Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha pandua
Shrinkhala Devi Temple is located in Hooghly,West Bengal at Pandua/ Praddyumnam. It is a temple is dedicated to Devi Durga and it is considered one of the 18 Maha Shakthi Peethas. According to legend Sati’s Stomach has fallen at the Shrinkhala Devi temple. At present there is no temple at this place. The Muslim invaders destroyed it and built a mine here. At present this place is under the protection of the archaeological society of India. The doors of what is left of the ruins are locked and entry is banned into the temple. The the archaeological society says it is for security reasons.
However I managed to get special permission and went inside and took several pictures never seen before.
There are some pictures on the net showing DOORS at the temple but I did not find any such DOORS.
The window at the entrance of the temple Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha pandua.
A close up of the entrance window of the temple of Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha Pandua
Every year during magha maasa (Around February) a festival by name MELA TAALA of about 30 days duration is celebrated in the premises of the Minar which is attended by local hindu and muslim communities in large numbers (More than 1 lakh). It is one of the important celebration of that place.
Remains of the ruined pillars at Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha at Pandua suggest a large temple complex.
Ruins of a beam at the Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha.
Ruins of a pillar at Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha Pandua.
Another ruined pillar at Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha Pandua
Another ruined pillar at Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha at Pandua.
It is clear from the ruins that each pillar had a different art work. It must have been a great temple with a lot of intricate stone carving work.
The Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha has several Dwaras like this.
The minaret at the Shrunkhala Devi Shaktipeetha.
Just near the Pandua, there is another Kali temple with the name of Haneshwari Devi, at Bansberia.
It is said that the great Rishyshringa Maharshi worshipped Mata here and got her blessings. According to one legend Rishi Rushyasrunga took Devi to Sringeri in Karnataka as per the wishes of the Devi. There is said to be a Shrinkhala Devi Temple in Karnataka. But when I visited and searched and enquired about no one knew about it.
Every year during the Hindu month of Magha Masa which falls around February the locals organise a Devi festival called locally Mela Tala for about a month and it is celebrated near this ruins and it is is attended by both the Hindus and Muslims!
The Temple visit timings are from 6.00Am to 8.00PM.
Accommodation: The T.T.D has constructed several guest houses here called Yatri Nivas, Sri Sharada Kripa, Bharathi Tirtha Vihara, Sri Shankara Kripa, Sri Sri Shankara Sadana, Sri Srinivasa Kripa and accommodation is available for a nominal cost. Regrettably no advanced booking of the guest house is possibleand you have to go to the Information Office located next to Sri Sharada Temple.
How to reach:
Air: Calcutta airport is 71 kn away.
Train: Panduva is about 82 km from Howrah by Train and takes about 3 hours from Howrah.
Road: Several companies have bus service to Panduva from Calcutta and Howrah.
