Nandikeshwari Temple, Sainthia

Nandikeshwari temple is located at Nandipur village, which is now a part of Sainthia town, Birbhum district, West Bengal (220 Km from Kolkata). The Sainthia town is located on the bank of the river Mayurakshi. The name is Sainthia comes from ‘Sain’, a Bengali term used to refer to an Islamic priest. Sainthia is also known as ‘Nandipur’, after Nandikeshwari Temple.

History Of Nandikeshwari Temple

The chief legend of Nandikeshwar relates to the creation of the Shakti Peethas. Sati, the daughter of Prajapati Daksha, was married to the god Shiva versus his wishes. Daksha arranged a great yajna but did not invite Sati and Shiva. Uninvited, Sati reached the Yajna site, where Daksha ignored Sati as well as Shiva.

Sati was not able to withstand this insult. So, Devi Sati gave her life by jumping into the fire of Havan organized by her father King Daksh. When Lord Shiva was running around the planet carrying her body Lord Vishnu divided the body into 51 parts utilizing his Sudarshan chakra. Out of those 51 parts, from which the ‘Necklace ’ of Sati fell to this place. Here Sati is called Nandini and Lord Shiva is called Nandikeshwar.

Nandikeshwari temple was constructed in 1320 (According to the Bengali calendar). It rests on a high platform and includes lots of extra smaller-sized shrines to lots of gods and goddesses of the Hindu temple. Statuettes of the Dasa Mahavidya are sculpted on the walls overlooking the main temple. The name of Goddess is stemmed from ‘Nandi’, the pet and devotee of Lord Shiva, and ‘Ishwari’ (Deity), meaning ‘one who is worshiped by Nandi, the spiritual bull.

Idol Of Nandikeshwari Temple

The main temple of the location is Maa Nandikeshwari temple. The goddess is believed to be existing in a huge mounted stone, dipped with vermillion, in the form of the backside of a turtle (kurma). She is beautified with a silver crown and 3 golden eyes. The main idol in the temple is a black stone which is now almost Red as devotees use Sindur to pray the Divine Stone as Maa. 

Other Temples In Nandikeshwari Temple Campus 

•  Shiva temple,
• Maha Saraswati temple,
• Maha Laxmi Ganesha temple
• Vishnu Laxmi temple
• Radha Govinda temple,
• Bhairav Nandikeshwari Temple,
• Hanuman Bajrangbali temple

There is also an ancient Banyan tree which is placed inside the temple area and devotees bind ropes with red color with a wish to Maa Durga in this holy place.

Festivals at Nandikeshwari Temple

Baisakhi Purnima is celebrated as it is the 1st day of the Bengali New Year. Kali Puja is done on the Amavasya of every month but in the month of Kartik, it is precious. Each year celebration of Nandikeshwari is celebrated during Shardiya Navratri.

Temple Rituals Of Nandikeshwari Temple

Apart from the Nitya Puja, worshipping, and aarti, Mata Nandikeswari is offered with Anna-Bhoga (rice meal) every day at noontime. Later on, the prasad is dispersed among the darshan-artis. On the auspicious celebrations of Buddha Purnima or Baishakhi Purnima (full moon) and on Kali Puja, very special pujas and yajnas are performed in this temple of Sainthia.

Nandikeshwari Temple Nearby Attractions

• Tarapith Temple, Tarapith
• Vishwabharati Academy’s College of Engineering.
• Ballabhpur Wildlife Sanctuary
• Patha Bhavana, Santiniketan
• Amar Kutir
• Santiniketan

How to reach Nandikeshwari Temple

• Sainthia Railway Station is about 1.5 km from the temple.
• The nearest Airport is Durgapur Airport, about 105 km from the temple.
• Kolkata Airport is about 193 km from the temple.

Temple Video and Images