Sadhguru says Ujani Shakti Peetha is not merely a temple; it is a confluence of reverence, where the ancient flows unbroken through the currents of the Ajay River.
Article | Ujjani | January 01, 2024
Sadhguru: The Mangalchandi temple, also revered as Ujani Sati Peetha, is one of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas dedicated to Devi Sati, located in the serene village of Kogram in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal. Steeped in ancient lore and Shakta tradition, this temple holds a unique place in Bengal's spiritual tapestry. According to the Pithanirnaya Tantra, it marks the sacred spot where Sati’s left elbow fell, imbuing the site with potent spiritual energy. Here, Devi Mangalchandi is worshipped as Mahishmardini, with Bhairava Kapilambar as her consort. Nestled beside the tranquil Ajay River, the temple draws devotees and seekers of blessings alike. Renowned through literary epics like Chandimangal and Manasamangal, Peetha’s history blends myth, cultural richness, and regional folklore. This article explores the captivating legends, unique rituals, and enduring significance of the Mangalchandi temple, unveiling the profound spiritual essence of this ancient Shakti Peetha.
The thirteenth Shakti Peetha among the 51 sacred sites of Devi Sati is the temple of Maa Mangalchandi, located at the Ujani Shakti Peetha in Kogram, Purba Bardhaman. This ancient Shakti Peetha is one of the most notable in the Rarh region of Bengal, yet it remains relatively unknown, with few aware of its existence. Situated along the Guskara Road from Bardhaman, a dirt path leads to the temple of Devi Mangalchandika, tucked away in quiet rural surroundings.
"Here, in this serene Peetha by the river, Devi Sati's presence permeates the air, reminding us that spirituality lives where faith meets legacy.
According to the Peeth Nirnaya Tantra, after Daksha's sacrificial ritual, Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra severed parts of Devi Sati’s body, with her left elbow falling at Ujani near Mangalkot in the Bardhaman district. Today, this place is known as Kogram, where the goddess is revered as Mangalchandi in her Mahishasuramardini form. This site, referred to as "Ujjayini" in ancient texts, is identified as Bardhaman’s "Ujani" Shakti Peetha.
The verse from the scriptures states: "Ujjayinyaṃ Karpoorañcha Maangalyaḥ Kapilambaraḥ. Bhairavaḥ Siddhidaḥ Sakshaddevi Mangalachandika."Additionally, Bhattacharya's Anandamangal Kavya references: "At Ujani resides Kaphoni Mangalchandi Devi. Kapilambara Bhairava blesses those who serve her."
The presiding deity here, Devi Mangalchandi, has Kapilambara or Kapileshwar as her accompanying Bhairava. The serene Ajoy River flows near this rural Shakti Peetha, where the Kunur River merges with it from the south. In Mangalkavya, this area was known as Bhramaradaha and has yielded numerous archaeological artefacts. In the early 20th century, renowned archaeologist Rakhaldas Bandyopadhyay visited Ujani Kogram and recovered an ancient Jain idol of Shantinath, highlighting the area's historical significance as a convergence point for Shaiva, Shakta, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.
Ujani is also famed as the birthplace of Shrimantha Sadagar, the hero of the Chandimangal epic, and the homeland of Behula’s father, Shyeban, from the Manasamangal. Mukundaram Chakraborty, the author of Chandimangal Kavya, describes the grandeur of this deity. The Chandimangal is divided into two parts: the hunting (Akhetik Khanda) and the merchant (Banik Khanda) sections. A verse in the Brihaddharma Purana hints at these narratives, with the deity symbolized in the Akhetik section as Dvibhujika and represented by the Mangalgata pot and offerings of auspicious dhan-durva.
In the Banik Khanda, merchant Shripati Sadagar, a devout Shaiva, initially refuses to worship Mangalchandi. Ratnamala, a cursed celestial dancer reincarnated as Khullana, becomes his second wife after his first wife Lahana plots against her. Forced into servitude, Khullana finds solace in the worship of Mangalchandi, who blesses her with protection. When Shripati embarks on a trading voyage to Simhala, Khullana urges him to honour the goddess, but he angrily kicks the Mangalgata pot, earning the goddess’s wrath.
As Shripati approaches Simhala, the goddess, in her fierce Kamalekamini form, appears before him. Although only he can see her, no other sailor witnesses this mystical vision. Upon narrating this to the king, he is imprisoned for his inability to summon her for the king’s viewing. His son Shrimantha later embarks on a journey to free him but encounters similar trials with the goddess’s Kamalekamini manifestation. Imprisoned again, he prays fervently to Mangalchandi, who softens the king’s heart. The king frees him and weds his daughter, Sushila, to Shrimantha. Eventually, Shripati, recognizing the goddess’s power, returns to Ujani and constructs a temple for Mangalchandi, spreading her worship.
Legends and devotion entwine at the Ujani Shakti Peetha, where even the evening’s silence is filled with whispers of the divine.
In her Mahishamardini form, Mangalchandi is worshipped here as Dashabhuja Durga, alongside Bhairava Kapilambara or Kapileshwar. Durga Puja and Kali Puja are celebrated at the temple, with the goddess’s idol being a unique black stone rather than separate effigies. As a Shakti Peetha, traditional elements like Nabapatrika are omitted during Durga Puja, with only a new Ghat (holy pot) introduced thrice yearly: the last Tuesday of Baisakh for the annual Puja, the day after Jitastami, and the sixth day of Durga Puja. Additionally, worship is conducted on Tuesdays in Baisakh and Jaishtha. Sacrificial offerings of pumpkin, banana, sugarcane, and goat are made, while the goddess is otherwise offered rice, fried dishes, lentils, sweets, and fish daily, with a special vegetarian offering on Durga Ashtami.
Maa Mangalchandi, revered as a guardian deity, once had an idol crafted of Ashtadhatu (eight metals), which was stolen. Her worship continued with a painting until 1994 when a new stone idol was donated by the family of poet Kumud Ranjan Mallik, who was born in Kogram. The temple now receives services from Brahmins of the Ray lineage, housing the deity’s sacred Brahmashila. Bhairava Kapilambara resides beside her, accompanied by a Vajrasana Buddha statue, believed to date back to the Pala Empire.
Adorned with a lush garden and a Natmandir (dance hall), the temple’s peaceful riverside location exudes a serene, sacred atmosphere. The village is sparsely populated, and as dusk falls along the Ajoy’s bends, the sounds of conch and bells from the goddess’s evening arati fill the air, resonating along the riverbanks. In her benevolent Mangalachandika form, the goddess of Ujani Shakti Peetha continues to bless and protect her devotees.
