Taraknath Temple

Temple of Taraknath with Dudhpukur tank in the foreground

This is the major temple of Tarakeswar. It should not be confused with Shiva's Tarakeshwara Temple in Karnataka, India.

The Taraknath temple, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva worshiped as Taraknath, is a major pilgrimage spot in the town of Tarakeswar, West Bengal, India. Built in 1729, the temple is an atchala structure of Bengal temple architecture with a 'natmandir' in front. Close by are the shrines of Kali and Lakshmi Narayan. Dudhpukur, a tank to the north of the Shiva temple is believed to fulfil the prayers of those taking a dip in it.^[1]

Legends

As per local legends, the temple was built after a dream which led the mendicant brother of Raja Vishnu Das to discover a Linga in the jungles near Tarakeswar. The temple was later built around the swayambhu linga (self-manifested) referred as Baba Taraknath in 1729 AD.^[1]^[2]

Festivities

Pilgrims visit the temple throughout the year, especially on Mondays. But thousands of pilgrims visit Tarakeswar on the occasions of 'Shivaratri' and 'Gajan', the former taking place in Phalgun (Feb-March) while the latter lasts for five days ending on the last day of Chaitra (mid-April). The month of Sravana (mid-July to mid-August) is auspicious for Shiva when celebrations are held n each Monday.

References

External links

Taraknath Temple wikimapia

Hindu Temples in West Bengal

Bankura	Temples in Bishnupur Bahulara Siddheshwara

Bardhaman	Kalyaneshwari Temple Khaepa Kali Tala Pratapeswar Temple Naba Kailash (108 Shib Mandir) Krishna Chandra Mandir Siddheswari Kali Mandir Gopalbari Mandir Lalji Mandir

Birbhum	Nandikeshwari Temple Tarapith

Hooghly	Ananta Basudeba Temple Hangseshwari Temple Taraknath Temple Rampara Kalibari Jagatnagar kalibari

Howrah	Belur Math Madangopal Jiu Temple

Jalpaiguri

Kolkata	Birla Mandir Kalighat Thanthania Kalibari Firinghi Kalibari Lal Mandir Dwadosh Shib Mandir Lake Kalibari

Nadia	Mayapur ISKCON Temple Sonar Gouranga Mandir, Nabadwip Sri Chaitanya Saraswat Math, Nabadwip Dwadash Shib Mandir, Nabadwip Siddheshwari Kalibari, Krishnanagar Shyama Chand Mandir, Shantipur Nandakishore Mandir, Halisahar Rathtala Mandir, Kanchrapara

North 24 Parganas	Dakshineswar Kali Temple Kripamayee Kali Temple Adyapith Mandir Teghoria Loknath Mandir

Medinipur	Mohanpur Jagannath temple

Centres	Antpur Bakreshwar Barakar Bansberia Bishnupur Harmasra Dharapat Ekteswar Gangasagar Jaydev Kenduli Kalna Kamarpukur Kankalitala Labhpur Mainaguri Makardaha Mayapur Nabadwip Rajbalhat Sonatapal Tarapith Tarakeswar

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