Kiriteswari Temple

Coordinates: 24°12′0″N 88°13′7″E / 24.20000°N 88.21861°E / 24.20000; 88.21861
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Kiriteswari Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
Location
LocationKiritkona
Murshidabad
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Kiriteswari Temple is located in West Bengal
Kiriteswari Temple
Shown within West Bengal
Kiriteswari Temple is located in India
Kiriteswari Temple
Kiriteswari Temple (India)
Geographic coordinates24°12′0″N 88°13′7″E / 24.20000°N 88.21861°E / 24.20000; 88.21861

Kiriteswari Temple is situated in Kiritkona village under the Nabagram CD block in the Lalbag subdivision of Murshidabad district in the state of West Bengal. This is one of the Shakti Pithas among the 51 peeths.[1] In September 2023 this area was selected as the best tourism village of India.[2][3]

Geography[edit]

Map
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Maps: terms of use
8km
5miles
none
B
A
N
G
L
A
D
E
S
H
Kiriteswari Temple
H
Rosnaiganj
H
Rosnaiganj (H)
Nashipur
H
Nashipur (H)
Baranagar
H
Baranagar, Murshidabad (H)
Gorba
Nala
Bhairab
River
Jalangi
River
Padma River
Bhagirathi River
Khushbagh
H
Khushbagh (H)
Shaikhpara
R
Shaikhpara (R)
Sagarpara
R
Sagarpara (R)
Sadikhanr Diar
R
Sadikhanr Diar (R)
Raninagar
R
Raninagar (R)
Kasbagoas
R
Kasbagoas (R)
Jalangi
R
Jalangi (R)
Domkal
R
Domkal (R)
Bhagirathpur
R
Bhagirathpur (R)
Ranitala
R
Ranitala (R)
Nasipur
R
Nasipur (R)
Nabagram
R
Nabagram, India (R)
Lalgola
border checkpost
R
Lalgola (R)
Krishnapur
R
Krishnapur, Murshidabad (R)
Kismattatla
R
Kismattatla (R)
Bhagawangola
R
Bhagawangola (R)
Azimganj
M
Azimganj (M)
Jiaganj
M
Jiaganj (M)
Murshidabad
M
Murshidabad (M)
Islampur
CT
Islampur, Murshidabad (CT)
Harharia Chak
CT
Harharia Chak (CT)
Cities, towns and locations in the Lalbag and Domkal subdivisions, Murshidabad district
M: municipal town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, H: historical place
Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly

Location[edit]

Kiritswari Temple is located at 24°12′0″N 88°13′7″E / 24.20000°N 88.21861°E / 24.20000; 88.21861.

It is located in Kiritkona village near the bank of Bhagirathi River, in Lalbag subdivision at Murshidabad district.

History[edit]

Panoramic view of Kiriteshwari Temple Complex
Kiriteshwari Temple Complex
Old temple of Kiriteshwari

According to the Puranas or Hindu mythology the place were named as Kiriteswari. Peeth devi name is devi Vimala and Bhairab is Samvarta. The construction of the temple is more than 1000 years old and this place was considered to be the sleeping place of Mahamaya. Local people call this temple as Mahishamardini. Devi is also worshipped as Mukuteshwari (as her mukut or crown fell) the Holy Goddess. The original Temple was destroyed in 1405. The present temple was re-constructed by Darpanarayan, king of Lalgola in the 19th century and this is the oldest mark of architecture amongst 51 Peethas.[4] It is the oldest temple in the Murshidabad district. There is a legend that Nawab Mir Jafar in his death bed had requested for the holy Charanamrito (the holy water) of Maa Kiriteswari while suffering from leprosy.[5][6][1]

Culture[edit]

According to David J. McCutchion the Kiriteswari Temple is a small shrine which is basically a char-chala, “but the curve of the cornice has been repeated as a pattern all the way up the roof (eight segments). He also mentions it as a char-chala with an ek-bangla porch.[7]

Transport[edit]

The temple is located in Kiritkona village which is popularly known as Kiriteswari. Nabagram-Lalbag Road pass through the village. The nearest railway route is Dahapara Dham railway station (5 km from the village). Lalbag Court Road railway station is near about 3 km from the temple.

Recognition[edit]

In September 2023 Union Ministry of Tourism of India declared Kiriteswari as the ‘Best Tourism Village of India 2023.’ The competition was held to promote heritage and cultural tourism in rural India. In 2023, a total of 795 villages across 31 states and Union territories took part in the contest. Kiriteswari emerged as the winner. [8][9]

Kiriteswari Temple picture gallery[edit]

  • Kiriteswari Temple, Murshidabad, West Bengal
    Kiriteswari Temple, Murshidabad, West Bengal
  • Vigraha of Kiriteswari temple
    Vigraha of Kiriteswari temple
  • The original Kiriteswari Temple
    The original Kiriteswari Temple
  • The temple of Vairab
    The temple of Vairab

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Kiriteswari Temple- Murshidabad-West Bengal". 22 February 2011. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  2. ^ "Kiriteshwari village in Bengal's Murshidabad district bags best tourism village of India award". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  3. ^ "বাংলার সঙ্গে বৌদ্ধসংস্কৃতির প্রাচীন সম্পর্ক". Zee24Ghanta.com. Retrieved 22 September 2023.
  4. ^ "9 famous temples of Hindu goddess Kali in West Bengal". newsgram.com. 16 April 2017. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  5. ^ Nikhilnath Roy, B.L (1897). Murshidabad Kahini (Bengali). Kolkata: Punthi Patra. pp. 1–5.
  6. ^ "MAA KIRITESWARI". indianscriptures.com. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  7. ^ McCutchion, David J., Late Mediaeval Temples of Bengal, first published 1972, reprinted 2017, pages 40-41, 70. The Asiatic Society, Kolkata, ISBN 978-93-81574-65-2
  8. ^ Datta, Rangan (2 October 2023). "Murshidabad's Kiriteswari temple worthy recipient of 'Best Tourism Village' crown". The Telegraph. My Kolkata. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
  9. ^ Hossain, Alamgir (24 September 2023). "Centre confers village Kiriteswari in Murshidabad with Best Tourism Village crown". ABP. The Telegraph. Retrieved 3 October 2023.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kiriteswari_Temple&oldid=1200370563"