Tarapith Temple

Tarapith temple (Bengali pronunciation: [tarapiʈʰ mondir]), is a Hindu temple in Tarapith, Birbhum, West Bengal in India, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Tara, the second of the ten Mahavidyas in Hinduism. It is recognised as both a Shaktipith and Siddhapith, and has long been regarded as one of the most prominent and historically significant centres of Tantra and Shakti worship. According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, Kalika Purana, Markandeya Purana and the Shakti Peetha Stotram, the third eye of Goddess Sati fell here, after Vishnu's Sudarshan Chakra splintered her body into many parts to calm down Mahadev's rage, during his cosmic dance. Vashishta Muni, who first saw it, started worshipping there and the place was later developed into a temple. In addition to the temple, Tarapith is closely associated with the mystic saint Bamakhepa, who is said to have had deep spiritual experiences in this area. The cremation ground accompanying the temple is one of the most revered and popular sites for tantric practices in Shaktism.