Jalpesh Temple

Jalpesh Temple[1] (Bengali: জল্পেশ মন্দির) is an important Hindu temple dedicated to the Bhramari Saktipitha's Bhairava as Jalpesh. The worshiped in this temple is Bhairava as Jalpesh, a form of Shiva – one of Hinduism's trinity of supreme divinity. The temple is located on the banks of the Jarda river, 7–8 km from Mainaguri town in the Indian state of West Bengal.

Jalpesh Temple
Religion
AffiliationHinduism
DistrictJalpaiguri
DeityShiva
FestivalMaha Shivaratri
Governing bodyJalpesh Temple Board of Trustees
Location
LocationMainaguri
StateWest Bengal
CountryIndia
Architecture
CreatorBiswa Singha
Date established1524

1563 (reconstruction)
1653 (Reconstructed by Raja Pran Narayana)

30 January 1899 (Restoration by Queen Jagadeswari Devi)

History

Bishwa Singha, father of Maharaja Nara Narayan of Cooch Behar, founded the Jalpesh temple in 1524. Later he rebuilt the temple in 1563. Again after 100 years, King Pran Narayan rebuilt this temple in 1663.[2][3]

During the reign of King Lakshmi Narayan of Cooch Behar, Mahidev Raikat declared his independence in 1621 AD, refusing to obedience to the Koch dynasty. Since then the temple was under the supervision of Raikats of Baikunthapur. It was restored on 30 January 1899 by Rani Jagadeswari Devi, wife of King Jagendra Deva Raikat.[3][4]

An earthquake occurred in Jalpaiguri district on 26 April 2015 at 11:41 AM (IST). The duration of the earthquake was 58 seconds. Initially, the magnitude of the tremor was 7.5 on the Richter scale, but it was finally 7.8. University of North Bengal's meteorologist Subir Sarkar said that the magnitude of the earthquake in Jalpaiguri was 6.9 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused numerous cracks in the walls and spire of the ancient Jalpesh temple.[5]

Deity

The worshiping deity in the temple is Bhairava as Jalpesh. Inside the temple there is a Shivalinga called 'Anadi'.[6]

Festivals and fairs

The main festival celebrated in this temple is Mahashivratri. Pilgrims come in July–August and February–March to worship Lord Shiva. Shravani Mela is held in the temple during the month of Shravan. Ever since the construction of the temple in the 17th century, a famous fair started here on the occasion of Shiva Ratri. The fair is one of the oldest fairs in West Bengal. Hundreds of thousands of people gather for the fair. Before India's independence, elephants were sold at these fairs. People from Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and other nearby states come here for the fair.[7][8]

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jalpesh Temple.
  1. "Japlesh Temple". northbengaltourism.com.
  2. "Cooch Behar Government: Royal History : Book of Facts and Events". www.coochbehar.gov.in. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  3. "বহু প্রাচীন মন্দির, যার সঙ্গে জড়িয়ে আছে রাজকাহিনিও". bengali.indianexpress.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  4. "শিব চতুর্দশী উপলক্ষ্যে জমজমাট শৈবতীর্থ জল্পেশ". kolkata24x7.com (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  5. "ফের ভূকম্পে ফাটল জল্পেশের মন্দিরে". Anandabazar (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  6. "Jalpesh Mandir (জল্পেশ মন্দির) – Mahashivaratri is the key festival celebrated in this temple". dooars.info. Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  7. "পর্যটক টানতে ঢেলে সাজা হচ্ছে জল্পেশ, জটিলেশ্বর". Anandabazar (in Bengali). Retrieved 5 April 2023.
  8. "জল্পেশ জমজমাট". Anandabazar. Retrieved 5 April 2023.

26°31′32″N 88°52′01″E

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