Monday, November 2, 2009

Jai Baba Taraknath -Temple Festival at Tarakeswar

The Tarakeswar Temple is a famous Shiva temple of the 18th century, located near Serampore, at Tarakeswar, a terminating station on the Seoraphuli-Tarakeswar section. The greatest center of the Shaiva sect in West Bengal, the Tarakeswar Temple, Kolkata, is a well-known place of pilgrimage, and people from all over the world come here to worship the Lord Shiva, in the form of Tarakeswar.

Tarakeswar Temple is located at Tarakeswar near Kolkata in Hooghly District of West Bengal. Built in 1729 by Raja Bharamalla, it is built in typical Bengali style of architecture. Comprising two parts, the sanctum and the verandah, the temple has a shivling in the middle of the sanctum. The exterior of the temple is curved like a hut and has three spires over it. There is a tank to the north of the temple. Shabonii Mela; Mahashivaratri; Chaitra Mela is the main festival celebrated in this temple. Local trains are available from Howrah.

The Tarakeswar Temple is visited by devotees and pilgrims all through the year, though the occasions of “Shivaratri” and “Gajan”, see maximum crowds. Shivaratri takes place in Falgun, which falls between February and March, and Gajan, is a five-day event that ends on the last day of Chaitra, in mid-April. The month that sees maximum number of devotees in the Tarakeswar Temple, Kolkata, is Sravana (mid-July to mid-August), which is auspicious for Lord Shiva. Mondays also see great crowds at the Tarakeswar Temple, Kolkata.

Tarakeswar, a taluk headquarters town, is situated in Hooghly District of West Bengal. Located about 44 km from Bardhaman and 54 km from Howrah, Tarakeswar has Magra, Chautara, Balgarh and Gopdanga as neighboring towns.
One of Bengal’s most popular pilgrimage centers, Tarakeshwar Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, attracts lakhs of pilgrims from far and near places. Tarakeshwar Tourist Lodge provides accommodation facilities.

The town is connected by suburban rail services to Serampore and Howrah. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport and Kamarkundu Railway Station are the nearest airport and railway station respectively.

Jai Baba Taraknath Temple at Tarakeswar on History story

Jai Baba Taraknath Temple of Tarakeswar is one of the prominent pilgrimage centers in Bengal. Tarakeswar is located near Serampore/Sheorapully near Kolkata in West-Bengal [INDIA]. Legend has it that a devotee by name Vishnu Das emigrated with his clan from Oude (Ayodhya) and was viewed with suspicion by the locals. It is believed that he proved his innocence by holding in his hand a red hot iron bar. Later, his brother discovered a site in the nearby jungle, where cattle discharged the contents of their udders (milk) at a particular spot each day. Upon investigation, they discovered a Shivalingam. A dream is said to have revealed to them that this Shivalingam was a manifestation of Tarakeswar - Lord Shiva ... the Param Bramh... the primordial and ultimate force of the universe...the source of everything. A temple was built at this spot, and was renovated in subsequent years.