Sri Nandikeshwari Nandini Shakti Peeth Temple, West Bengal

Address

Sri Nandikeshwari Temple, 165, Mayurakshi Sarani, Beside Sainthia Railstation, Sainthia, West Bengal 731234

Diety

Shakti: Nandini Bhairava: Nandikeshwar Body part or ornament: Necklace

Introduction

Nandikeshwari temple is located in earlier Nandipur village, which is now a part of Sainthia town, Birbhum district, West Bengal (220 Km from Kolkata). The Sainthia town is located on the bank of river Mayurakshi. According to Hindu scripture Neck lace of Sati fell here. Goddess Shakti is worshipped here as Nandini and Lord Bhairav as Nandikeshwar. The name Sainthia is derived from ‘Sain’, a Bengali term used to refer to an Islamic priest. Sainthia is also known as ‘Nandipur’, after Nandikeshwari Temple.

Puranic Significance

The name of Goddess is derived from ‘Nandi’, the mascot and follower of Lord Shiva, and ‘Ishwari’ (Goddess), meaning ‘one who is worshiped by Nandi, the divine bull. It is believed that the NECKLACE of the Devi’s corpse fell here to form the Shakti-Peeth, when the Sudharshan Chakra of Lord Vishnu mutilated the corpse of Sati from the arms of Lord Shiva to reduce His rage. ANOTHER STORY OF SATI: In Hindu mythology, the son of Brahma, King Prajapati Daksha had a daughter named Sati. Princess Sati grew up adoring the legends and tales of Shiva, and when finally her age of getting married came, she knew it was only the ascetic Lord Shiva of Kailash where her heart and soul resided. Soon enough, Daksha’s daughter left her father’s luxuries and palace and began her meditation to win Shiva’s heart. She performed intense penance in dense forests and renounced food completely. When she finally pleased Shiva through her austerities, the lord of Kailash appeared in front of her and agreed to marry her. The legend goes that Sati and Shiva were happy in their marital bliss, but their marriage had not gone down too well with King Daksha, who considered ascetic Shiva nothing short of an uncouth lad who lives a hermit’s life not worthy of his daughter. So when Daksha organized a great yajna, he invited all the deities, gods and sages–but consciously excluded his son-in-law Shiva to insult him. Hurt by her father’s decision, Sati decided to visit her father and demand the reason for not inviting them. When she entered Daksha’s palace, she was bombarded with insults directed towards the Shiva. Haughty and proud King Prajapati Daksha called him all sorts of names right from a dishevelled god who hung out in graveyard to the supposed ‘lord of the beasts’. Unable to bear anything against her husband, a devastated Goddess Sati threw herself in the glowing scared fire of yajna. When Shiva’s attendants informed him about the demise of his wife, he grew enraged and created Veerbhadra from a lock of his hair. Veerbhadra created havoc in Daksha’s palace and killed him. Meanwhile, mourning his beloved soulmate’s death, Shiva tenderly held Sati’s body and started his dance of destruction (taandav). To save the universe and bring back Shiva’s sanity, Lord Vishnu cut Sati’s lifeless body using Sudharshan Chakra into 51 pieces.

Festivals

April – Baishakhi Purnima or the Buddha Purnima November – Kali Puja (All Amavasyas) An annual festival is held at the Nandikeswari Temple on every Autumn.