Maa Tara Guru Graha Shanti Yagya - Tarapith Mandir

Tarapith is a Temple Town near Rampurhat in Birbhum District of West Bengal, famous for the temple of Tara Ma (তারা মা) - The Tarapith Mandir and ‘Sadhan Pith’ of Sadhak Bamakhyapa. Tarapith is also known for its Maha Smashan - the Hindu cremation grounds (where tantric rituals are performed). Tarapith derives its name from its association as the most important center of worship for the Hindu goddess Ma Tara (one of the rupas of Sati and Kali). Tarapith is also famous for Sadhak Bamakhepa, known as the avadhuta or "mad saint", who worshipped in the temple and resided in the cremation grounds. Tarapith is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peeths of India where Devi Sati’s eyeball is said to have fallen. History of Shakti Pithas & Tarapith Mandir: According to Hindu mythology, Sati Devi, Lord Shiva's bride, felt insulted when her father Daksha Maharaj deliberately did not invite Shiva to the great yajña "fire worship rite" he organised. Despite Shiva's refusal citing that they're not invited, when Sati however arrived at the scene, Daksha insulted Shiva by saying cuss words for him in front of all the attendants. Unable to bear this humiliation, Sati jumped into the Yagna fire and gave up her life. Lord Shiva, enraged by this occurrence, initiated the Tandava Nritya (Dance of Destruction). Lord Vishnu utilised his Sudershan chakra to cut Sati's body into multiple parts to pacify LordShiva, and thus avoided the annihilation of all creation. Sati's body parts fell all over the Indian subcontinent (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Tibet). There are 51 such holy temples which are called Shakti Piths. In West Bengal, there are about 15 shakti Peeths of which Tarapith, Kalighat & Bakreshwar are few famous ones. Sati’s third eye is said to have fallen at Tarapith. The eyeball is known as 'Tara' in Bengali, which is why the village's name was changed from Chandipur to present Tarapith. It is reported that Saint Bashistha (Vasistha) acquired divinity while meditating under a Simul tree on the banks of the river Dwaraka in ancient times. He acquired divinity by worshipping the Goddess Sati or Tara (in the guise of Kali) and sitting on tha panch mundi ashan, or the sitting area surrounded by five skulls of various animals, including a human, an owl, an elephant, a black snake, and a monkey. That Simul tree is no longer there, and the Dwaraka River has gone on. Following that, numerous saints, like Saint Bamakhyapa (19th century devotee) and Kamalakanta (18th century devotee, who penned many hymns that are still sung), came here to adore the Goddess for spiritual redemption. The architecture of the Tarapith Temple, Birbhum The original Tara temple has been somewhat damaged. The current Tarapith Temple was built in 1225 by one Jagannath Ray of Mallarpur village. The figure of Goddess Durga and her entire family is etched on the temple's main gate; the Kurukshetra conflict (Mahabharata) is represented on the left, while Ramayana episodes are depicted on the right. The temple has got eight roofs. The temple base is thick with thick walls, built of red brick. The superstructure has covered passages with many arches rising 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 inside the Mandir. 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 sees. It represents Tara in her fiery form with four arms, wearing a garland of skulls and a protruding tongue. 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. The forehead of the metal image is adorned with Red Kumkum (vermilion). Which part of Sati fell in Tarapith? According to Hindu Legends, it is said that the eyeball (meaning ‘tara’ in Bengali) of Sati Devi had fallen at Tarapith. That is why the village's name was also changed from Chandipur to present Tarapith. Is Tarapith a Shakti Peeth? Yes, it is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths located in South Asia and one of the 15 Shakti Peeths located in West Bengal Who is Bamakhyapa? Bamakhepa (1837–1911) was a tantrik saint, held in great reverence in Tarapith,whose shrine is also located close to the Tarapith Mandir. His name ‘Bama-khepa’, literally means the mad ("khepa") follower of "left handed" ("Bama" or "Vama" in Sanskrit) path – the Tantric way of worship. Bamakhyapa, goddess Tara's ardent devotee lived near the temple and meditated in the cremation grounds (Maha Shamshan). 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. Are Tarapith and Kalighat same? Tarapith is located at Rampurhat in Birbhum District (at a distance of around 264 km from Kolkata) and Kalighat and Dakshineswar are located in Kolkata. Kalighat & Tarapith Mandir both are Shakti Peeths. According to legends, Sati’s third eye is said to have fallen at Tarapith while Sati’s Right Toe had fallen at Kalighat. Tarapith, Kali ghat, Dakshineswar : All three temples are dedicated to the Kali Maa. Though Tarapith is dedicated to Maa Tara specifically (one of the avatars of Sati Devi). Why is Tara Maa’s face red in colour? The goddess sits majestically wearing a saree and a silver crown, and red vermilion in the parting of her raven hair. The foreheads of devotees are anointed with her vermilion by the temple priests as a mark of blessings. What is the Prasad at Tarapith Mandir? Bananas, coconuts, sweets, sarees and even liquor is offered to the goddess. Goat sacrifices are a daily custom in the temple premises and the blood of the animal is offered to Maa Tara Where is Tarapith Located? Tarapith is a village of Sahapur Gram Panchayat, Tarapith Police Station located on the banks of the Dwarka River in West Bengal .The town is located 6 km from Rampurhat Sub-Division in the Birbhum district. "Rampurhat '' is the nearest Railway station.