Dahapara Kiriteshwari - Kirita Shakti Peetha

• Meditation:

Devi Kiriteshwari Temple, Dahapara, Murshidabad district, West Bengal

• Meditation:
- Devi: I meditate on Devi abiding in Dahapara as Kirita Shakti Peetha.

भुवनेशी सिद्धिरूपा किरीटस्था किरीटतः
देवता विमला नाम्नी संवर्त्तो भैरवस्तथा ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 29 (Dahapara has the Kirita Shakti Peetha where the Kirita of Devi had fallen)

• Dahapara: (Murshidabad district, West Bengal)
- The temple can be visited from Murshidabad (30 km) and Kolkata (200 km).

• Greatness:

• Dahapara is primarily a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi abides in Dahapara as a Shakti Peetha (Seat of Shakti) [Kirita Shakti Peetha] (Devi Kiriteshwari).

• Sacred Geography:

▬ River Bhagirathi flows

• Temples and Places:

Temples and Places of Devi in Dahapara:
• Kirita Shakti Peetha: The Kirita (Diadem) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Vimala and the Bhairava is called Samvarta. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Dahapara - Devi Kiriteshwari Temple (Murshidabad district, West Bengal) Dahapara Devi Kiriteshwari Temple is identified with the Kirita Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. According to history, during the time of king Akbar, a person named Bhagavan Rai became the "kanungo" (a position) of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. During that time, Kiriteshwari Devi temple was known as "Bhavanir Than". Bhagavan Rai renovated that temple during his time. After that, during the time of king Aurangazeb, Darpanarayan Rai, a descendant of Bhagavan Rai became the "kanungo" of the place. Incidentally, he settled in Murshidabad near the temple of Devi Kiriteshwari. Also, during that time, Murshidabad became the capital of Bengal. Darpanarayan Rai cleared the forested area and renovated the temple further. He also built a new temple of Devi (which was east-facing in comparison to the earlier temple which was south-facing). Apart from the new temple of Devi, Darpanarayan Rai built some Shiva temples and a temple tank known as Kalisagar. He also started a Mela (festival congregation) during every Tuesday of the month of Pausha. Kiriteshwari Devi temple was known as "Gupta Math" during the time of Darpanarayan Rai. Currently, both the old and the new temples are there. The Image of Devi in the old temple is always covered with a red Sari. In the new temple, there is no Image of Devi but Her face is painted on a vedi. The Bhairava looks like meditating Buddha (probably due to this the place was known as "Gupta Math" where sadhakas meditated). Prominent among those who performed sadhanas in this place (and awakened the place) is Ramakrishna Rai, the adopted son of Rani Bhavani. His panchamundi asana is still found here.

Temples and Places of Devi in Dahapara:

• Kirita Shakti Peetha: The Kirita (Diadem) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Vimala and the Bhairava is called Samvarta.

(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

► Dahapara - Devi Kiriteshwari Temple
(Murshidabad district, West Bengal)

Dahapara Devi Kiriteshwari Temple is identified with the Kirita Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra.

According to history, during the time of king Akbar, a person named Bhagavan Rai became the "kanungo" (a position) of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. During that time, Kiriteshwari Devi temple was known as "Bhavanir Than". Bhagavan Rai renovated that temple during his time. After that, during the time of king Aurangazeb, Darpanarayan Rai, a descendant of Bhagavan Rai became the "kanungo" of the place. Incidentally, he settled in Murshidabad near the temple of Devi Kiriteshwari. Also, during that time, Murshidabad became the capital of Bengal. Darpanarayan Rai cleared the forested area and renovated the temple further. He also built a new temple of Devi (which was east-facing in comparison to the earlier temple which was south-facing). Apart from the new temple of Devi, Darpanarayan Rai built some Shiva temples and a temple tank known as Kalisagar. He also started a Mela (festival congregation) during every Tuesday of the month of Pausha. Kiriteshwari Devi temple was known as "Gupta Math" during the time of Darpanarayan Rai. Currently, both the old and the new temples are there. The Image of Devi in the old temple is always covered with a red Sari. In the new temple, there is no Image of Devi but Her face is painted on a vedi. The Bhairava looks like meditating Buddha (probably due to this the place was known as "Gupta Math" where sadhakas meditated).

Prominent among those who performed sadhanas in this place (and awakened the place) is Ramakrishna Rai, the adopted son of Rani Bhavani. His panchamundi asana is still found here.

• Temples (Summary):

• Devi:
- Devi Kiriteshwari

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Devi in Dahapara: (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
• Dahapara Kiriteshwari is identified with the Kirita Shakti Peetha. Where the Kirita (Diadem) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Vimala and the Bhairava is called Samvarta.

• Puranic References:

• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 29 (About Dahapara Kiriteshwari)

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