Srunkala Devi
(3th Shaktipeeth)
Pradhyumne vanga rayaayaam
Srunkalaa nama bhooshite
Viswanimohite Devi
Srunkhalaa Bandhanasari
Story behind the Ashtadasha Shakti Peethas
Brahma performed Yaga to please Sakthi and Siva to request Sakthi in creation of Universe. Sakthi separated from Shiva emerge in the form of Sati and helped Brahma in creation of universe. Brahma sought to give back Sati to Siva. Daksha, son of Brahma performed Yagna with an intention to get Sati as his daughter. Sati born to Daksha and in due course she wanted to marry Shiva. At that time Brahma saw Prudhvi with bad intention and Shiva cut the fifth head of Brahma with his trident. Daksha got angry and withdrawn marriage of Sati with Siva. But Sati attracted with Shiva and married him. Daksha got hatred on Shiva.
Daksha intended to perform Nireeswara Yaga and invited all the Gods except Siva and Sathi in Kailas. Shiva warned Sati not to participate in the Yaga in the absence of invitation. Sati has gone to Yaga with Nandi and other followers. Sati started yoga which is not possible to the Yogis moving her five elements from their origin. Fire erupted from her grave status of body and she self immolated in the fire.
Enraged to the death and insult of Sati, Shiva in meditation got angry and performed Tandava Nruthya. Shiva has cut some hair from his head in Tandava and thrown on earth. The piece of hair burned and Veerabhadra born with thousand hands, and black body. Veerabhadra is so horrible with three angry eyes, Trident and other weapons in the hands along with skulls in the neck. Siva ordered to destroy the Yaga. Veerabhadra with skulls in his neck destroyed the Yaga and Lord Vishnu opposes him using Sudarsana Chakra. But Veerabhadra swallowed the Chakra and Vishnu given way to take revenge on Daksha. Veerabhadra killed Daksha and returned to Kailash. Daksha was given re-birth after affixing the head of a male goat to the body of Daksha.
Shiva could not bear the separation grief with Sati and left the duty to safe guard the universe. The Gods praised Lord Vishnu and at the request of the Gods, Lord Vishnu used Sudarshana chakra and cut the corpse in to pieces to release Shiva from the worry of the death of Sati. The body parts of Sati fell at several places of the Indian subcontinent and Groin in Trincomalee of Srilanka. The holy places formed are known as Shakti Peet. There is discrepancy in the number of Sakthi Peet as 108, 51and 52 but the 18 Sakthi Peet are familiar as Astadasa SakthiPeeth. The Goddess Dakshayani accompanies with her consort, Lord Bhairava (Shiva) a manifestation of Lord Shiva in all the Shakti Peeth.
Srunkhala Devi Sakthi Peeth
The Stomach part of Sathi fallen here and formed Srunkala Sakthi Peeth. The Sakthi peeth is the 3rd among the Astadasa Sakthi Peeth. There is discrepancy on the existence of the holy place that it is in Gujarat and near Calcutta. The local people of Surendranagar near Rajkot of Gujarat worship “Chotilla Mata” in their village as Srunkala (Srungala) Devi. Most of the people believe that the holy place is at Panduva in Hugli District of West Bengal. But earlier there is Srunkala Devi Temple and at present there is a Minar only. The holy place is under the control of Archeological Department and the entrance in to the place is prohibited. Every year, a great festival with the name of “Mela Tala” organized in the month of MAGHA MASAM (generally March of Calendar Year). Hindus and Muslims combined and participate in the Festival. There are two meaning to the word Srunkala. One is wrapped rope or chain. Second one is the swatch wear at abdomen of the delivered woman. As per the first version the Goddess having commitment and is responsible to Shiva (Truth). She removes all the commitments (wrapped rope or chain) to her devotees. The second version is that Goddess is like as mother given birth. In the incarnation the Goddess treat the universe as her child and devotion of a child on his mother is required to worship the Goddess.
It is believed that Sage Rushyasrunga brought her to Sringeri of Karnataka as instructed by the Goddess. Most of the people believe Panduva Village in Hugli District of West Bengal considered being Srunkala Devi Sakthi Peeth. The legend says that Sage Rushya Srunga yoga at Panduva and taken her blessings. Rushya Srunga started to Sringeri in Karnataka taking permission of the Goddess Srunkala Mata accompanied the Sage and reached Sringeri. Later Rushya Srunga set the power of the Goddess around the hill.
Panduva Village is at a distance of 82 km from Howrah in Howrah-Delhi Train route. Pilgrims may reach Panduva in 3 hours from Howrah. There are Sri Shankara Kripa, Sri Sharada Kripa, Yatri Nivas, Sri Bharathi Tirtha Vihara, Sri Shankara Sadana, Sri Srinivasa Kripa constructed by T.T.D and Sri Bharati Tirtha Krupa guest houses in Sringeri. The above guest houses are provided to the pilgrims and devotees not on commercial basis but for their comfort. Hence minimum fees collected from the devotees for the usage of the above guest houses in order to maintain the electrical and other amenities. Further there is dormitory system to accommodate a group of devotees in one hall. The Guest houses allotted to the pilgrims/devotees on first come-first serve basis.
Shrinkhala Devi Temple Timings
Advance booking of the guest house is not entertained. For the requirement of Guest House, Pilgrims can approach the Information Office located adjacent to Sri Sharada Temple main entrance. Free meals facility available in the temple from 12-15PM to 2-30PM and evening 7-15PM to 8-30PM. The Temples may visit from 6-00Am to 8-00PM.
