Devi Temple : Tarapith, Bengal

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It is one of the most famous Tara Temple. Situated in Birbhum

district of rural Bengal. Reputed to be a very powerful center of

Goddess worship. Like all the other Devi Temple, it is situated

adjacent to cremation ground.

 

 

 

There are two mythical story to the origin of Tarapith

 

 

 

a) Association with Sakta pithas [ seats of sakti ]

 

According to myth, Sati's third or spiritual eye fell to earth at

the

place where the temple is now located.

 

 

 

 

 

b) Association with Sage Vasistha

 

Sage Vasistha attempts to worship Tara. He did austerities for

ten thousand years, but get no results. He then went to Brahma for

help. Brahma recite to him the glory of Tara and told him further

that through Tara's power he creates the world. Brahma told

Vasistha

to recite Tara's mantra for success, as Tara is more glorious

than

the millions of sun. She is the source of light. Sage Vasistha went

to Kamakhya in Assan [ another powerful Devi's temple ] and

undertook

Tara's worship. After one thousand years, he is still

unsuccessful.

The sage becomes angry and was about to curse Tara for her

indifference, when the whole earth tremble in fear. At that point,

Tara appeared and told him that he did not understand her and

don't

know how to worship her. She further told him that she could not be

invoke through yoga and austerities. Tara instruct Vasistha to go to

China and seek Vishnu [ in a form of Buddha ] who is the only one who

knows her form of worship.

 

 

 

Sage Vasistha went to Tibet, and near the Himalayas he had a vision

of Buddha surrounded by many beautiful girls and was intoxicated with

wine. Vasistha was shocked. He refused to take part when he was

invited to join in. A voice from the sky told him that this is the

best way of worshipping Tara. Vasistha thereafter took refuge in

Vishnu/Buddha. Vishnu revealed to him the tantaric type of sadhana.

Receiving this knowledge from Vishnu, Vasistha did the ritual of the

five forbidden things and became a very powerful sadhaka. He went

back to tarapur to practice his new spiritual path. Tarapur later to

be known as Tarapith.

 

 

 

Besides the temple there is a huge tank reputed to have healing

properties : the power to restore the dead to life and to heal most

maladies. Pilgrims routinely bathe in it before and after worship of

the Goddess in the temple.

 

Om ParaShaktiye Nahama

 

 

 

Reference :

 

 

 

David Kinsley. The Ten Mahavidyas. Tantaric Visions of the Divine

Feminine. Motilal Banarsidas publishers. Delhi.