Here, Maa Jagadhatri is worshipped every day in Her rare form – GetBengal story
In Bengal’s spiritual tradition lies a story that has been told and retold for generations—the story of the Ray family of Balagarh, Hooghly, whose unwavering devotion to Goddess Jagadhatri has illuminated their home and hearts for centuries. Some believe Jagadhatri Puja began in Krishnanagar, Nadia. Others believe that Bengal’s earliest Jagadhatri Puja started in Hooghly. However, the eight-metal (asta-dhatur) Jagadhatri Puja of Balagarh, Hooghly, is among the most ancient of the pujas.
Long ago, in the 18th century, an ancestor of the family received a divine vision in his dreams. The goddess herself commanded him to start worshiping her. According to popular belief, in the Pal era (Pala period), the Diwan of Bengal-Bihar-Odisha was Ramshankar Ray. Having received a dream-instruction from the Mother (Goddess) to do the puja, he began the construction of a temple. Around 1172 AD, Diwan Ramshankar Ray constructed the temple and initiated the Jagadhatri Puja that has endured for centuries. It is known that the Goddess Jagadhatri is worshipped here under the name “Mahavidya.” The goddess’s vehicle is a lion, established here in the form of Narasimha. In this temple, to the goddess’s left side is a Shiva murti. Furthermore, one special feature of this Shiva is that he is not alone here. He is accompanied by his four children: Kartik, Ganesha, Lakshmi, and Saraswati.
According to the temple’s caretakers, this temple has no ritual of sacrifice. Essentially following Vedic practice, the goddess Jagadhatri (Nitya Seva) is worshipped here. Although daily worship of the Mother continues throughout the year, on the ninth day of the Jagadhatri Puja, the eight-metal murti is worshipped with the sixteen-step ritual. It is learned that every year during Jagadhatri Puja countless devotees crowd into this temple. On the ninth day the goddess is offered bhog such as luchi, five kinds of fried vegetables, pulao, khichuri, chhena curry, and sweetmeats.
However, the essence of the Puja is still anchored in the ageless rhythm of Bengal's culture, even in the face of contemporary surroundings. This century old Jagadhatri Puja talks about a family's unwavering connection to God, faith that endures, and artistic talent that transcends generations.
