Koyalpara, Joyarambati & Sihore temples Visit - Dec'16

31st Dec'16:

On this fine day, early morning, Madhanji came and picked us, and the first temple we have got to visit was Koyalpara Ashram

Koyalpara - Koyalpara Ashram (Temple 245)
Address: Sri Sarada Maa & Guru Maharaj temple, Koyalpara, Joyarambati, West Bengal - 722141

Koyalpara Ashram

Koyalpara Ashram is deeply associated with Holy Mother Sri Saradha Maa's life. Mother traveled between Joyarambati and Kolkata mainly by bullock cart. During the three days that the journey lasted, she halted at several places on the way. Between 1909 and 1919 she invariably stopped at Koalpara, which she called as her 'parlour'.

Mother is known to have installed and worshiped her own picture in a few places, Koalpara is one such place where she installed her picture along with that of Sri Ramakrishna in Nov'1911. She took both the pictures in her hands, touched them with her head for a while, kept them on the altar and offered flowers. We have offered our humble pranams to Guru Maharaj & Saradha maa and then visited Jagadamba Ashram. 


Koyalpara - Jagadamba Ashram (Temple 246)
Address: Jagadamba Ashram, Koyalpara, West Bengal - 722141

Jagadamba Ashram

Jagadamba Ashram is a small solitary house, a 10 min walk from Koyalpara Ashram. Mother stayed here on a few occasions with her niece Radhu. Kedar (Swami Kesavananda) was a disciple of mother and the founder of Koyalpara Ashram. His mother's name was Jagadamba, who too was a devotee of Mother. Since this house belonged to Jagadamba, it came to be known as Jagadamba Ashram. Offered our prayers to Holy Mother &  then visited Shiva temple near the Cremation of Saradha Maa's parents. 

Sihore - Shiva temple & Cremation of Saradha Maa's parents (Temple 247) 
Address: Sihore Shiva temple & Cremation of Saradha Maa's parents, West Bengal - 722141

Sihore - Shiva temple

Cremation of Saradha Maa's parents

A small Shiva temple was available near by the lake where Holy mother used to take bath daily. We have worshiped Lord Shiva & then offered our pranams to Cremation of Saradha Maa's parents (Ramachandra Mukhopadhyay and Shyama Sundari Devi) available nearby and then visited Sri Saradha Mutt at Sihore.

Sihore - Sri Saradha Mutt (Temple 248) 
Address: Sri Saradha Mutt, Sihore, West Bengal - 722141

Sri Saradha Mutt at Sihore is another famous place to visit. Offered our humble pranams to Holy Trios here and then visited Shri Shanthinath Shiva temple at Sihore. 

Sihore - Sri Shanthinath Shiva temple (Temple 249)
Address: Sri Shanthinath Shiva temple, Sihore, West Bengal - 722141

Sri Shanthinath Shiva temple, Sihore

Shri Shanthinath Shiva temple at Sihore has got an important significance that Holy mother Sri saradha maa met Guru Maharaj for the first time at the age of 5. We have worshiped the deity and the visited Simhavahini temple.

Joyarombati - Simhavahini temple (Temple 250)
Address: Simhavahini temple, Joyarambati, West Bengal - 722141

Simhavahini temple 1

Simhavahini temple 2

Simhavahini temple is dedicated to Durga Devi, the deity of Joyarambati. Among the three small images in the temple, the one in the middle represents Simhavahini Devi (Durga), to her right is Chandi and to her left is Mahamaya, both are companions of Simhavahini Devi. To the far left is Manasa Devi, the Serpent Goddess. There are several incidents in Mother's life that vouch for the living presence of the Devi.

The soil from the temple is believed to have medicinal properties. We have offered our prayers to Simhavahini Devi & took soil, then we got to visit Sri Sri Matri mandir at Joyarambati.

Joyarombati - Sri Sri Matri Mandir (Temple 251)
Address: Sri Sri Matri Mandir, Bankura, Joyarambati, West Bengal - 722161

At Sri Sri Matri mandir

                             

Sri Sri Matri Mandir

Sri Sri Matri mandir stands on the holy place where mother was born. Here stood her original house, where she lived till she was nine years old. Her marriage to Sri Ramakrishna took place here. Mother's temple was consecrated by Swami Saradhananda on 19th Apr'1923. She was first worshiped in a picture. Later, the present, beautiful marble image of Mother was installed in 1954, during her birth centenary. The sacred relics of Mother are enshrined in the altar as her image. 

It was a most memorable visit for us to this place, to receive blessings from Holy Mother. Offered our pranams to Holy Mother. Had Lunch prasad & then visited Puratan Bari.

Joyarombati - Puratan Bari - Holy Mother's Old house (Temple 252)
Address: Puratan Bari, Holy Mother's Old house, Near Sri Sri Matri Mandir, Bankura, Joyarambati, West Bengal - 722161

Puratan Bari

When we enter the main gate of Matri mandir, the huts to our left form Puratan Bari. Holy Mother lived in the first hut to our left for almost 52 years, until 1915. She blessed many people here with mantra diksha, Brahmacharya and Sannyasa. After viewing Puratan Bari, got to visit Nutan Bari.

Joyarombati - Nutan Bari - Holy Mother's Old house (Temple 253)
Address: Nutan Bari, Holy Mother's Old house, Near Sri Sri Matri Mandir, Bankura, Joyarambati, West Bengal - 722161

Nutan Bari

Before the main gate to Joyarambati centre, there is a small door on the right leading to a group of small houses. This is Mother's New house. As we enter the door, the first room to our left is where Mother lived between May 1915 and February 1920. Here too she blessed many people with mantra diksha, brahmacharya and Sannyasa. 

It was the most wonderful & memorable year end trip to West Bengal !!