Durga puja organized at Jagatballavpur in Bengal is famous for unique Durga idol – Singhabahini. The Mother rides a white lion, eight-armed, golden-complexioned, smiling, and benevolent. In Her three right hands She holds a sword, an arrow, and a noose. In Her left hands She holds a shield, a bow with arrows, and a conch. Her remaining two hands, left and right together, form the eternal gesture of boons and protection.
Jagatballavpur Durga Puja Story
One of the descendants of the zamindar Rani Bhabani lived at
Jagatballavpur. It was here that the Mother, revealed in a dream, took Her
place as the eight-armed, lion-riding deity. This is like a distinct
manifestation of Her Kushmanda form.
In the background panel above Her are depicted Nandikeshwar
Mahadev, the ten Mahavidyas, and the ten incarnations of Vishnu. But the most
astonishing fact is that this ancient idol is made of daru, that is,
wood—crafted entirely from neem wood. And within this lies the secret of that
divine dream-command.
About five hundred years ago, the household of Maniram
Chakrabarti stood in this region. He was a householder-ascetic. He would
meditate beneath a neem tree near his home.
One evening, after completing his chants and rituals, he sat
down for meditation. A beautifully adorned young girl appeared and interrupted
the Brahmin’s practice. She introduced herself as the daughter of King Krishna
Ray of Bardhaman! She said she had come with the naib to inspect her father’s
estate. Saying this, the girl sat down beneath that very tree.
Maniram Chakrabarti stood had never heard such a thing. In
haste he went to call his wife. But when he returned, the girl was gone. He was
bewildered—if a royal princess had truly come to such a small village, it would
have caused a great stir! Yet there was no commotion, no one searching for her.
And where had the girl disappeared to?
That very night, the lion-riding Mother appeared in the
zamindar’s dream. She had come at the call of Mukundaram himself. She could not
leave the place of his meditation. From that neem tree Her Gauri-form would be
carved—because it was in the form of a royal maiden, Gauri Herself, that She
had appeared.
The king donated 365 bighas of debuttar land and built the
temple. Mukundaram Chakrabarti became the temple priest. Mother Singhabahini
was served daily with offerings of food.
On the sacred tithi of Sita Navami, the Mother’s annual worship and the Annakut festival are held. A grand fair is celebrated as well.