Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth, Bangladesh

Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth, Bangladesh

Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi located in Bhabanipur near Sherpur Town in Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. This Sakthi Peeth is situated on the banks of Karatoya River. Being one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Hindu Mythology, this temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of Hinduism.

Legends

For brief details, please refer below link;

https://hindutemples-india.blogspot.com/2019/12/bhabanipur-shaktipeeth-legends.html

History

The Bhabanipur Temple Renovation, Development and Management Committee had been successfully supervising the temple activities and Ma Bhabani's properties from 1991 up until 2010. On 13 February 2007, Combined Forces of that time (Special law enforcement forces) destroyed the Guest House which was under construction by the committee for the devotees. Because of the misapplication of a black law named Enemy Property Act or 'Debottor' or Vested Property Act, promulgated during the Pakistani period before the gain of the independence of Bangladesh on the 16^th December 1971 through a liberation war, a large portion of Ma Bhabani's properties (Most of which were donated by the Maharani of Natore) are being illegally occupied by miscreants and those properties need to be repossessed by the committee.

Besides former publicity and publication editor of the committee, Journalist Diponkar Chakrabarty was assassinated on 02/10/2004 during the regime of the BNP-Jamaat coalition government for being active and vocal for the retrieval of about 500 acres of Debottor properties belonging to Ma Bhabani and for the protection of Bhabanipur Temple, but instead of arresting and punishing his murderers, a mockery of justice has been made / is being made all along in these 14 years. The murder of Dipankar was a great loss for the Bhabanipur Temple Committee and exemplary punishment of the criminals is being demanded. Moreover, on 13/02/2007 during the regime of the caretaker government, violating a court order and assaulting the treasurer of the committee, Combined Forces illegally destroyed the Guest House which was being built for the devotees by the committee. 

The Temple Complex

The Temple complex covers an area of about four acres. The Temple complex consists of Main Sakthi Shrine, Belbaran Tala, four Shiva Shrines, Gopal Shrine, Patal Bhairava Shrine, Gopal Shrine, Basudev Shrine and Nat Mandir. The Bhabanipur Shrine is consecrated to the goddess Bhabani, a powerful form of Goddess Durga. The form of Shakti is called Arpana and the stone worshipped in the sanctum is symbolic of Goddess Sati’s left anklet. The Bhairav who protects the anklet is Vaman and is said to be a manifestation of Shiva. Sheba Angan, Shakha-Pukur (conch-bangles pond), two bathing Ghats and four minor Shiva Shrines can be found on the northern side outside the temple complex.

Festivals

Festivals celebrated in this Temple are;

·        Maghi Purnima in the Bengali month of Magh/Falgun

·        Ram Nabomi in the month of Chaitra/Baisakhi

·        Durgotshov in autumn

·        Dipannita Shyama Puja

·        Nabanna in the month of Aghrahoyon

Rituals

Pravati and Balya Bhog worship and Anna Bhog at noon, and Arati and Bhog at evening. Devotees can offer Bhog to the divine mother "Tara" (Ma Bhabani) every day and the prasad is distributed after every Bhog.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 34 Kms from Sirajganj Railway Station, 35 Kms from Bogra, 153 Kms from Dhaka Airport and 158 Kms from Dhaka. Devotees can go to Bhabanipur from Dhaka via Jamuna Bridge and after passing Chandaikona in Sirajganj District, they can reach Ghoga Bot-tola bus stoppage on the same highway from where they can reach the Bhabanipur Temple premises by availing themselves of van or scooter. Pilgrims from the districts located to the North of Bogra can reach the Bhabanipur Temple premises by passing through Sherpur, Mirzapur and Ghoga Bot-tola (bus stoppage) of Bogra District.

Location