢল". Sangbad Pratidin (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Kottiyoor Devaswam Temple Administration Portal". kottiyoordevaswom.com/. Kottiyoor Devaswam. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  20. ^ Roy Chowdhury, Arpita (2 September 2024). "Kaushiki Amavasya Bhog at Tarapith Temple: ভাত, লুচি, পোড়া শোলমাছ...কৌশিকী অমাবস্যায় দেবীকে কী কী ভোগ নিবেদন করা হয় তারাপীঠে, জানুন এই পুণ্যতিথিতে". News18 (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  21. ^ "Kali Puja: Devotees visit Tarapith in WB to offer prayers". ANI. 24 October 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  22. ^ "8 temples in India that are famous for their non-vegetarian Prasad". Times of India. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  23. ^ "তারাপীঠে কৌশিকী সন্ধ্যায় দ্বারকার আরতি". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). 2 September 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  24. ^ Dey, Pallabi (30 May 2022). "Tarapith: ফলের মালায় সেজে উঠলেন মা, ফলহারিণী অমাবস্যায় নিশিরাতে বিশেষ পুজো তারাপীঠে". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  25. ^ Roy Chowdhury, Arpita (12 September 2024). "Tarapith Temple Arati Rituals: তারাপীঠের মন্দিরে পঞ্চপ্রদীপের বদলে আরতি শুরু হয় ধূপকাঠি দিয়ে!". News18 (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Tarapith: পঞ্চ উপাচারে মঙ্গলারতি, বিশেষ নিশি পুজো, তারাপীঠে সাড়ম্বরে তারা মায়ের পুজো". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  27. ^ Roy Chowdhury, Arpita (29 May 2024). "Tarapith Temple Phalaharini Amavasya 2024: আসছে ফলহারিণী অমাবস্যা, তারাপীঠ মন্দিরে পুণ্যলগ্নে মহাপুজোর প্রস্তুতি তুঙ্গে". News18 (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  28. ^ Dalrymple, p. 211
  29. ^ a b Kinsely, p. 110
  30. ^ "Ambubachi 2024- Tarapith Mandir Maa Tara: অম্বুবাচীতে সব মাতৃ শক্তির মুখ ঢাকা থাকলেও খোলা থাকে তারাপীঠ, কেন জানেন?". Aaj Tak (in Bengali). 22 June 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  31. ^ a b c Kinsely, p. 109
  32. ^ Neogi, Arjun (1 September 2023). "সাপের কামড়ে মৃত পুত্র জীবিত তারাপীঠের জীবিত কুণ্ডু ঘাটে স্নান করাতেই, ইতিহাস আজও বহুল প্রচলিত". News18 (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  33. ^ Chakraborty, Snehamoy (13 September 2018). "Tarapith, one of the most famous abodes of goddess Kali in Bengal, clocked a record six lakh footfall last weekend". The Telegraph.
  34. ^ "Hindu Temples in India Where Nonveg Prasad is Distributed". Times Now. 9 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  35. ^ "8 temples in India that are famous for their non-vegetarian Prasad". Times of India. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  36. ^ Roy Chowdhury, Arpita (10 April 2024). "Tarapith Temple: তারাপীঠে মা তারার ভোগপ্রসাদে কেন দেওয়া হয় পাঁঠার মাংস ও শোল মাছ! জানুন কারণ". News18 (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  37. ^ "দীপান্বিতা অমাবস্যা অর্থাৎ কালীপুজোয় সিদ্ধপীঠ তারাপীঠে বিশেষ আরতির পাশাপাশি দেওয়া হয় বিশেষ ভোগ ৷". ETV Bharat (in Bengali). 31 October 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  38. ^ Dalrymple, p. 205
  39. ^ "ভূত চতুদর্শীর রাতে তারাপীঠে হোম-যজ্ঞ, চলে পূর্বপুরুষদের স্বর্গযাত্রার প্রার্থনা". ETV Bharat (in Bengali). 30 October 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  40. ^ a b c d Kinsely, p. 111
  41. ^ a b Dalrymple, p. 206
  42. ^ "Kaushik Amavasya: কৌশিকী অমাবস্যায় তারা মায়ের রাজবেশ, মন্দিরে ভিড় তন্ত্রসাধক-ভক্তদের". ABP Ananda (in Bengali). 14 September 2023. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  43. ^ "রামমন্দিরের উদ্বোধন উপলক্ষে যজ্ঞ তারাপীঠে". Anandabazar Patrika (in Bengali). 22 January 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  44. ^ ব্যানার্জী, প্রীতম (19 October 2022). "Bamakhepa Tarapith : তারা মা-কে নিবেদনের আগেই ভোগ খেয়ে ফেলেছিলেন বামাক্ষ্যাপা, তারপর?". Aaj Tak (in Bengali). Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  45. ^ Harding, Elizabeth U. (1998). Kali: the black goddess of Dakshineswar. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. pp. 275–279. ISBN 81-208-1450-9. Retrieved 26 June 2010.
  46. ^ Mitra, Anamika (21 July 2022). "তারাপীঠ: ছেলে-মায়ের ভালোবাসার অনন্য গল্প বামাক্ষ্যাপার তিরোধান দিবসে". Hindustan Times (in Bengali). Retrieved 10 December 2024.

Bibliography

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