Interviewer: Greetings, Gurudev.
Gurudev: Greetings, my son.
Interviewer: Gurudev, Bipottarini Maa's Puja is approaching. We've heard about the ritual story (Broto Kotha) mothers read during this puja. We would like to hear about the history of this puja and the story behind it from you today.
Gurudev: The Bipottarini Chandi Bari was built right before our eyes. It was established by Baba Dulal, with whom we were very well-acquainted. Many people used to visit him. As the name "Bipottarini" suggests—She is the one who rescues us from all dangers. Since every household faces some kind of trouble, Baba Dulal established this temple and consecrated the Mother. We saw it happen; it wasn't that long ago. It's just a five-minute walk from our crematorium. It used to be different then; as temples grow larger, their grandeur increases.
Gurudev: One notable thing is that there are no Brahmin priests there; the puja is performed by non-Brahmins. Since it follows the Kamakhya Tantra tradition, no Brahmins are involved. This puja usually falls on a Saturday or Tuesday in the Bengali month of Asharh. Thousands of women come to offer puja, and the crowds are immense. The police have to step in to control the traffic. People from Kolkata and all over the world come to Rajpur to offer their prayers.
Gurudev: As for the rituals, there is a tradition of offering 13 different types of whole fruits to the Mother. This is a local custom. Women fast all day, listen to the Broto Kotha (the sacred legend), and only then do they break their fast. That is the ritual.
Gurudev: I'm not sure what will happen this year due to the pandemic, as the last two years were also affected. But normally, it's a massive event. I've seen Bipottarini temples being established elsewhere too, even in Puri. When I was in Puri, someone asked me to visit a new Bipottarini temple there, but I told them I already have one right in front of my house!
Gurudev: The main ritual involves a red thread with 13 knots and Durba grass, which is tied around the arm as a protective charm. Both men and women wear it after the puja. The idol itself is modeled after Maa Kamakhya, following the Tantric tradition.
Gurudev: Now, regarding the Broto Kotha—the story isn't very long, but it's significant because people believe it helps them overcome dangers. The legend says there was a King in Vidarbha. The Queen had a close friend who belonged to the cobbler community. The Queen performed Bipottarini Puja every day, though the King didn't pay much mind to it. One day, the Queen asked her cobbler friend, "You eat beef; could you bring me some so I can see what it's like?" The friend agreed and brought some beef to the Queen.
Gurudev: The Queen hid the meat under her bed, but the servants noticed it. They went and informed the King that beef had entered the palace. The King was furious. Realizing the trouble she was in, the Queen began to pray fervently to Maa Bipottarini. The Mother, pleased with her devotion, told her not to worry and that the meat would turn into flowers.
Gurudev: When the King arrived and demanded to see what was in the bowl, the Queen showed it to him. To everyone's surprise, it was full of flowers. The King then rebuked the servant who had misinformed him. This is how the tradition of the Bipottarini ritual began.
Interviewer: Gurudev, you mentioned Baba Dulal. Right next to this crematorium is Baba Dulal's "Sadhon Khetro" (place of meditation).
Gurudev: No, that's not exactly Baba Dulal's original meditation spot. There's a history there. In Changripota (Subhasgram), there was a prominent lawyer or barrister whose mother had passed away. When they brought her to the old crematorium by the river—the location has shifted since then—she suddenly came back to life on the funeral pyre! According to the customs of that time, she couldn't be taken back home. Since they were wealthy, they built a house for her there with servants to look after her. This is recorded on a white marble plaque there. After she passed away, Baba Dulal and his followers requested the family to let them use the abandoned house for the temple. It contains some Tantric elements like skulls and bones. They perform pujas there once a year during Shivaratri and Kali Puja. Baba Dulal's name is associated with it now, but we never actually saw him meditating at the crematorium. Much of that was just publicity.
Gurudev: His brother, Bolai Das, was a well-known gynecologist. I knew him well. Baba Dulal did stay in that room and meditated on the Mother there. There were some allegations against him later on regarding counterfeit money and such, but we don't need to get into those unpleasant details.
Interviewer: You mentioned the Kamakhya Mantra. Could you share it for those who cannot visit the temple due to COVID?
Gurudev: No, that mantra cannot be spoken openly. It is a very long and sacred mantra found in the Chandi book. It is based on the Shiv-Durga tradition.
Interviewer: For those who will be performing the puja at home this year because the temples might be closed, how should they do it?
Gurudev: Strictly speaking, Bipottarini Puja shouldn't be done at home because it is based on Tantric rituals. However, many people keep a photo and observe the fast. They follow the same simple tradition: fasting, offering 13 fruits, and tying the 13-knot red thread in the Mother's name.
Gurudev: Even at our home, we have Maa Johura Kali, and many people who can't make it to the Rajpur temple come to our house to offer their prayers or participate in the Anjali. As I said, it's a non-Brahmin tradition.
Gurudev: The Rajpur puja is so famous that the roads get completely blocked with devotees, and traffic has to be diverted. It's a sight to behold.
Interviewer: Thank you, Gurudev, for sharing all this information. Pronam.
Gurudev: Bless you, my son.