Yugadya Shaktipeeth, Yugandaya Temple/ Kshirgram

Yugandaya is one of the 51 Shaktipeethas. According to Tantra Chudamani, the mother's right toe had fallen at Jugadya (Yugadya) place in Kheergram (Kshirgram) of Bardhaman district of West Bengal. Its power is Yugadya or Bhootdhatri, and Shiva is called Ksheer Khandak (Ksheer Kantak). It has believed that the Bhadrakali idol of Goddess Yugadya became one with the Bhootdhatri Mahamaya of Kshirgram. 'Yugadya Shaktipeeth' is in 'Kshirgram' under Mahakumar-Mangalkot police station, 39 km northwest of Bardhaman junction and 21 km southwest of Katwa. The Kali whom Ahiravana worshipped in Patal in Tretayuga was Yugadya.

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Myth

Mahi Ravan was a Bhadrakali devotee. According to the Ramayana, Mahi Ravan captured Lord Shri Ram and Lakshman and imprisoned them in Patal. It had believed that when Hanuman ji returned from Patal after rescuing Ram-Lakshman from the captivity of Ahiravana, he also brought the Goddess along with him and installed her in Kshirgram. Devi Bhadrakali was later renamed Jogadya.

Apart from many Bengali texts, the description of this Goddess has found in 'Gandharvatantra', 'Sadhak Chudamani', 'Shivcharit' and 'Krittivasi Ramayana'. The believers here believe in this century-old mythology. It has said that the Goddess has submerged beneath the Khirdighi, a neighbouring pond beside the shrine. Every Baishakhi Sankranti, she emerges from the sea and spends the night inside the Temple Garbha Griha. She returns to the water of the Khirdighi after accepting the yajnas and the special puja, where she lives with Khirakantha ( Lord Shiva).

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Architecture

Ravana's death, a Daihat architect named Nabinchandra erected the main Temple's idol. Nabinchandra discovered that the original sculpture of Bhadrakali was missing from the Temple.

Many people believe that Nabinchandra built the current devi ma idol after losing the Buddhist idol Mahajan in the waters of Khirdighi. The sanctum still houses the idols he created. The deity seated in the idol is wearing two glass bangles. Bengali married ladies wear this type with coral bangles as a symbol of marriage.

About Temple

In the C-11th century, a large brick temple was built in the centre of the village. People used to call it "Maa-er Baari," including the 'Nat Mandir,' 'Bhog Ghar,' 'Bhander Ghar,' and other structures. However, no idol of Devi Jogadya or even a picture of Devi had been erected here.

In 2005, a new white marble temple had built in the middle of a pond named "Kshirdighi". In this Temple, the idol of Devi Jogadya has maintained submerged. Another old model of Devi Jogadya has discovered during the re-excavation of Kshirdighi. On December 31, 2011, a new red-stone temple has inaugurated. This Temple contains Bhog Ghar, Bhandar Ghar, Nat Mandir, and a guest house for visitors' meals and lodging, and a boundary wall encloses it.

Both idols are made of "Kashti Stones" and resemble Goddess Durga's idol. The oldest sculpture is approximately 600 years old. Nabin Bhaskar created the newer sculpture roughly 180 years ago.

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Khireswar

Khireswar is the name of this Sati pith's Bhairav (Shiva). This Temple is also ancient, with a height of about 30 feet and three steps.

Goddess worship

Devi Yogadhya receives a special puja on Baishakhi Sankranti (the last day of the Bengali month of Baishak) when She emerges from the neighbouring Khirdighi. The Goddess returns to Her Home the following day of adoration by drowning herself in the waters of Khirdighi. Over a lakh people converge here to adore the Goddess during this puja every year. Furthermore, they offer an animal sacrifice to the Goddess to fulfil their wishes. The hymns sung during special worship are supposed to have revealed Devi herself.

Nearby Places to visit

1. Kshirgram Gajan Ghar

2. Kshireshwar temple lord Shiva

3. Raghunath Temple

4.Datta Para Swarasati Mandir

5. Gopinath Mandir

Temple Timing: 6: 00 AM- 9:00 PM

Best time to visit: March-April

Festivals

Baishakhi: Baisakhi is the main festival here. It has believed that the mother gives darshan to the devotees here at the time of Baisakhi. For this reason, there is a massive crowd of devotees here.
Asar Navami: celebrated in the third month of the Bengali calendar
Makar Sankranti: celebrated with grandeur.
Vijaya Dashmi: Last day of Durga festival

How to reach

1. By bus

Buses run from Katwa and Burdwan to Kshirgram. Kshirgram is a historic village in the district of Bardhaman that falls under the jurisdiction of the Mongalkote Police Station. It is around 40 kilometres from Bardhaman and 20 kilometres from Katwa. The town has good road access. You can travel by rickshaw, bus, and so on.

2. By Railway

The nearest railway station is Kaichar, Disembark at Kaichar railway station, 36 kilometres from Burdwan and 20 kilometres from Katwa. Kaichar is only 4 kilometres from Kshirgram, around 4 kilometres from here and 165 kilometres from Kolkata.