TRISTROTA SHAKTI PEETH, WEST BENGAL

Tristrota Shakti Peeth is located on the banks of Tista River in Shalbari village of Falakata in Jalpaiguri district in West Bengal. Here the idol of Maa Sati is called as Goddess Bhramari / Bumblebee and the lord Shiva is worshipped as Ishwar (form of Lord Shiva).

History and Significance

History to this place dates back in the time when it is said that the thumb of her left leg of Maa Sati fell to this place, when lord Vishnu in order to relieve lord Shiva from grief of losing his wife Sati, used his ‘Sudarshan Chakra’ to incise maa Sati Body. Then, at the place of fall of thumb of her left leg, this temple was constructed.

There is a famous story behind this Shakti Peeth. It is said that once a very cruel demon called as Arunasura used to live in the world. His power grew so much that he started fighting devas in heaven and forced to leave the heaven. He did not even spared the families of the devas. After suffering from so much pain and agony, the wives of devas could bear more trauma, a

nd in search of respite they came to Maa Bhramari. It is said that Maa Sati turned herself into numerous bees and protect the wives of devas, also the bees attached the Demon and killed him. From the day, the name of Maa Sati is named as ‘Maa Bhramari’.

As known in Hinduism, Goddess Bhramari’s central heart ‘chakra’, possessing 12 petals, builds the antibodies to guard humans from disease and from external attacks of negativities like bacteria or virus.

Temple Festivals

Navaratri is celebrated in Ashwija masa (Sep- Oct). Special pujas and Yagnas are held during Navaratri. Another festival known as “Kumbham” is celebrated in Chaitra (Mar- April) every year. Some of the other festivals celebrated are Makara Sankranti, Sharad Poornima, Deepavali, Somvati Amavasya and Ram Navami.