Narrator:
Bargabhima, or Bhimrupa Mata, is the presiding deity of the legendary Tamralipta region of Bengal. She is a manifestation of Goddess Kali, and some also identify her as Ugratara. The temple is situated in the heart of the historic port city of Tamluk (ancient Tamralipta) in West Bengal. It is believed that this temple was established even before the legendary Tamralipta region was formally founded. Bargabhima is one of India's most spiritually active and prominent Shakti Peethas. According to the Peeth Nirnayak scriptures, it is considered the first of the 51 Shakti Peethas.
Narrator:
Regarding the history of the Bargabhima temple, historians believe that the structure was originally a Buddhist monastery. With the resurgence of Hinduism in Eastern India, it was converted into a Hindu temple under the patronage of Shakti worshippers. In its current form, the temple was built during the reign of King Vallal Sen of the Sena dynasty.
Narrator:
According to mythology, when Lord Shiva (Mahadev) killed Daksha (the son of Brahma) to avenge the insult to Sati, he incurred the sin of killing a Brahmin. As a result, Daksha's severed head became stuck to Shiva's hand. Distraught, Shiva began a frantic dance (Tandava) and eventually sought help from Lord Vishnu. Vishnu advised him that there was a sacred place where one could be instantly freed from all sins. Upon hearing this, Shiva came to Tamralipta. When he bathed in the sacred waters between the Bargabhima and Vishnu-Narayan temples, Daksha's head finally separated from his hand.
Devotee:
We have arrived at the Bhogghar (kitchen and dining area) of the Bargabhima temple. I would like to know how many devotees are served Prasad (consecrated food) here and what is typically offered to the Mother.
Temple Representative:
The number of devotees depends on the day. On holidays and weekends, the temple is very crowded; we often serve 700, 800, or even 1,000 people. On regular weekdays, the number is slightly lower.
Temple Representative:
As for the offerings, the daily meal usually consists of rice, at least two types of vegetable dishes, a Ghonto or Sukto (traditional Bengali vegetable stews), dal, fish curry, chutney, and Payesh (rice pudding). The most essential and mandatory offering for the Mother is Shol Macher Tok (a sour fish curry made with Shol fish); it is served every single day. On special occasions and festival days, the offerings are even more elaborate, including four or five types of vegetable dishes, several varieties of fish, khichuri, fried rice, and seven or eight types of sweets and yogurt.
Devotee:
Friends, we are now standing before the massive sacrificial altar (Yajna-vedi) of the temple. Here, the Saptashati sacrifice is performed. We have Ayan Babu with us from the temple administration to tell us more about this.
Ayan Babu:
Every year, on the occasion of Kartayani Chaturdashi, the temple's annual festival is held. During this time, the Saptashati Mahayagna is performed. All 700 verses of the Devi Mahatmyam (Chandi) are recited, and offerings are made into this fire. As you can see, the ashes from this year's sacrifice are still present.
Ayan Babu:
This ritual requires about 500 to 600 kilograms of wood and nearly 150 to 200 kilograms of ghee. Most remarkably, the fire for this sacrifice is not lit with matches. It is ignited using the rays of the sun focused through a magnifying glass (burning glass). This Saptashati Mahayagna is considered equivalent in merit to the ancient Ashvamedha Yagna.
Devotee:
And what is this tree?
Temple Representative:
This is the Keli-Kadamba tree (also known as the Tatkolke tree). Since ancient times, we have seen that people—particularly women seeking children—tie a red thread to this tree after taking a dip in the temple's sacred pond. They make a wish to the Mother, and in almost 100% of cases, we have seen their wishes fulfilled. They then return to offer their gratitude and worship to the Mother.
Narrator:
According to another legend from the Mahabharata era, King Tamradhwaj heard a supernatural story from a fisherman's wife. She claimed that every day, she would bring dead fish from several miles away and dip them into a pond inside the forest temple. The fish would miraculously come back to life, and she would then take the fresh fish to the royal palace. Intrigued, King Tamradhwaj followed her into the forest to the temple. It was there that he established the stone deity of the Goddess.