Names & Legend
Visitors to the Yogadya (Yogadaya) Shakti Peeth discover many remarkable traditions. It is one of the most loved Shakti Peeths of Bengal, filled with the spiritual power of Mata Sati.
When Lord Vishnu divided Sati’s body with his Sudarshan Chakra as Lord Shiva carried it in grief, the big toe of Sati’s right foot is believed, according to one tradition, to have fallen here. Some also connect this peeth with the Chintpurni temple, but Khirgram is widely honoured as the true seat of Yogadya.
Location
The Shakti Peeth is in the village of Khirgram (Kshirgram) in Purba Bardhaman district, West Bengal. Pilgrims can take any train to Bardhaman (Burdwan) Junction and from there reach Khirgram by road without much difficulty.
The Goddess & Bhairava
The local people worship the Goddess as Yogadya, “the first among the yoginis”, and Lord Shiva as Bhairava is called Kshirkantak (Khirakantha). Devotees believe that the Goddess fulfils every wish of those who worship her and her temple with heart and soul, and that sincere devotion matters more here than elaborate ritual.
A pindi (sacred stone) in the temple represents the feet of Devi Sati.
The Goddess Under the Water
The most remarkable tradition of Khirgram is that the stone image of Goddess Yogadya is kept submerged in the waters of the sacred pond, Kshirdighi, for most of the year. It is brought out only on special occasions – above all on Baisakh Sankranti (mid-April), the last day of the Bengali year – when thousands of devotees gather for her darshan before she is returned to the water.
The Ramayana Legend
A local legend links Yogadya with the Ramayana. The demon Mahiravana, a ruler of the underworld, worshipped the Goddess as his protector and planned to sacrifice Rama and Lakshmana to her. Hanuman entered the underworld, destroyed Mahiravana and rescued the brothers. Then, at the Goddess’s wish, he carried her from the underworld and installed her at Khirgram, where she has been worshipped ever since.
Festivals, Travel & When to Visit
Besides Baisakh Sankranti, Durga Puja, Kali Puja and Navaratri are celebrated with devotion. Bardhaman Junction, on the main line from Howrah, is the most convenient railhead, and buses and taxis go to Khirgram; the nearest small stations are on the Bardhaman–Katwa line. The best time to visit is from October to April, ideally for the Baisakh festival.