Kirita Shakti Peetha

► Dahapara - Devi Kiriteshwari Temple
(Murshidabad district, West Bengal)

Dahapara Devi Kiriteshwari Temple is identified with the Kirita Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra.

According to history, during the time of king Akbar, a person named Bhagavan Rai became the "kanungo" (a position) of Bengal, Bihar and Odisha. During that time, Kiriteshwari Devi temple was known as "Bhavanir Than". Bhagavan Rai renovated that temple during his time. After that, during the time of king Aurangazeb, Darpanarayan Rai, a descendant of Bhagavan Rai became the "kanungo" of the place. Incidentally, he settled in Murshidabad near the temple of Devi Kiriteshwari. Also, during that time, Murshidabad became the capital of Bengal. Darpanarayan Rai cleared the forested area and renovated the temple further. He also built a new temple of Devi (which was east-facing in comparison to the earlier temple which was south-facing). Apart from the new temple of Devi, Darpanarayan Rai built some Shiva temples and a temple tank known as Kalisagar. He also started a Mela (festival congregation) during every Tuesday of the month of Pausha. Kiriteshwari Devi temple was known as "Gupta Math" during the time of Darpanarayan Rai. Currently, both the old and the new temples are there. The Image of Devi in the old temple is always covered with a red Sari. In the new temple, there is no Image of Devi but Her face is painted on a vedi. The Bhairava looks like meditating Buddha (probably due to this the place was known as "Gupta Math" where sadhakas meditated).

Prominent among those who performed sadhanas in this place (and awakened the place) is Ramakrishna Rai, the adopted son of Rani Bhavani. His panchamundi asana is still found here.