Sadhguru on a very special place in Birbhum the Nimbabasini Kali and the ancient penance place of Sage Bharadwaj. A temple beneath the aged neem, where the divine manifests as Kali, both nurturing and fierce, embodying the essence of Birbhum's spiritual heartbeat.
Mystic Journey | Birbhum | December 06, 2016
Sadhguru: Birbhum the Bir-Bhumi is one of the oldest lands on Earth. Is a mystical region in West Bengal, where history, spirituality, and folklore weave an enchanting tapestry. Known for its crimson-hued earth, Birbhum is not merely a geographical location; it’s a world of ancient rituals, hidden temples, and sacred groves where the echoes of mystic chants still linger in the air. This region is especially known for its connection to Tantra and the Shakti worship traditions.
Birbhum has long been a haven for Tantriks, mystics, and Bauls—the wandering spiritual minstrels whose songs speak of divine love and the search for the eternal. The Baul tradition, steeped in mysticism and philosophy, has flourished in Birbhum, with songs that poetically express the region's spiritual soul and its emphasis on a simple, heartfelt connection with the divine.
At the Nimbabasini Kali Temple, history whispers through leaves and shadows, reminding all who enter that faith, like nature, is timeless.
In Birbhum lies the mystical Behira Nimbabasini Kali Temple, a revered site rich with legends and traditions. Nestled in the village of Behira in Purandarpur Panchayat, this temple honours Goddess Annapurna from Kashi, worshipped here as Nimbabasini Kali. Each year, on the thirteenth day of Durga Puja, a grand celebration is held at the temple, attracting devotees from afar. Known for her unique attributes, Nimbabasini Kali is venerated in various forms during Durga Puja, embodying not only Durga but also Annapurna, Kali, and other divine manifestations. This tradition has been sustained through generations, and on this day, a vibrant fair fills the temple grounds.
Here in Behira, Kali embraces her devotees as mother and warrior, surrounded by legends and the echoes of ancient chants.
According to ancient lore, in the Dvapara Yuga, Sage Ashtavakra was transporting Goddess Annapurna from Kashi by boat, intending to establish a Shakti Peetha at Bakreshwar. However, near Behira village in Purandarpur, the boat became lodged in the meandering Bakreshwar river. At that moment, Sage Bharadwaj was engaged in penance nearby. Legend holds that at his invitation, Goddess Annapurna took the form of Kali and seated herself under a neem tree, thus manifesting as Nimbabasini Kali.
Sage Bharadwaj's Penance Place with Panchamundi Asana
Here, Sage Bharadwaj began her daily worship, a tradition upheld ever since. This temple, built in memory of Sage Bharadwaj’s revered meditation grounds, remains a place of pilgrimage where Goddess Nimbabasini has been honoured through the ages. To reach the Nimbabasini Kali Peeth, one travels by road from Bolpur through Purandarpur on the way to Suri.
Where the Dwapara legend ends, Birbhum's devotion begins—each year, as Nimbabasini awakens in celebration, the air fills with the reverence of countless generations.
Once surrounded by dense forests, the temple area remains encircled by lush greenery, preserving its serene and isolated aura. Within the temple grounds stands an expansive, stone-crafted sacrificial altar, flanked by shrines to Sage Bharadwaj and Sage Ashtavakra, each housing Shiva Lingas. The temple’s architectural style reflects traditional Bengali 'Charchala' (four-sided roof) design. At the base of an ancient neem tree resides the deity herself, Annapurna, worshipped here as Nimbabasini Kali. The one-spired temple has a single inner sanctum where the deity’s idol is installed.
Unlike typical temples where deities occupy the centre, the idol is placed in one corner of the sanctum. The four-foot clay statue of the Goddess, sculpted by local artisan Piyush Mandal, depicts her seated in a lotus posture on a stone platform. She exudes tranquillity, with an expansive third eye and elongated earlobes. The goddess wears a large, intricately crafted silver crown, created by skilled artisans from Bankura. In her upper left hand, she holds a sword; her lower left-hand grasps a severed head. She is adorned in a traditional Banarasi sari.
Unusually, no Shiva accompanies the Goddess here. It’s said she left her consort, Lord Vishwanath, in Kashi before coming to this land. Sannyasi of the Dasnami order takes care of the temple's daily care, and the Mukhopadhyay family from Ilambazar in Birbhum, descendants of Nimbabasini’s original devotees, are the hereditary caretakers. The Goddess is also their family deity.
In the stillness of the neem's shade, beneath a silver crown, the Devi Nimbabasini watches, eternal, unmoved by the passing centuries.
Daily rituals and offerings honour the Goddess, who receives a "panchabyanjan" (five-item) meal each day, consisting of dal (lentils), rice, fried items, vegetables, and fish. The temple’s sacrificial practices include goat sacrifices at the designated altar in front of the temple. Behind the temple, the historic neem tree stands, though weathered by time and nearly fallen. This sacred tree, with its origins lost in antiquity, remains a vital part of the temple’s atmosphere. Nearby, small shrines and burial sites of sages who once meditated here dot the grounds, and an ashram, a ritual kitchen, and a pond complete the temple’s extensive premises. Secluded and peaceful, the area is devoid of any nearby settlements.
This ancient sanctuary, dedicated to the memory of Sage Bharadwaj, father of Guru Dronacharya, has attracted sages and ascetics across generations, who continue to visit for meditation and sacred rituals. Beneath towering trees behind the temple, small shrines mark the resting places of those who once practised austerities here. Each year, on the thirteenth day of Durga Puja, the grand festival of the Goddess draws a large gathering of devotees to this hallowed ground.
