Bhabanipur, Rajshahi Division

Bhabanipur ( _bn. ভবানীপুর [http://bn.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E0%A6%AD%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A8%E0%A7%80%E0%A6%AA%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%B0_%28%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%97%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%A1%E0%A6%BC%E0%A6%BE%29] ) is a village under Sherpur upazila in Bogra of Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. It is the sacred site around Karatoyatat, one of the Shakti Peethas, a place of worship consecrated to the Goddess Ma Bhabani. It is a historic place of pilgrimage for the followers of Hinduism.

As to which part of “Sati” Ma Tara’s body fell at Bhabanipur, there is a dispute. It could be left anklet (ornament), ribs of left chest, right eye, or bedding (according to various sources).

The “Bhabanipur Temple Devolopment, Renovation, and Management Committee” supervises the temple activities.

There are arrangements to offer “Bhog” to the divine mother “Tara” (Ma Bhabani) and take “Prasad” later.

Every year, two festivals take place at the Bhabanipur Temple premises. One is on the auspicious occasion of Maghi Purnima in the Bengali month of “"Magh/Falgun"” and another is on the auspicious occasion of Ram Nabomi in the Bengali month of “"Chaitra”/”Baishak".

There is a legend saying that while once a conch-bangles dealer was passing by the side of a lonely pond in a dense jungle near the then Bhabanipur temple, a little girl with a tip of vermilion on her forehead approached him and told him that she was the daughter of the Natore Rajbari (Palace). She bought a pair of conch-bangles from him and requested him to collect the price of that bangles from the then Maharani Bhabani from a basket kept in the Rajbari at a specified place. Her appearance and polite words overwhelmed the conch-dealer. The Maharani (Queen) rushed to the place/site with her men and the conch-dealer as soon as she heard this from him. On the earnest prayer by the conch-dealer, Ma Bhabani raised from that pond showing her two wrists with the conch-bangles worn. The Maharani and the men present there were surprised, and the divinity of Mother Bhabani spread throughout this subcontinent. This is that sacred ""Shakha-Pukur" where the devotees take their holy bath when they go there.

Devotees can go to Bhabanipur from Dhaka via Jamuna Bridge and after passing Chandaikona in Sirajganj District, they can reach Ghoga Bot-tola bus stoppage on the same highway from where they can reach the Bhabanipur Temple premises by availing themselves of van or scooter. Pilgrims from the districts located to the North of Bogra can reach the Bhabanipur Temple premises by passing through Sherpur, Mirzapur and Ghoga Bot-tola (bus stoppage) of Bogra district.

External link

[http://www.geocities.com/bhabanipur Bhabanipur Temple Development, Renovation & Management Committee's Website]

[http://www.banglapedia.org/HT/S_0033.htm Banglapedia Article on Shakti-Peethas]