Tamluk Bargabhima - Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha

• Meditation:

कपालिनी भीमरूपा वामगुल्फो विभाषके ।
भैरवश्च महादेव सर्वानन्दः शुभप्रदः ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 42 (Tamluk has the Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha where the Vama Gulpha of Devi had fallen)

Devi Bargabhima Temple, Tamluk, Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal

► Devi: I meditate on Devi Bargabhima abiding in Tamluk as the Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha.

• Stotra: Shakti Peetha Stotram (Tamluk has the Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha where the Vama Gulpha of Devi had fallen)
(Purba Medinipur district, West Bengal)

• Greatness:

• Tamluk is primarily a Devi Sthalam (Pilgrimage of Devi):
- Devi abides in Tamluk as a Shakti Peetha (Seat of Shakti) [Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha] (Devi Bargabhima).

• Sacred Geography:

▬ River Rupnarayan flows

• Puranic Events:

1. Presence of Devi in Tamluk: (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
• Tamluk Bargabhima is identified with the Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha. Where the Vama Gulpha (Left Ankle) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Kapalini and the Bhairava is called Mahadeva.

• Temples (Summary):

• Devi:
- Devi Bargabhima

• Places to See (Puranic Places mapping):

Presence of Devi in Tamluk:
• Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha: The Vama Gulpha (Left Ankle) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Kapalini and the Bhairava is called Mahadeva. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Tamluk - Devi Bargabhima Temple (East Medinipur district, West Bengal) Tamluk Devi Bargabhima Temple is identified with the Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra. Tamluk was known as Tamralipta in ancient times and this name is mentioned in many ancient texts. The center of attraction of Tamluk is the temple of Devi Bargabhima. According to legend, a fisherman used to supply live shol fish (snakehead fish) everyday to king Garuddhwaja of Mayura dynasty. One day the fisherman could not get any shol fish. The king in anger imprisoned him and gave the order of execution. The fisherman somehow escaped inside the forest and started crying. Seeing his sorrow, Bhima Devi came in the guise of a woman and showed him a well whose waters could resuscitate dead fish. She told the fisherman to catch large number of fish when available and keep stock. Then resuscitate the dead fish from the stock and keep sending them to the king. The fisherman thus continued to supply fish to the king once again. One day the king became suspicious as to how the fisherman could supply him live Shol fish whenever required. He enquired the fisherman who had to reveal the well to the king. Devi Bhima assumed the form of a stone Image near the well. The king made a temple of Bhima Devi near the well with that Image. According to another legend, during the time of king Tamraddhwaja, the son of Mayurddhwaja of Mayura dynasty, a fisherwomen used to supply live Shol fish to the palace. One day while bringing the fish they started dying. The fisherwoman took waters from a kunda (pool) and sprinkled on the fish to keep them fresh. Alas, the dead fish became alive with the waters of that kunda. The fisherwoman informed this miracle to the king. The king found the Image of Devi from the kunda. He consulted pandits who said that this is the sacred place of Bhima Devi or Barga Bhima. The king built a temple there. Shol fish is offered as bhog to the Devi still today. According to a third legend, a merchant who was going along river Rupnarayan (on whose bank Tamluk is situated) discovered a waterfall here through a local people, whose waters could turn brass items into gold. The merchant became very rich through this discovery and built the temple of Bhima Devi. River Rupnarayan flows near this temple. According to ancient texts, the temple had a place known as Kapalmochan Teertha. This is associated with the legend of Lord Shiva getting freed from the kapala (skull) of Daksha getting stuck to his hand while killing Daksha during Daksha Yagna. The form of Devi Bargabhima is terrible. It is said that once river Rupnarayan was flooding Tamluk, but after coming near the temple, the river became still. Also, the muslim army chief Kalapahar, who used to destroy Hindu temples could not destroy the temple of Devi Bargabhima. Seeing the Image of the Devi he was enchanted and declared that the Devi is jagrata (has a living presence). The temple is situated on a raised ground with 22 steps. The temple has four parts: Deul (where Devi is situated), Jagmohan, Natmandir and Yagna Mandap. The Bhairava is situated near the stairs of the temple and is popularly known as Bhootnath. There is a Kelikadamba tree near the temple where women take vow to get progeny. River Rupnarayan flows near the temple.

Presence of Devi in Tamluk:

Devi Bargabhima, Tamluk, East Medinipur district, West Bengal

• Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha: The Vama Gulpha (Left Ankle) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Kapalini and the Bhairava is called Mahadeva.

(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

► Tamluk - Devi Bargabhima Temple
(East Medinipur district, West Bengal)

Tamluk Devi Bargabhima Temple is identified with the Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra.

Tamluk was known as Tamralipta in ancient times and this name is mentioned in many ancient texts. The center of attraction of Tamluk is the temple of Devi Bargabhima.

According to legend, a fisherman used to supply live shol fish (snakehead fish) everyday to king Garuddhwaja of Mayura dynasty. One day the fisherman could not get any shol fish. The king in anger imprisoned him and gave the order of execution. The fisherman somehow escaped inside the forest and started crying. Seeing his sorrow, Bhima Devi came in the guise of a woman and showed him a well whose waters could resuscitate dead fish. She told the fisherman to catch large number of fish when available and keep stock. Then resuscitate the dead fish from the stock and keep sending them to the king. The fisherman thus continued to supply fish to the king once again. One day the king became suspicious as to how the fisherman could supply him live Shol fish whenever required. He enquired the fisherman who had to reveal the well to the king. Devi Bhima assumed the form of a stone Image near the well. The king made a temple of Bhima Devi near the well with that Image.

According to another legend, during the time of king Tamraddhwaja, the son of Mayurddhwaja of Mayura dynasty, a fisherwomen used to supply live Shol fish to the palace. One day while bringing the fish they started dying. The fisherwoman took waters from a kunda (pool) and sprinkled on the fish to keep them fresh. Alas, the dead fish became alive with the waters of that kunda. The fisherwoman informed this miracle to the king. The king found the Image of Devi from the kunda. He consulted pandits who said that this is the sacred place of Bhima Devi or Barga Bhima. The king built a temple there.

Shol fish is offered as bhog to the Devi still today.

According to a third legend, a merchant who was going along river Rupnarayan (on whose bank Tamluk is situated) discovered a waterfall here through a local people, whose waters could turn brass items into gold. The merchant became very rich through this discovery and built the temple of Bhima Devi. River Rupnarayan flows near this temple.

According to ancient texts, the temple had a place known as Kapalmochan Teertha. This is associated with the legend of Lord Shiva getting freed from the kapala (skull) of Daksha getting stuck to his hand while killing Daksha during Daksha Yagna.

The form of Devi Bargabhima is terrible. It is said that once river Rupnarayan was flooding Tamluk, but after coming near the temple, the river became still. Also, the muslim army chief Kalapahar, who used to destroy Hindu temples could not destroy the temple of Devi Bargabhima. Seeing the Image of the Devi he was enchanted and declared that the Devi is jagrata (has a living presence).

The temple is situated on a raised ground with 22 steps. The temple has four parts: Deul (where Devi is situated), Jagmohan, Natmandir and Yagna Mandap. The Bhairava is situated near the stairs of the temple and is popularly known as Bhootnath. There is a Kelikadamba tree near the temple where women take vow to get progeny. River Rupnarayan flows near the temple.

• Puranic References:

• Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 42 (About Vibhashaka Shakti Peetha)

• Location:

Tamluk Devi Bargabhima Kali Temple is located in Tamluk, in the East Medinipur district of West Bengal. The temple can be visited from Kolkata (85 km) and Haldia (36 km).

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