Famous Temples in India

MAHISHMARDINI SHAKTIPEETH

Bakreshwar, West Bengal, India

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Goddess

Goddess Mahishmardini is the main deity of this temple, who is an incarnation of Goddess Parvathi. Here Mahishmardini is also known as Devi Mahishasurmardini is depicted as a ten handed mother, seated on a ferocious lion, slaying Mahishasur the buffalo demon.

God

Here Lord Shiva is worshipped as Bakranath.

Interesting Facts

  • Sati devi's Portion between the eyebrows had fallen here and the temple is also one of the 51 Shakti Peethas.

Best Season To Visit

The best season to visit the temple is Winter season. The best months to visit are September to February.

Weather

Highest - April to June (24°C during day and 20°C during night)Average - May (28°C during the day and 22°C during night)Lowest - December to February (20°C during day and 16°C during night)Monsoon season - August to October

Dress Code

  • For men the dress code is Shirt & Trouser, Dhoti or Pyjamas with upper cloth.
  • For women the preferred dress code is saree or half-saree with blouse or chudidhar with pyjama and upper cloth.
  • Shorts, mini-skirts, middies, sleeveless tops, low-waist jeans and short-length T-shirts are not allowed.

Do's & Dont's

  • Do bathe and wear clean clothes before you enter the temple.
  • Do respect ancient customs and co-piligrims while at temple.
  • Smoking and drinking is prohibited in this temple.
  • Chewing betel leaves, tobacco, gutka and spitting inside temple is strictly prohibited.

transport connections

Name Distance Contact Number
Bakreshwar Bus Stop
1.2 KM 9959225467
Dubrajpur Railway Station
11.7 KM 139
Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport
51.5 KM 09933300606

Architecture

The Bakreshwar Temple is renowned for its Oriya-style of architecture. Inside the temple complex are the Mahishmardini and the Vakranath temple. The former has ancient paintings of the goddess, preserved well by the Archaeological Survey of India. On the instructions of the Supreme Lord, Vishwakarma the architect of the gods constructed a beautiful temple in honour of the sage. This temple came to be known as the Bakreshwar Shakti Peetha and abounds in legends of the sage.

Hot Springs : This place has almost eight hot springs constituting of different temperature. This is what makes people amaze coming there. The place remains filled with the devotees who visit here throughout the years from the different parts of India. The names of these eight hot springs are Soubhagya Kunda, Agni Kunda, Kheer Kunda, Vairav Kunda, Brahma Kunda, Kheer Kunda, Amrita Kunda, Surya Kunda and Jibat Kunda. Each and every hot spring has something different to check and the hottest among these eight is the Agni Kunda and it has a temperature of about 93.33°C. This hot spring is rich in various minerals like calcium, silicates, sodium that have great healing properties. Another hot spring from these is the Amrita Kunda where it is believed that women who want long life for their child needs to take bath in the Amrita Kunda.

Religious Significance

The portion between Devi Sati’s eyebrows symbolic of her mind is said to have fallen in this region when Lord Vishnu used his sudarshan chakra on her burnt corpse. A shrine was erected later and was consecrated to the worship of Shaivaite forces. This is Said to be one of the most powerful Shakti peethas, Bakreshwar (also called Vakreshwar), the idol worshipped is Devi Mahishmardini (destroyer of Mahishasur) who is protected by the Bhairav Vakranath. The Phaphra River is said to be the Remover of Sins.

There is a popular myth surrounding how the place got its present name. It is said that once two renowned munis or sages called Subrita and Lomas received an invitation to participate in the swayamvar of Goddess Lakshmi. When Rishi Lomas was received first, Rishi Subrita was ferocious with anger. An anger that ultimately ended up twisting his nerves into eight folds, which eventually earned him the name of Ashtabakra. Disfigured and disillusioned, Rishi Ashtabakra decided to perform penance for his sin sages were supposed to overcome weakening emotions like anger and proceeded to Kashi to pray to Lord Shiva. On reaching Kashi, he was informed that he would have to travel eastwards to a place called Gupt Kashi and then begin meditating. Rishi Ashtabakra did so and eventually landed in Bakreshwar where he meditated and chanted prayers in praise of Shiva for ten thousand years. Pleased by his dedication and repentance, Lord Shiva granted him the boon that Rishi Ashtabakra would be worshipped before Lord Shiva to gain Shiva’s love.

History

It is an Ancient and Historical Temple, the exact the temple was constructed remains Unknown.

Temple Timings

Day Timings
All Days 05:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tours










Airports

Airport Name Distance
Shamshabad 40 KM
Lorem Ipsum 12 KM

Railway Stations

Railway Station Name Distance
Secunderabad 10 KM
Nampally 12 KM
Begumpet 6 KM
Lingampally 20 KM

Bus Stations

Bus Station Name Distance
MGBS 35 KM
CBS 28 KM
kukatpally 20 KM
Lingampally 30 KM
Uppal 35 KM

Private Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Private Transport 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757
Private Transport1 8 KM 9546858757

Local Transports

Transport Name Distance Contact Number
Local Transport 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757
Local Transport1 5 KM 9546858757

Nearest Temples

NANDIKESHWARI TEMPLE
 Sainthia, Birbhum, West Bengal, India

Sati devi's Neck bone had fallen here

Distance: 37.8 KM

Nearest Attractions

Dam BAKRESHWAR DAM
  Bhonra, Birbhum, West Bengal, India

The Bakreshwar river is a tributary of the mayurakshi River

Distance:9.9 KM
Wildlife BALLAVPUR WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
  Bolpur, Birbhum, West Bengal, India

It is famous largest park of the species in the state

Distance:56.1 KM

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MAHISHMARDINI SHAKTIPEETH

Bakreshwar, West Bengal, India

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