Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth Temple

The Bhabanipur Shrine is consecrated to the goddess Ma Bhabani: a powerful form of Ma Durga. The form of Shakti is called Arpana and the stone that is worshipped is symbolic of Ma Sati’s left anklet. The Bhairav who protects the anklet is Vaman, and is said to be a manifestation of Shaivite energy. Alternatively called Aparna, Bhavani and Tara, this deity has several legends associated with her. Etymologically, ‘Bhavani’ means one who rules the universe, ‘Arpana’ means one who is dedicated to Lord Shiva and ‘Aparna’ refers to one who is so lost in worship that even the falling leaves go unnoticed by her. Tara Ma is said to be the most ferocious form of Durga. As there is no idol of Bhawani, a Kali idol is worshipped in this temple.

There are several legends associated with this peetha. It is said that the King of Nator and his grandson the Maharaja Ramkrishna used to meditate near this temple. The seat, the yagna kunda and the five skulls they famously worshipped are still present at the site. Another popular legend which gave Shakha Pukur – the Pond of the Conch Bangles- its present name is of this: once, a poor seller of conch bangles met a little girl near the temple who asked for some conch bangles. Charming and full of life, she asked the bangle-seller to collect the money for the bangles from the Rajbari which he agreed to do. When the queen Rani Bhavani heard about this incident, she went to the place herself, for there were no little girls in the royal family at that time. The bangle-seller realised she was none other than the goddess Bhavani and began praying to her. The goddess soon emerged from the waters of the pond with her arms full of conch bangles and blessed everyone.