Bipodtarini Devi Temple

Bipodtarini Devi Temple-Kolkata

Bipodtarini Devi Temple also known as
Bipad Tarini Chandi Bari Temple is located at Rajpur in Kolkata.Closely associated with goddess Sankattarani and considered as one of the 108 Avatars of the goddess Durga, Bipadtarini is prayed to for help in overcoming troubles.
Her legends established her name, Bipada–Tarini, which literally means deliverer from troubles.

Legend

The legend is set in Vishnupur or Bishnupur (in the present West Bengal), the seat of the Mallabhum kingdom from 7th century AD to 19th century during the period of Malla kings who belonged to Bagdi caste (Barga Kshatriya). The queen had a friend belonging to Mochi caste who ate beef. The queen was horrified to learn this, out of curiosity the queen wanted to see the meat. One day, the queen asked her friend to show it to her. The girl initially refused, fearing the wrath of the pious Hindu king, however later she complied with the queen’s request. However, the queen got betrayed and the furious king rushed to kill her. The queen hid the meat in her clothes and prayed to goddess Durga for help. Subsequently when the king tore her clothes to find what was hidden beneath them, all he could find there was a red jaba flower (hibiscus). Even today the goddess’s puja remains part of women’s rites and is performed for the goddess’ intervention during a family crisis.

Bipadtarini is also prayed as “cure deity”.The annual Bipadtarini-Puja is an important event in the religious calendar of most temples in this region.The celebration goes on for four days. The first day is the aradhana (“worship”) of the goddess, followed by two nights of celebrations which include performances of traditional Bengali folk songs, bhajans and kirtans by artists from Bolpur (Shantiniketan) and the Birbhum district. On the fourth day the traditional visarjan or immersion of the goddess in water is performed.