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Tarapith

Tarapith, on the Dwarka river near Rampurhat, Birbhum district, West Bengal

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Tarapith
Photo: Tarunsamanta, CC BY-SA 4.0

About

Tarapith is a small temple town on the Dwarka river, about 6 km from Rampurhat in Birbhum district, West Bengal. Its temple of Maa Tara, the second of the ten Mahavidyas, is one of the holiest Devi shrines of Bengal. Many devotees and texts count Tarapith as a Shakti Peeth and a Siddha Peeth, though not every list of the 51 peeths names it. Devotees usually see a metal image of Maa Tara about three feet tall, with a silver crown, a sari and marigold garlands. Behind it is her older stone image, showing her as a mother feeding the infant Shiv. Tarapith is also loved as the place where the saint Bamakhepa lived and prayed.

The story

In the Shakti Peeth tradition, after King Daksha's yagya Shiv ji wandered in grief carrying the body of Devi Sati, and Vishnu ji's Sudarshan chakra divided it. Devotees believe that the star (tara) of Sati's eye, her third eye, fell here, which gave the place its name. Another tradition tells that the sage Vashishtha did long tapasya to Maa Tara but at first did not succeed. Following divine guidance, he came to Tarapith and chanted her mantra here with deep devotion. Maa Tara then appeared before him as a loving mother feeding Shiv, and became the stone image that is still worshipped in the temple. A second story says that when Shiv ji drank the poison from the churning of the ocean and his throat burned, Maa Tara fed him like a mother and soothed him. In the 19th century the saint Bamakhepa (1837-1911), called Maa Tara's 'mad devotee', lived and prayed here; devotees believe the Mother gave him darshan. Beside the temple, on the river bank, lies an old mahashmashan (cremation ground) that has long been a place of sadhana for sadhus, and Bamakhepa's shrine stands in the temple complex.

Visiting

October to March is the most comfortable season; Kaushiki Amavasya and Kali Puja bring very large crowds. Devotees usually bathe in the Jivit Kund beside the temple before darshan. Dress simply and modestly. Rampurhat is the nearest town and railway station, and pilgrims often also visit the Nalateshwari temple at Nalhati and Bamakhepa's ashram.

Festivals

  • Kaushiki Amavasya (Bhadrapad Amavasya), the biggest festival of Tarapith
  • Kali Puja (Kartik Amavasya, the night of Diwali)
  • Phalaharini Amavasya (Jyeshtha Amavasya)

Famous temples

Sources