Hangsheshwari Temp and Ananga
Basudev Temple, Bansberia
Youtube Link: https://youtu.be/zGj4vSgirBo
Location: “Shri Hangseshwari
Temple, X97X+PW7, Bansberia Rd, Bansberia, Mithapukur More, West Bengal 712502”
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hangseshwari_Temple
https://chitrolekha.com/story-of-the-hanseswari-temple-banshberia/
https://hooghly.nic.in/tourist-place/hangseswari-temple/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ananta_Basudeba_Temple
In 1673, Zamindar Rameshwar Ray left
Patuli and settled in Bansberia or Banskabati as it was known earlier in
Hooghly. Bansberia is located besides our holy river Hooghly, and in between
Tribeni and Bandel. Zamindar Rameshwar Ray was gifted this village of around
400 Bigha of Land and its Zamindari by the Mughal emperor Shahjehan who also
gifted him the prestigious title of King. From this time onward many of his
kith and kin settled in Bansberia.
Bansberia was also one of
the important villages of the Saptagram (a unit of seven villages), an
important port town in medieval Bengal. Its importance in pre-Muslim
Bengal was religious, owing to its location at the Tribeni or confluence of
three rivers. After Muslim occupation in the late 13th century (by a
Ghazi or warrior-saint named Zafar Khan) it continued to be an important
city under the Tughlaks, as a military base, mint-town and port. After
the Mughal conquest of Bengal in the mid-16th century, the city started to
decline due to the loss of royal patronage, but some areas such as Bansberia
continued to prosper up to the 19th century, sponsored by semi-independent
zamindars who built several temples in the area. Amongst these is the
Hanseswari Temple built in 1814. It was constructed by the wife of
Nrisinghadeb, the grandson of Rameshwar.
The Hanseswari temple was built in the
beginning of the 19th century. The main deity is the blue neem-wood
idol of the four-armed goddess Hanseswari, a manifestation of Goddess Kali. The
temple is 21 meter high and has 13 towers. The peak of each tower is shaped as
a lotus flower. Built according to Tantric principles, this five-storey shrine
follows the structure of a human body – Ira, Pingala, Bajraksha, Sushumna and
Chitrini. The architecture of the temples is the representation of "Tantrik Satchakrabhed". The deity has been designed and installed following the concept of Yoga
and Pranayam. The word “Hong” is pronounced at the time of breathing out
whereas the word “S-a-a” is uttered at the time of breathing in. “Hong”
manifests “Shiva” and “S-a-a” represents “Mother Shakti.” The temple has
both the Deities of Shiva and Shakti and hence the name is “Hansheswari”. On
the top of thousand petals blue lotus, lies the eight petals bloodred lotus.
Image of white “Shiva” is found to be lying on six triangular marbles. From the
navel of “Mahadeva”, a lotus stem has come out carrying twelve petals blood-red
lotus.
The upper left hand
of Mother Shakti, is carrying a sword to represent her power to curb the
demons, the lower left one is carrying a severed head of a demon; the upper
right palm is posed in a “Fearless-Mudra (Abhaya Mudra)” so as to depict her as
the “Protector” of the world from the evils whereas the lower right hand is
posed in a way as if to offer her blessings to all (“Bar-Mudra”). The Deity is
blue in colour and made of wood derived from “Neem” tree. The room beneath the
Central Minar has a white marbled “Shiv linga”
The inner chamber is
connected to all the 13 domes through narrow passageways, said to represent the
nerves of a human body.
The temple complex has another
temple— Ananta Basudeba temple — besides the main temple. There is
also the Swanbhaba Kali temple nearby built by Raja Nrisinhadeb Roy
Mahasay in 1788. This temple too holds a very special position as a terracotta
temple with exquisite terracotta works on it.
In December 1799, Raja Nrisinhadeb Roy Mahasay laid the
foundation stone of this temple. But after completion of the second storey in
1802, the founder died leaving this far-famed temple incomplete. His
second wife Rani Sankari completed the rest of the work in 1814. The
temple is known for its unique ratna
architecture.
Ananta Basudeba temple is a Hindu temple of Lord Krishna in the Hangseshwari
temple complex in Banshberia, Built by Raja Rameswar Datta in 1679,
this temple is noted for the exquisite terra cotta works on its walls. It is built in the
traditional eka-ratna style, with curved cornices. The tower on top of the
temple is octagonal. The terracota works depict stories from the great Indian
epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, as well as from lilas of Krishna.
The Ananta Basudev Temple
follows the typical ekratna style of Bengal Temple Architecture, where the
temple is crowned with a single pinnacle. The pinnacle of the Ananta Basudev
Temple is octagonal. Three sides of the temple along with the pinnacle
is covered with finest terracotta. Terracotta so intricate that it inspired the
great poet Rabindranath Tagore. The terracotta panels of Anata Basudev Temple
contains an interesting mix, covering religious figures like Kali, Durga and
Krishna along with panels of boats & ships, dancing girls, scenes from war
and last but not least scenes from daily life.
How to Reach Bansberia
By Road: From Bansberia Station to Hanseswari temple it is about five
minutes by rickshaw.
By Train: Hanseswari
Temple is situated at Banseberia, which is a rail station of Bandel(Jn)-Katwa
Main Line is the nearest Rail Station. For reaching Bansberia station, take
a train for Bandel from Howrah station and from Bandel station. From Bandel
take a train towards Bansberia will take around 10 minutes.
By Air: The nearest
Airport is Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, Kolkata.
Timings:
Monday to Sunday: 7:00 AM – 12:30 PM, 4:00 PM – 7:30 PM.
Bhog Timing: Available from 1:00 PM (coupons
available before 10:00 AM).
Famous Festivals:
Kali Puja: The most significant festival celebrated
at the temple with special rituals.
Durga Puja: Celebrated with grandeur, attracting
numerous devotees.
Photography and Parking:
Proper dedicated parking is available around
200 meters from the temple in a ground.
Photography is completely allowed. Drones can
be used from outside the temple