Jogadya Temple, Kshirgram, West Bengal

Jogadya Temple, Kshirgram, West Bengal

Jogadya Temple is a Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi located in Kshirgram (Khirogram) Village in Mongalkote CD block in Katwa sub division of Purba Bardhaman district in the Indian state of West Bengal. The Temple is believed to be one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. Being one of the 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/2020/03/jogadya-temple-kshirgram-legends.html

The Temple

This Sakthi Peetha consists of an old temple, new temple and Shiva (Bhairava) Temple.

Old Temple:

This Brick Temple is situated in the middle of the village. It is believed to be built in the 11^th Century A.D. The Temple is enclosed within a compound wall. Locals calls this Temple as Maa-er Baari. The Temple consists Nat Mandir, Bhog Ghar, Bhander Ghar and Sanctum. There was no idol of Jogadya, not even picture of Goddess in the sanctum. It is said that, infamous Muslim General Kalapahar destroyed this Temple. The Temple was restored by Kritichand in 1760 A.D.

It is believed that the deity remains submerged under the Kshirdighi, a nearby pond by the shrine. On every Baisakhi Sankranti she comes out of the water and stay overnight inside the temple Garbha Griha. After accepting the yajnas and the special puja, She again gets back to the water of the Kshirdighi.

New Temple:

This Temple was constructed in 2005 in the middle of a Pond called Kshirdighi. The Temple was constructed with white marbles. The idol of Jogadya is kept underwater in this temple. An ancient idol of Jogadya was found during an excavation in Kshirdighi Pond. Another small temple had been built in 31^st December 2011 to house this newly found ancient idol.

The Temple was made of red stones. The Temple consists of Nat Mandir, Bhog Ghar, Bhandar Ghar and guest house for the devotees. Both the idols are made of Kashti Stones and looks like the idol of Goddess Durga. The newer idol was made by Nabin Bhaskar around 180 years ago. The older idol is found to be around 600 yrs old.

It is said that earlier there was no idol of the goddess at Kshirgram but both the puja and the fair were there. The goddess in an Ugra Chandi form appeared in a dream to Hari Dutta, the king of Kshirgram and he got a stone image of the ten-armed Singhabahini goddess made and established it. The goddess is worshipped by the Ugra Kshatriyas in places other than Kshirgram, a day earlier.

Kshirdighi:

Kshirdighi covers an area of about 13 acres. There are lot of large fishes in the pond. The Dighi is surrounded with a beautiful garden.

Kshireswar Temple:

Kshireswar is the Bhairava associated with this Sakthi Peetha. This ancient Temple is situated at about 30 feet high. It is believed that infamous Muslim General Kalapahar destroyed this Temple also. The temple of Kshireswar is a little away from Kshirdighi.

Festivals

Goddess Jogadya is worshipped at Kshirgram on Vaisakha Sankranti and a big fair is organised.

Connectivity

The Temple is located at about 4 Kms from Kaichar Railway Station, 23 Kms from Katwa, 45 Kms from Bardhaman, 133 Kms from Kolkata and 133 Kms from Kolkata Airport. Kshirgram can be reached by bus from Katwa & Burdwan.

Location | Photos