Maata Sarvamangla Temple (Burdwan, West Bengal)

The idol of Mata Sarbamangala is very old (approx. 2500 years) from time immemorial, people felt the existence of it in old literatures and holy books. This is an idol of Mata Durga with eighteen hands and bestowed on Lion “MAHISHA MARDINI” and is the first NABARATNA Temple in the undivided Bengal. The structure of the Temple manifests the unique blending of art and architecture of Terracotta style and popular architecture of the then Bengal. The historians have graciously depicted the historical importance and the archaic value of the Temple. The Sarbamangala Temple is historically important tourist place in Burdwan District.

From this point of view the age of creation of this deity is more than two thousand five hundred years ago. The name of weapons are – Lotus, Conch, Axe, Arrow, Hammer, Bow, Sword, Shield, Thunder, Wheel, Bell, Snake, Kamandalu, Bead, Rod, Pierce and Sakti i.e. advent of the DEITY was taken from the idea of CHANDI and therefore the time of appearance of this DEITY SARBAMANGALA is before two thousand five hundred years. From the CHANDIMANGAL KAVYA of Mukunda Chakroborty and from the poem of Bharat Chandra Roy it is found that the DEITY SARBAMANGALA is not only devi of Burdwan, SHE is the Mother of Garh. In the year 1740-1744, the DEITY, was installed in a beautiful Temple adorned with NAVARATNA DEUL on the roof of the Temple. The architecture was originally taken from PAL style. Before installation in this Temple, the DEITY was fixed somewhere at Burdwan town on the bank of river BANKA or DAMODAR in Western part of Burdwan. During the attack of KALAPAHAR, perhaps, the priests of the DEITY SARBAMANGALA was taken from its original Temple and merged in one pond at BAHIR SARBAMANGALA MOUZA to save the DEITY and there after lime manufacturers got the DEITY along with the ingredients of lime. When the ingredients of lime were burnt they found that all snails, oysters and cockle were burnt to white ashes but the stone was as it was. The place where from the DEITY SARBAMANGALA was collected by the lime manufacturers is called now BAHIR SARBAMANGALA PARA.

How to Reach: Burdwan is well connected by trains from Howrah and Sealdah. It is around 4 kms away from Burdwan station.