Sadhguru narrated Bengal's different temples and their history. This is on Magadheswari Kali at Birbhum. A unique idol of Devi.
Mystic Journey | Birbhum | September 26, 2023
Sadhguru: There are hidden spiritual gems in Birbhum. One of them is Magadheswari Kali. An ancient Kali shrine with a rich historical legacy. This temple resides in the remote village of Birsinghapur, nestled close to Bhandirban Dham within the Khantanga Panchayat of Siuri Block 1. The village of Birsinghapur, named after the ruler King Bir Singh, houses a striking Kali temple dating back approximately 850 years. The stone deity, fierce in expression and revered in form, has stood for centuries, holding profound significance to the village and its people.
Legend tells us that King Bir Singh not only established his capital here but also inaugurated this shrine to honour Goddess Kali as his presiding deity. Although the remnants of his rule have mostly vanished with time, the goddess’s idol remains, embodying both history and divinity. A new temple has since been constructed adjacent to the ruins of the ancient one, ensuring that the goddess and her legacy continue to receive homage from devotees.
The story of Birsinghapur's Goddess Kali is interwoven with tales of her six divine sisters, each with her own unique narrative, with Magadheshwari Kali revered as the eldest sister. According to local lore, she was initially worshipped in Rajnagar, but owing to the incessant invasions by Pathan forces, she relocated her sacred presence to the secluded village of Birsinghapur. This move from Rajnagar to Birsinghapur marked a new chapter, one that reflected both resilience and divine intervention.
In ancient times, the village was inhabited by skilled weavers who lived around the temple. They wove cloth throughout the night, and the repetitive clacking sound of their looms filled the quiet hours. This sound, though merely part of their trade, was believed to disturb the goddess, unsettling her divine peace. As the story goes, the deity appeared to the weavers in a dream, instructing them to relocate from the area. Obedient to the divine message, the weavers departed from Birsinghapur, abandoning their looms and leaving the village enveloped in a newfound quietude befitting a place of worship.
Birsinghapur, a village steeped in history and folklore, carries the weight of its past in both the physical and the spiritual realms. Once the capital of King Bir Singh in the twelfth century, its temple grounds still retain faint traces of the old capital’s ruins, reminiscent of a bygone era. Devotees and villagers alike revere the Magadheshwari Kali, the same deity who was King Bir Singh’s chosen goddess. Some believe that she has been worshipped here for more than six centuries, her spiritual presence woven deeply into the village's heritage.
A curious tradition links King Bir Singh to the ancient Magadh dynasty, with local lore claiming him as a descendant of Magadharaj Jarasandha. The king is said to have ventured from his homeland in Magadha to Bengal in search of fortune and established his kingdom here, in what would eventually become Birsinghapur. The village, however, did not bear this name until later, as it gradually acquired its identity alongside the reverence for the powerful goddess that still defines it today.
The tales surrounding Birsinghapur’s Kali, her divine sisters, and the village itself are passed down through generations, capturing the enduring essence of devotion, heritage, and mysticism that permeates this ancient land.
When King Bir Singh ventured into Bengal, he brought with him not only his ambitions for establishing a prosperous kingdom but also his family's deeply cherished deity, Goddess Kali, regarded as the supreme protector and divine force of his lineage. Recognizing the spiritual significance of her presence, King Bir Singh consecrated her with utmost devotion, constructing a temple where her idol could be worshipped daily. The temple became the focal point of his kingdom, where meticulous rituals and offerings were performed to honour her, and grand celebrations marked the annual festivals. These events drew his subjects together, fostering a sense of unity under the goddess’s divine blessings.
However, in 1226, Ghiyasuddin Balban, the Subedar of Bengal, set his sights on Birsinghapur, launching a formidable attack that culminated in a decisive battle. Despite his valour, King Bir Singh was defeated, and his tragic death led to the fall of Birsinghapur’s royal regime. Faced with this loss, his descendants moved the capital to Rajnagar, taking the revered idol of Goddess Kali with them to preserve her sanctity. There, on the northern bank of the Kalidah pond, they built a grand south-facing temple in her honour. The new temple in Rajnagar reflected the family’s reverence for their deity, symbolizing their undying devotion amidst the turbulence of war and loss.
Yet, fate had different plans. In 1600, as Pathan forces swept through Bengal, the royal family of Rajnagar met its downfall. During this period, a curious legend surrounding Goddess Kali emerged. It is said that disturbed by the impurity of the Kalidah pond’s water, the goddess became dissatisfied with her place in Rajnagar. Her mystical form is believed to have floated along the waters of the Kushkarani River, journeying through unknown paths until finally coming to rest near the village of Khantanga. Local fishermen, who went out in the early hours of the morning, were astonished to find her idol ensnared in their fishing nets. They regarded this as nothing less than a divine miracle, a testament to the goddess’s desire to return to the simpler surroundings of her original temple in Birsinghapur.
Moved by this incident, the fishermen and the local villagers, united in their devotion, brought the idol back to the former Kali temple of King Bir Singh in Birsinghapur, re-establishing her presence in a place that had once been central to her worship. The temple later received attention from Raja Asaduzzaman’s Dewan, Ramnath Bhaduri, who reconstructed the structure and ensured the rituals were reinstated, transforming it into a place of profound religious significance.
Over time, as stories of her mystical origin from Magadha were passed down through generations, the goddess came to be known as Magadheshwari Kali. This title honoured her roots and linked her legacy to the distant land of Magadha, from where King Bir Singh had first brought her. Today, devotees can witness her stone idol, sculpted from black stone, still radiating an aura of formidable grace and energy. This idol has been the focal point of prayers and offerings for centuries, embodying the fierce, compassionate spirit of Kali, who continues to be revered as the village’s eternal guardian.
One of the most significant events in Birsinghapur is the annual Kali Puja on the night of Dipanwita Amavasya. As the dark night settles over the village, thousands of devotees gather at the temple to pay homage, their hearts filled with awe and reverence. The night comes alive with lights, incense, and chants, creating an atmosphere that reverberates with the goddess’s divine energy. The villagers and pilgrims believe that the goddess, known for fulfilling wishes, hears and answers the prayers of all who seek her blessings. Her presence is said to be deeply awakened in this temple, making it a pilgrimage site for people from distant regions who come to experience her divine grace.
Throughout the year, this temple is a sanctuary for countless devotees who arrive to offer their respects, bring forth their desires, and seek the goddess’s favour. The tales surrounding Magadheshwari Kali and the ancient history of Birsinghapur’s royal legacy have woven a tapestry of faith, legend, and devotion that continues to draw pilgrims, fostering a living tradition of reverence and cultural heritage that has survived centuries of change. The story of Magadheshwari Kali remains a testimony to an enduring faith, binding past and present in the heart of Birsinghapur, where she is celebrated as the eternal protector and divine mother of all who come before her.
