Tarapith,the ultimate place for the worshipers of Maa Tara. Tarapith is situated on the banks of the north flowing Dwarka river, in Birbhum, in West Bengal. Birbhum is a district in the western Rarh region of West Bengal. Birbhum is famous for its folk culture and the magnificent temple of Maa Tara. The temple is about 3oo miles away from Kolkata.
It was on 20th September, 2007 that my parents and I visited Tarapith. The climate at this time of the year is perfectly fine for a short weekend in East India. We left Dhanbad at about 9 o clock in the morning. The temple is about 140 kilometers from Dhanbad which took our driver not more than 4 and a half hours to cover the distance. We searched for a hotel close to the temple. There are a number of hotels at Tarapith. It may be a small town but the accommodation facilities are of no concern. Hotels were not booked as it was not the “purnima”or “amavasya”. We got the room and we rested there for half an hour. Having inquired the manager of the hotel about the crowd we decided to worship the goddess in the same evening.
We then hired a “pandit”, who would take us to the temple and help us perform our offerings. He gave us many informations about the temple which were not known to us. The temple that was built by Vasistha got buried under the earth several years ago. Tarapith as it stands today, was built by Joybroto, a merchantas, who received directions from Maa Tara in his sleep to unearth the ‘brahmashila’, or the sacred stone, to set it up as a shrine in a proper place. How wonderful must the dream have been!
Being engaged in the interesting story told by the “pandit” we reached outside the temple’s main gate. We then purchased “prasad” and flowers for offering them to Maa Tara. It was very easy to make out that the temple was built several years ago from its architecture and style. As it is known, Tara Maa of Tarapith is basically another form of Kali. Maa Tara is the consort of LORD shiva. Tarapith is a mahapit where sadhak bhama khapa acquired “Siddhi Laav”. We were then taken to the place where the idol was placaed. Maa Tara has two hands, garlanded with snakes, adorned in sacred threads, and has Shiva lying in her left lap sucking her breast. The idol was beautifully made. It had the power of make one stare at at it for least 10 mins or even more. Our “pandit” performed the basic rituals. He offered the “prasad” and flowers to the goddess.
It is said that offering Puja at this Tarapith with a holy heart and full belief on Maa Tara fulfils all your earnest desires. Maa Tara is one of the forms of super power and symbol of kindness. The adores come here to absolve themselves from the earthly bindings and deeds to get total liberation with the grace of affectionate Mother Kali who saved Lord Shiva from his burns and pains due to engulfing the poison to save the earth when she relieved the Lord Shiva’s sufferings by feeding him Her breast milk. Thus we come here to get Her motherly affection and cosmic blessings to protect ourselves from the worldly poison we are encountering at each step of our living.
In the evening there takes place an “aarti samaroh” each day. We sat at the temple as long as the aarti continued.The environment there was in its purest state. Everything seemed to be so holy and sacred there.It was pleasure sitting there. Tarapith temple remains open for the worshippers throughout the night. Some of the devotees organize special pujas at 12 mid night. People generally approach Maa Tara in order to fulfill their wishes. Some even come to thank Maa Tara for fulfilling their wishes.
We left the temple at about 9:00 P.M.then we had our dinner and went to the hotel.Next morning we took a round of the place. Before leaving Trapith we visited Maa Tara again and then left the place. The temple is really worth worshipping.