Last Monday of Sravana Month - At Tarakeswar Temple

Kaustuv Sengupta

17 years ago

Categories: LifestyleWorld

Last Monday of Sravana Month – At Tarakeswar Temple

Today morning which is the last Monday of the Sravana Month, I visited the Taraknath temple at Tarakeswar and there was no inch of space to have the darshan of Lord Shiva. Thousands of people cladded with saffron colour dresses visited the temple after taking a holy dip in Dudhpukur. Most of them walk down bare footed about 40 – 50 Kms carrying water from the holy river Ganges mixed with bhang and milk in earthen pot on their shoulders to pour the same on the Shiva lingam at Taraknath Temple. It is believed Lord Shiva gives them the strength to fulfill their prayers.<o:p></o:p>
 
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Lord Shiva is the God of Yogis, self-controlled and celibate. He is also at the same time lover of his spouse Shakti. Shiva’s first wife was Sati and his second wife was Parvati, also known as Uma, Gauri, Durga, Kali and Shakti. He lives on the Mount Kailasa in the Himalayas. <o:p></o:p>
 
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Lord Shiva has many forms which are visible in his Panchavaktra form with 5 heads, a combination of all Shiva’s energies:  Aghora (resides in the cremation ground), Ishana (most often appears as a Shiva Lingam), Tat Purusha (meditating), Varna Deva (the ethernal Shiva) and Saddyojat or Buddharudra (the old wrathful form). The last also forms the connection to Rudraksha Mala – rosary made of dried fruits of the Rudraksha Tree. Shiva worshippers are among India’s most ascetic yogis, their body smeared with ashes, dressed in saffron colors and wearing a Rudraksha Mala.<o:p></o:p>
 
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Tarakeswar is a renowned place of pilgrimage and the greatest center of the Shiva Sect in West Bengal. It is about 58 Km away from Kolkata and the principal attraction is the Taraknath Temple of Lord Shiva in an atchala structure with a natmandir in front. Close by are the shrines of Kali and Lakshmi – Narayan. Dudhpukur, a tank to the north of the Shiva temple is believed to fulfil the prayers of those taking a dip in it.<o:p></o:p>
 
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Taraknath Temple dates back to the 18th Century. A devotee by the name Vishnu Das emigrated with his clan from 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 milk at a particular spot each day. Upon investigation, they discovered a Shiva Lingam. A dream is said to have revealed to them that this Shiva Lingam was a manifestation of Tarakeshwar – Lord Shiva, the Param Bramha. A temple was latter built on that spot which is now known as Taraknath Temple at Tarakeshwar.<o:p></o:p>
 
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Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year and especially on Monday, the day dedicated to Lord Shiva. But thousands of pilgrims visit Tarakeshwar on the occasion of Shivaratri and Gajan. The devout spend the entire month of Sravana (mid – July to mid – August) in austerities and worship of Shiva which culminates on the Sravana Purnima on Raksha Bandhan day. <o:p></o:p>

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