Sugandha Shaktipeeth is a temple of the Goddess Sunanda, located in the village of Shikarpur, 10 miles north of Barisal, in Bangladesh. This Hindu temple is one of the 51 Shakti Peethas. The whole complex of the Sugandha shaktipeeth is made of stone, with images and statues of gods engraved on them.

This Sakthi Peeth is situated on the Sunanda River’s banks. This Temple is located 21 kilometres from Barisal City. This temple is classified as a Sakthi Peetha. This temple, being one of the Shakti Peethas of Hindu Mythology, is one of the holiest sites for Hindus of the Shakti sect. Residents affectionately referred to this temple as Shikarpur Tarabari.

Story Behind Sugandha 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 assembled 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.

Maa Sati’s nose is reported to have fallen here. Maa Sati’s idol is known as “Sunanda,” and Lord Shiva is known as “Traimbak.” Ponabalia, 5 miles south of Jhalkati rail station, still has the Bhairav temple. Ponabalia is located on the Sunanda River’s bank, beneath the Shamrail settlement.

History of Sugandha Shaktipeeth

There is no precise information about the construction or establishment of Sugandha Shaktipeeth. However, based on the temple’s appearance, it is clear that it was built in the very distant past. The temple was recently rebuilt, and the idols are now housed in the newly renovated temple.

The architecture of Sugandha Shaktipeeth

This temple contains god statues. The temple is made of stone, and the outer walls are adorned with figures of gods and goddesses. This Temple would have existed in ancient times, but it has been destroyed several times and has undergone considerable renovations. As a result, the existing temple’s architecture was not preserved.

According to the Agama Shastra, the shadow of the temple should not fall over moving water. This is one of the rare Temples where the Temple’s Shadow Falls on the Sunanda River.

Facts about Sugandha Shaktipeeth

• Sugandha Shaktipeeth is a Hindu Temple devoted to Goddess Sunanda, situated in the village of Shikarpur Barisal District in Bangladesh.
• This temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of Hinduism.
• This Temple was famously called Shikarpur Tarabari by residents.
• The main deity in the temple is Goddess Sati, who is worshipped in the form of a small stone idol.
• The temple also has a large pond, which is considered to be holy. Devotees take a dip in the pond before entering the temple as it is believed to cleanse the body and purify the mind.
• In this Sugandha shaktipeeth one famous festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm and devotion is the ‘Shiva Chaturdashi’ and this is celebrated in the month of March.

Festivals In Sugandha 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.

How to Reach Sugandha Shaktipeeth

All Indian devotees must apply for visas at the Bangladesh embassy. You can contact any travel agent in the temple’s neighbouring city, Barisal, once your visa has been approved.

By Air: The nearest international airport is in Barisal. This is at a distance of almost 21 kilometres from Sugandha Shaktipeeth.

By Railway: The nearest railway station is in Jhenaidah, which is about 27 km from the temple. From the railway station, one can take a taxi or a bus to reach the temple.

By Roadways: The Temple is located about 1.5 Km from Esladi Bus Stop, and 19 Km from Nathullahbad Central Bus Terminal. You can also reach the temple via private vehicles.

By Boat: A new cruise ship Service starts between Kolkata, India to Dhaka, Bangladesh Shortly.