Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth, commonly known as Nandikeshwari Tala, is located in the Sainthia city of West Bengal. This temple is one of the well-known 51 Shakti Peethas in the Indian Subcontinent. Goddess derives her name from ‘Nandi,’ Lord Shiva’s mascot and follower, and ‘Ishwari,’ which means “one who is worshipped by Nandi, the divine bull.”

The Sainthia town is located on the bank of the river Mayurakshi. According to Hindu scripture Neck lace of Sati fell here. Goddess Shakti is worshipped here as Nandini and Lord Bhairav as Nandikeshwar. This Shakti Peeth is located at the bottom of a Tree. Nandipur Shaktipeeth is also known as Nandikeshwar Temple. In Nandipur Shakti Peeth, the Goddess is sitting in the form of a turtle-shaped rock.

Story Behind Nandikeshwari 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 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.

This temple is one of Mother’s 51 Shaktipeeths. Shakti is worshipped as ‘Mahamaya’ in this temple, and Bhairav is worshipped as ‘Trisandhyasvar’. The clothing or jewellery carried has fallen here, according to the Puranas.

History of Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth

According to history, Nandikeshwari Shakti Pith Temple is one of the historic places in west Bengal India, where Hindu devotees worship the divine power of the goddess “Nandini” as a devi shakti. According to Hindu traditions, Devi Sati’s “Necklace” fell here and Goddesh is present in a massive tortoise-shaped rock.

The principal idols of this fabled divine spot are Devi as “Nandini” and Lord Shiva as “Nandikeshwar” who are worshipped on the banks of the Tista River. The sacred site honours Maa Durga and Lord Shiva.  The present temple was built in 1913, the Bengali year of 1320.

The architecture of Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth

The pyramidal dome of the crimson temple marks Devi Nandini’s sanctum, where she is also worshipped alongside Her Bhairava, known as Nandikeshwar.

The main idol in the temple is a black stone, which is now almost red, as devotees use sindur to pray the holy stone as Nandikeshwari. The idol is adorned with a silver crown and three golden eyes. Devotees tie a red or yellow dhaga (thread) on the ancient banyan tree by the temple’s side to fulfil their wishes.

Several temples are located inside the border, including the Ram-Sita temple, Shiva temple, Maha Saraswati temple, Maha Laxmi-Ganesha temple, Laxmi-Narayana temple, Radha Govinda temple, Bhairav Nandikeshwari temple, and Hanuman (Bajrangbali) temple. There is a massive sacred banyan tree where believers bind red and yellow threads to make their dreams come true.

Facts about Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth

• Nandipur Shakti Peeth is a Hindu holy site in Sainthia, India’s state of West Bengal (Kolkata).
• The Temple, one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, attracts visitors and worshippers from all around the region.
• The name of Goddess is derived from ‘Nandi’, the mascot and follower of Lord Shiva, and ‘Ishwari’ (Goddess), meaning ‘one who is worshipped by Nandi, the divine bull’.
• The spiritual atmosphere of the temple provides peace to the hearts and minds of the devotees.
• .The idol in the temple is a black stone which is now almost Red as devotees use Sindur to pray the Holy Stone as Maa.
• There is a small and big temple of other Goddesses installed in this temple.
• There is a holy tree in this complex on which the devotee ties the red thread to fulfil his desires.
• All the festivals are celebrated in Nandipur Shakti Peeth, especially the festivals of Durga Puja and Navaratri, where special puja is organized.

Festivals In Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth

• Durga Puja. (Winter) – Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in the month of Ashwin (Sep-Oct).
• Navaratri. (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). Every nine days they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• Diwali – Diwali is one of the most admired and auspicious festivals in the town.
• Mahashivratri– A grand fair is organized at the temple during the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
• An annual festival is held at the Nandikeswari Temple every Autumn.

How to Reach Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth

The Nandikeshwari Shaktipeeth is located in the town of Sainthia in the district of Birbhum in the Indian state of West Bengal.

By Air: The Nearest Airport is  DumDum, Kolkata Airport. Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport is a distance of nearly 193 kilometres from Nandikeshwar temple.

By Railway: The Nearest Railway station is Nandipura station.  Sainthia Junction at a distance of nearly approx 700 meters from Nandikeshwar temple.

By Roadways: There are many public and private vehicles available to reach Nandikeshwari Shakti Pith Temple Nandipura.

Also, Read – Chandrabhaga Prabhas Shaktipeeth