Sthala Purana of Shrinkala Devi Temple
Sage Rishyasringa was born as the son of Sage Vibhandaka. Since he had horns on his head, he was called Rishyasringa. Sage Vibhandaka raised him in the forest without any contact with the outside world. The sage kept away from women, as he disliked them after being seduced by the apsara Urvashi. He was unaware of worldly, materialistic thoughts and remained pure at heart, dedicating his entire life to strict penance and austerity.
The kingdom of Anga suffered a severe drought. The king had incurred the curse of Brahmins because he displeased them, which caused Lord Indra to withhold rain. The king was advised that only a great and powerful ascetic could transform the barren land into fertile soil.
They devised a plan to lure Sage Rishyasringa by sending the courtesans to his hermitage. They designed a boat to resemble a hermitage and sent one of the most beautiful courtesans to invite him to the court. Unaware of the outside world, Sage Rishyasringa left the forest and traveled with them. He was deeply fascinated by this new world and mistook them for sages.
King of Anga, Romapada welcomed him with great respect, love, and affection. The entire kingdom rejoiced, as his immediate presence brought rain to the barren land. As a mark of gratitude, the king married his daughter Shanta to Sage Rishyasringa. Shanta was actually the daughter of King Dasharatha, later adopted by Lopamudra as he was childless.
Later, Sage Rishyasringa performed the Putrakameshti Yajna at the request of his father-in-law, Dasharatha. The yajna was so successful that it led to the birth of Lord Sri Ramachandra.
Architecture of Shrinkala Devi Temple
At present, this temple is in a ruined state, and entry for the general public is not permitted. The minaret was built by Shah Sufiuddin in 1340 AD.
Festivals in the Shrinkala Devi Temple
Darshan Timings of Shrinkala Devi Temple
Morning: 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM
Evening: 4:00 to 9:00 PM
Best Time to Visit
During the period from April to September, the temple witnesses fewer crowds.
Nearby Places to Visit
Tarakeshwar Temple: It is a temple dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva in the form of Tarakeshwar. This temple is dedicated to Tara Devi. It was built by Raja Bharamalla Rao in the 18th century.
Jairambati: It is the birthplace of Sharada Devi, the birthplace of Sri RamaKrishna Paramahamsa. She was born as Jayrambati in Bankura District, West Bengal.
Antpur Radha Govind Jiu Temple: This is a terracotta temple located in Antpur, West Bengal. Here in this temple, a black Deity of Lord Sri Krishna is worshiped.
How to Reach the Shrinkala Devi Temple
By Air: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport is the nearest airport to reach the Shrunkala temple. From here, you can hire a taxi or a cab to reach the temple. You can use public transportation, such as trains or buses.
By Railway: Pundooah railway station is the nearest railway station to reach the temple. From here, you can hire a taxi or a cab to reach the destination.
By Road: If you travel by road, then to reach the temple, the nearest bus stop is Pandua bus stand. It is located just 2 Km away from the temple.
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