Stories about Maa Nalateswri

Nalahati is not only famous for Maa Kalika but a number of stories have given birth to this holy place residing on this Earth. This is a raving legend which actually relates with the “Shakti Peethas”. Rarhbhumi is considered to 45th of the 51 “Shakti Peethas” on the Indian sub continent. The consort of lord shiva, goddess sati, felt insulted as her father, “Dakhs”, the king of mountains, haven’t invited shiva, (the lord of all gods and goddess) to the great fire sacrifice or yagna. Sati was unable to bear this humiliation, hence sacrificed her life in the yagna fire. The tragic turn of the infuriated events led to the bewilderment of Lord shiva. In order to pacify lord shiva, the creator of this world, lord Vishnu had decimated her body with his chakra (discus). This in turn had dispersed the pieces over the whole sub continent of India. And each of these sites has been now developed into sacred places or peethas, manifestation of goddess.

Maa Nalateswari and her origin:

According to the localities, in 252th Bengali year or “Bongapto”, “Kamdev” (the Hindu lord of love and desire) who had dreamt about its existence discovered the larynx of maa sati at this Nalahati forest. Another oral legend depicts that Ram Sharam Devsharma was known to be the first discoverer of “Nala” and this had marked the beginning of Maa Nalateswri devotion.

There are several legends which are related to the origin and importance to this place.

Existence of lord Vishnu in Bhairab temple:

A few kilometres away from this temple lays the shrine of Jogesh Bhairab and on its walls, a pair of footprints of lord Vishnu which is amazingly noticed only in recent times. Though some accept this fact as god’s blessings on this shrine, but no one knows the reality.

Sweet Neem:

There was a well known narrated myth about a mystifying neem tree whose leaves if eaten raw directly from the branches then it would taste very sweet, an uncommon phenomenon. But as soon as the very same leave is being picked up from the ground then it would have an ordinary taste of bitterness.

The story of Bargi Danga:

It has also heard that “Bargi sardar” (Maratha sardar) had inhabitated the plateau region of Nalateswri for sometime which later on was named as “Bargi Danga”(the river bank where the Marathas had lived).

“Pancha-munda-ashana” of Kushalnan:

In the later half, that is after the temple was being established in Nalhati, Bramhachari Kushalnan (a Hindu saint) had offered the first “Bhog” or food offerings. He had started the salvation on the “Pancha-munda-ashana” or the five headed throne. This has really proved the serenity of this place which is beautifully blended with nature.

If these stories really make you excited for the visit then your delay might separate you from holy blindness.