Duarsini, Purulia

Nature speaks in Her own language. Humans can understand that until he doesn’t keep himself apart from nature. But understanding of that language requires training. A training that includes internal discipline that allows the Nature to communicate. Hard to master, but the journey can be started. In the world there are certain places, where Mother Nature is so gracious that She is ever ready to communicate with Her children. In such places the format we see around accurately matches with the ancient scriptures, we come to understand the apt truth behind the thoughts of our ancient wise masters. 21^st January, 2019 was just another regular day at work, until I visited such a vibrant ancient place, Goddess Duarsini Peetha, Bandwan, Purulia.

The Stream

The Parijata Peetha Hill

Way to the Parijata Peetha

Beside a small stream, the Goddess resides in the midst of the woods. Her abode is surrounded with a number of Kula-virkshas. Not very long ago, the forest was denser than it is today. The stream flows from Eeshan (north-east) to Nairrut (south-west) direction, while the Goddess faces the Eeshan direction. On both the sides of the stream hills are standing tall like the guardians of the Peetha. The priest takes the bath in the river and with a narrow path leading to the Goddess reaches for the daily ritual. The structure of the complete Peetha is so designed naturally that the sunrays never falls over the Goddess’s holy ritual stone. She, being the Goddess of darkness rules over the lands, speaks to Her children through the symphony of the stream, grants their wishes and accepts sacrifices reminding them the ultimate basic truth, blood and death remain. It is said that they are seven sisters, and Goddess Duarsini is one of them. The sacrificial stone is placed just in front of the Goddess and the animal is placed facing the Nairrut direction in the time of sacrifice. The sacrifice happens almost in daily basis. On the first day of Magh, popularly known as the Akhaan Yatra locally, thousands of sacrifices are offered to the Goddess so that the blood flows to the stream. This event is very much significant indeed. Just one day in a year the blood touches the water stream beside, just like once in hundreds of years the flow of our vital force, the Prana meets the ever flowing Prana of the universe. For that too the Yogi has to undergo thousands of sacrifices. Goddess Duarsini can possibly be the Goddess mentioned in the Devi Kavacham as the protector of the ears, dwAravAsinI. Being the Goddess of the Vyom-tattwa She is not bounded by any temple. The Kula-vrikshas there surrounds Her and keeps Her out of the sight of the people staying apart from the Moola Peetha. Though the Moola Peetha is surrounded by a number of Kula-Vrikshas a Banyan tree is situated on a hill on the other side of the stream, indicating the Parijata Peetha of the place. Beside the Parijata Peetha, Naaga Tila, the ritual place for the Serpents is placed. Decode if you can!

Newly made roadside temple indicating the Moola Peetha

the Moola Peetha

Moola Peetha Surrounded by Kula-vrikshas

Duarsini, though today popularly projected as a picnic spot or famous for some resort stuffs, is just a Yogi’s Paradise, a pilgrimage to the ancient nature. In todays world where even the Garbhagruhas of the acient deities are cooled with ACs and the Deva Vigrahas are illuminated with focus lights, Goddess Duarsini resides in Her absolute ancient glory. Not the Bramhins, the rituals are done by the Sons of the soil. Not with a pride of their authority, they do it as their duty and respects the Bramhins from their points of view. The chief priest asked me, “Are you a Bramhin?” I replied affirmative. He told, “They are our mentors. We have Sharmas as our priests.” I said, “You don’t need a priest! You are a priest yourself.” He replied, “There is always someone superior to you, my son.” It was sad that while coming back I couldn’t meet that guy, who being wise, great and a servant of the Mother Goddess Herself absolutely refused to take my pranaam, just because I was a Bramhin, a caste whom they considered their mentor. He said, “I am blessing you from here, my son” putting his hands on my head, “but don’t touch my feet”. I came back keeping a knot holding me back, bounded to the Goddess and an urge to visit the place again and again and again. A place, where tribal, folk, Aryan theories fade out, intellect is blocked. Only amazement remains, with a heart bowing down to the Goddess of darkness, forest and unexplored wisdom, Goddess Duarsini.