Aparna Shaktipeeth or Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth is a sacred site around Karatoya located about 28 km from Sherpur of Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. It is among the 51 Shakti Peethas located in India. Being a Shakti Peeth, Bhabanipur is a divine and historical place for Hindu pilgrims. Sati’s left Anklety (left Kanpati) fell here. Sati is known as Aparna and Lord Shiva is called Vaman. This place is called Maa Aparna Shaktipeeth. Those who visit this Shaktipeeth get rid of all types of skin diseases.

The goddess in the temple is known as Aparna (One who even stopped eating fallen leaves while doing Penance for Lord Shiva), Arpana (One who is dedicated to Lord Shiva/ One who is offered to Lord Shiva), Tara, and Bhawani.

Story Behind Aparna Shaktipeeth

The goddess of Dakshayani, Sati, Parvati, or Durga—Hinduism’s most important woman and most powerful deity—is called Shakti. Durga Devi, Mahakali, and Gowri are the three main manifestations of Shakti, the power goddess. She is Adi Shakti’s avatar.

Sati was the Prajapati Daksha’s daughter, and she married Lord Shiva despite Her father’s wishes. Prajapati Daksha once put together a massive yagya, but he didn’t call his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was very saddened by Her father’s actions. When she got there, her father ignored the Sati and insulted her. She could not bear the insult of his husband (Lord Shiva) and she jumped into the fire of Yagya and committed suicide. She passed away, but her body didn’t burn. Lord Shiva had taken His Virabhadra Rupa out of rage. Daksha’s head was cut off by him, but in the end, He forgave him by bringing him back to life.

Lord Shiva, devastated, had taken Sati’s body and wandered the universe. Finally, Lord Vishnu used His Chakra to break the Sati’s body into pieces. Each body part transformed into Shakti Pitha. The temple had emerged where the body part had fallen to the ground. In order to safeguard the Shakti Pitha, Lord Shiva created 51 Bhairava for each one.

Goddess Sati appears as Devi Aparna with Vaman as Lord Shiva in the Bhavani Pur peeth, located in the Sherpur Village of Bangladesh. Here, the left anklet (ornament) of Sati had fallen.

History of Aparna Shaktipeeth

The Bhabanipur Temple Remodel, Improvement and the Executives Board of Trustees had been effectively overseeing the Temple exercises and Ma Bhabani’s properties from 1991 up until 2010. On 13 February 2007, the Consolidated Powers of that time (Extraordinary policing) annihilated the Visitor House which was under development by the advisory group for the enthusiasts.

A large portion of Ma Bhabani’s properties the majority of which were donated by the Maharani of Natore are being illegally occupied by criminals as a result of the misapplication of a black law known as the Enemy Property Act, also known as the “Debottor” or Vested Property Act. This law was enacted during the Pakistani period before Bangladesh gained independence on December 16, 1971, through the liberation war. The committee needs to reclaim those properties.

The architecture of Aparna Shaktipeeth

The Aparna Shaktipeeth covers approximately four acres (12 bighas) and is enclosed by a boundary wall. It includes the Main Temple, Belbaran Tala, four Shiva temples, Patal Bhairava Shiva Temple, Gopal Temple, Bashudev Temple, and Nat Mandir. A Sheba Angan, a Holy Shakha-Pukur (conch-bangles pond), two bathing ghats, four Shiva Temples outside the boundary wall, and a Panchamunda Asana are located on the north side.

Facts about Aparna Shaktipeeth

• Aparna Shaktipeeth is located in the Bogra in the Rajshahi Division of Bangladesh about 28 kilometres distance from the town of Sherpur.
• The Bhabanipur Shrine is consecrated to the goddess Ma Bhabani: a powerful form of Ma Durga.
• The Shakti Devi here is referred to as Aparna and the Bhairava is Vaman.
• This Shakti-Peeth has a number of temples that pilgrims from all over the region and the world visit, regardless of their religious affiliation.
• Those who visit this Shaktipeeth get rid of all types of skin diseases. Kartoya River is as good as taking a bath in river Ganga.
• The Bhairav who protects the anklet is Vaman and is said to be a manifestation of Shaivite energy
•  Tara Ma is said to be the most ferocious form of Durga. As there is no idol of Bhawani, a Kali idol is worshipped in this temple.

Festivals In Aparna Shaktipeeth

• Maghi Purnima in the Bengali month of Magh/Falgun
• Ram Nabomi in the month of Chaitra/Baishakh
• Durgotshov in autumn
• Dipannita Shyama Puja
• Nabanna in the month of Aghrahoyon

How to Reach Aparna Shaktipeeth

Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth is located in Karatoyatat, Sherpur Upazila, Bogra District, Bangladesh.

By Air: Bogra airport which is 30 km. Far from Sherpur and around 60 km from the temple.

By Railway: Located about 28 km from Sherpur of Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. Once you reach Bangladesh you can take this route.

By Road: The devotees can reach Bhabanipur through Mirzapur or Ghoga Bot-tola bus stop (on Bogra-Dhaka highways) of Sherpur Upazilla of Bogra District.

Read More – Gandaki Shaktipeeth – Muktinath Temple