My Chandernagore and her Jagaddhatri Puja: October 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Rituals and the idol

The formal difference between goddess Durga and Jagaddhatri lies in Mayatantra and Jagaddhatri is mentioned with reference to Durga in Krishnanda’s Tantrasaar. The rule to perform the special puja of the goddess on the ninth lunar day of the light fortnight in the Bengali month of Kartick has been mentioned in Krityatattarnab by Srinath Acharyachuramoni of the 15-16th century. The four-handed goddess is carried by the lion everywhere, an elephant lies at the feet of the lion. The idol has an old fashioned shaping, i.e. the face cutting is of a longish pattern; it has large eyes spread up to the ears and the four hands display conch, discus, shaft and bow respectively. The snake is her sacred thread. One of the main attraction of Jagaddhatri idol of Chandernagore is the ornamental decoration of the goddess with shola (stick) and daker shaj (beautiful canvas of mats) with aweful painting at the back of the image.

A brief history

The ancient history of Jagaddhatri Puja in Chandernagore is unknown even today. It is believed that Indranarayan Chowdhury introduced the Jagadhatri Puja in Chandernagore similar in rituals to Raja Krishnachandra of Krishnanagore. Jagaddhatri Puja made its debut in Krishnanagore in 1762. Indranarayan Choudhury died in 1756. So Indranarayan Choudhury by no means could have introduced the Jagaddhatri puja in Chandernagore. The beginning of Jagaddhatri puja in Chandernagore probably dates back earlier than 1750. Indranarayan Choudhury performed the Jagaddhatri puja at his own house in Chandernagore, at that time Raja Krishnachandra used to come to borrow money from Indranarayan Choudhury. Perhaps this was when Raja Krishnachandra was attracted to greatness of goddess Jagadhatri.

Wandering ???

Wandering all your memory lanes to match this one with something you have seen? It may be just a wastage of time.

Now let me Explain.

Its a cactus placed in an earthenware with the head of a clay doll placed in such place&way that it is enough to leave the sharpest brains wandering their memory lanes.

Where on earth is this ?

Don't worry. I have answer for that question also. It is in a house in Natun Para, Mankundu, Chandernagore, Hooghly, West-Bengal, India.

Wanna one for your place too ? !!!