Names & Legend
The Yashor Shakti Peeth is counted among the most important Shakti Peeths of Bangladesh, and devotees from many parts of the world visit it regularly. The name Yashor is also written Jessore or Yashohar, the old name of the region.
When Lord Shiva carried Sati’s body after her self-sacrifice at Daksha’s yagna, Lord Vishnu divided it with his Sudarshan Chakra. At Yashor, Sati’s left palm is believed to have fallen. The place was once little known, but after the temple was established, the Goddess of Jessore became famous throughout Bengal.
Location
The temple is at Ishwaripur, near Shyamnagar in Satkhira district of south-western Bangladesh, close to the Sundarbans. In earlier times this area formed part of the greater Jessore (Yashohar) region, which is why the Goddess is known as the Goddess of Jessore.
The Goddess & Bhairava
The Goddess is worshipped as Jeshoreshwari (Yashoreshwari), a form of Kali, and Lord Shiva as Bhairava is called Chanda. People explain the name in different ways: some say it refers to the Moon, others to the one who holds the Moon. In the sanctum, only the face of the Goddess is visible; the rest of her form is covered with cloth and flowers.
Devotees believe that all wishes and hopes are fulfilled when they worship the Goddess with true commitment and devotion.
History of the Temple
Tradition says that the shrine was discovered long ago, when a light was seen rising from the forest at this spot. The temple grew famous under Maharaja Pratapaditya, the 16th-century ruler of Jessore and one of the Baro-Bhuyan chieftains of Bengal, who worshipped Jeshoreshwari as his protecting goddess and is believed to have built or renovated the temple. Parts of the old structure, including a large hall (natmandir), still stand, though much has been lost to time.
Festivals & Worship
Kali Puja on the new-moon night of Diwali is the main festival, when devotees from Bangladesh and India come to worship the Goddess. A fair is held at that time, and Durga Puja and Navaratri are also celebrated. Special pujas take place on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
How to Reach & When to Visit
Travel to Satkhira by road from Dhaka or Khulna, and then on to Shyamnagar and Ishwaripur. Visitors from India can cross at the Bhomra land port near Satkhira or at Benapole, with a valid passport and Bangladesh visa. The best time to visit is from November to March, and a trip can be combined with a visit to the Sundarbans.