Finding Bhakti in West Bengal- Fullhara and Firinghi Kalibari

 

Fullara Temple, Birbhum- West Bengal 

Fullara Maata has no murti 

Except for a stone of 15 feet

To symbolize the lower lip of Devi Sati

That is said to have fallen at Labhpur

Source: Trip Advisor

A small town in Birbhum district of West Bengal

The land is sacred, one of the 51 pithas 

Where Maa Sati’s dead body fell to the earth;

A century-old, the mondir sees countless bhakts 

Visiting the site during the Magh Purnima yearly fest 

 

Source: Temple Puhorit

The natural pond beside the murti is no more

A water body that once held blue lotuses;

The same blooms which Prabhu Hanuman collected 

For Ram Ji's pooja to worship Maa Durga 

 

Source: WB Tourism

Now Maa Fullara resides, 

Alongside her consort Prabhu Vishwesh

Prabhu Bhairav shares space with them

As a murti of the Mahadev sits on a lotus 

Let your bhakti bloom

As you bow down in reverence 

To Maa Fullara, whose name means to bloom

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Firinghi Kalibari, Kolkata- West Bengal 

Located in the busy streets of Kolkata

Is a mondir more than 500 years old 

Maa Kali in her magnificent avatar 

Resides in this tiny mondir 

Giving her blessings to the bhakts 

Who trust her with their lives

 

Why the name Firinghi you wonder, don’t you?

It comes from Hensman Anthony, a Portuguese 

Who was fondly called Anthony Firingee, 

By the locals for his bhakti and belief in Maa Kali

The man married a widow, Soudamini

Converted to Hinduism, embracing Santan Dharma

And composed verses dedicated to Maa Siddeswari Kali

Source: Tour My India
His faith was rewarded, 

Written for the future generations to see

On a plague at the temple 

That belongs to 1498 AD (905 Bengali Year)

Source: Nilkantho

 

Built by a Srimanta Dom

A man from the lowly class with high values

Being the poojari and the bhakt

He treated people with smallpox 

Requesting Devi Sitala to spare their lives. 

Source: Mondir

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Sources:

https://rgyan.com/en/temples/firinghi-kalibari 

https://www.tourmyindia.com/states/west-bengal/firinghi-kalibari-temple-kolkata.html 

https://mondir.wordpress.com/asia/india/west-bengal/kolkata/firinghi-kalibari/ 

http://birbhum.nic.in/tourism/BirbhumTourism.pdf 

https://www.pilgrimaide.com/temples/attahas-fullara-devi-temple 

https://discoveringkolkata.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/firingee-kali-bari-famous-kali-temple-of-bowbazar-kolkata/

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