VILLAGE DEITY (GRAMDEVATA).

THE JOURNEY OF YOUR MIND  VILLAGE DEITY  (GRAMDEVATA). 

VILLAGE DEITIES type of folk deity widely worshiped in rural W.B.,  they continue to be propitiated with animal sacrifices as a way of warding off and removing epidemics, crop failures, and other natural disasters.They are worshiped in the form of earthenware icons or shapeless stones, established in simple shrines or on platforms set up under a village tree, THEY COLLECTION THEIR INCOME FROM FORESTS  & RIVERS ... FOR THESE REASON VILLAGE DEITIES WERE VERY VERY POPULAR.

MOST OF THE VILLAGE DEITY IS THE SYMBOL OF WILD ANIMAL & NATURE DESTRUCTION.EVERYDAY MEN FACE TO FACE WILD ANIMAL & NATURAL DESTRUCTION.DECOITS ON LAND, SNAKES &TIGERS IN FOREST, CROCODILES IN WATER!! THEY COLLECTION THEIR INCOME FROM FORESTS  & RIVERS . THERE IS NO RULE OF PROFESSION. FOR THESE REASON VILLAGE DEITIES WERE VERY VERY POPULAR. 

THE BANYAN TREE IS A TREE WHICH IS TO MUCH RELATE WITH INDIAN ANCIENT PHYLOSOPHY.IT GOT ITS STATUS OF OUR NATIONAL TREE BECAUSE OF ITS SIGNIFYCANCE IN OUR CULTURE, DEPICTED IN ALMOST ALL STORIES ON INDIA. MOREOVER, THE BANYAN TREE,ALSO REFERRED,AS TO KALPAVRIKHSYA,OR”WISH-FULFILLING TREE”,HAS MADICINAL PROPOTIES AND IS ASSOCIATED WITH LONGEVITY.

 

  THERE IS NO TEMPLE IN ARYAN AGE .THE ANOTHER NAME OF “FIR OF A SACRIFICE”IS GOD.PRAY FOR NATURAL POWER IS PRE-EMINENTLY.DESIGN OF  MANUFACTURING TEMPLE WAS UNKNOWN.IDEA OF MANUFACTURING TEMPLE COME TO LIGHT AT MYTHOLOGICAL AGE.ARYN &DRAVIDIAN BELIVE SACRIFICE &WORSHIP .PASS THROUGH ROAD THERE ARE MANY “THAN”BENEATH THE TREE.TREE LESS “THAN” IS NOT VISABLE IN INDIA.FLOOD PLAIN OF GANAGES FLOODED BY FLOOD-WATRE,(HEAVY RAIN FALL,CYCLANE ,LAND STRACTURE) IN THOSE COUSES TEMPLES ARE CHANGED MASS OF RUINS.REMAINING PORTION DISAPPERS BY NOW A DAYS.

                DAKSHIN ROY /  DOKKIN ROI

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DOKKIN ROI   IS THE PRIOR OF VILLAGE –DEITY OF WESTBENGAL. (FIRST TALK ABOUT BY KRISHNA RAM DAS --17^TH CENTURY)
BUT HIS CLASS CHARACTER IS REVEALED IN THE BANABIBI EPISODE. HIS EXACTS HUMAN LIFE AS RENT . HE IS RANKED WITH A ROYAL BENGAL (NAME:HIRA) TIGER.

 

ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT KING OF BENGAL WAS “PRATAPADITYA”.HE WAS THE RULER OF WESTBENGAL. HIS BROTHERS “MUKUL ROY” &  “BASANTA ROY” WERE CHIEF OF HERO.THE ANOTHER NAME OF DAKSHIN ROY IS BASANTAROY.

THE SOUTH PART OF BENGAL WAS HE UNDER OF CONTROL ,SO HE IS DAKSHIN ROY.“SONA ROY” (TIGER OF GOD) IS AS WELL-KNOWN  GOD OF NORTH BENGAL.

HE IS THE GOD OF TIGER BUT MEN BELIEF ROY RECOVERY FROM RHEUMATISM & ARTHRITIS.IN THIS AGE MOUL /BOULE / MALANGI /DHIBAR & BOATMAN OFFER WORSHIP AFTER & BEFORE THEIR JOURNEY.EVERY YEAR AT MIDNIGHT OF 1^st MAGHA (BENGALI MONTH) ROY WORSHIPED. IT IS CALLED “JANTALPUJA”.

 PURPOSE OF PUJA:

 GOD OF RAIN .

OBTAINING OF THE MISSING COW,GOAT.(CATTLE).

TO CATCH THE "ELSHA"FISH.

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BOOT BABA

 

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      ON THE BANK OF ADI GANGA, NEAR THE SULIPOTA RAILGATE (KRISHNAMOHAN STATION) THE TEMPLE OF BOOT BABA IS SETUTETD. LOCAL PEOPLE CALL “CHOTO KACHARI”.LONG YEARS AGO ANY BODY WENT TO “BARA KACHARI”(P.S-BISHNUPUR,VILL-JINUK BAREIA) ,PEOPLE HAD TO WALK A LOT FOR ,THAT REASON  ONE OF HIS  FOLLOWER BUILD A THAN’ AND BEGAN TO WORSHIP & NAME  IT “CHOTO KACHARI”.IN PAST THEIR WAS NO IDOL OR TEMPLE.



A TREE(SAWRAGACH) WAS WORSHIP & THAT WAS KNOWN AS BOOT BABA’S TREE,STILL THE “TREE” IS THERE.

 

                                         

                     A DEVOTEE NAME MOHIM MONDAL AFTER GET GOVT. SERVICE, WITH THE HELP OF A ARTIST (VHUBAN MONDAL) BUILD UP THE IDOL (A.D.1990). LONG YEARS AGO NO ‘MANTRA’ WAS  WORSHIP FOR HIM .NOW THE PRIEST (BRAHMIN) WORSHIP HIM BY SHIVA ‘S MANTRA.

                FISH (SHOLE), ALCOHOL & OTHER NARCOTIC PRODUCTS, MANY TYPE FRUITS & BATASA (KIND OF CAKE OF SUGAR & MOLASSES) ARE USE IN WORSHIP .

PUJA: EVERY SAT & TUE (12-30 PM TO 2 PM).

 ANNUAL PUJA: FHALGUN AT …… (MUST BE SATURDAY.)

REVEL IN THE ANNUAL PUJA

PURPOSE OF PUJA:

TO PREVENT GIVING BIRTH TO STILL BORN CHILDREN.

MARRIAGE FOR DAUGHTER.

TO SOLVE UNEMPLOYMENT PROBLEM.

COOPERATE RICH WITH CORN.

ACUTE PAIN, STIFFNESS OF NECK.

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SHITALA

SHITALA IS A POPULAR INDIA DEITY, WIDELY WORSHIPPED IN RURAL AREAS OF “BENGAL” AS THE GODDESS OF SMALLPOX AND PESTILENCE.

 

The goddess is mentioned in early Tantric and Purāṇic literature and her later appearance in vernacular texts (such as the Bengali 17th century Śītalā-maṅgal-kāvyas, ‘auspicious poetry’) has contributed to strengthen her role in village Hinduism .

 Shitala is described in the Pichchhilatantra of the Skandapurana as fair-complexioned, riding on an ass, with a water-filled pitcher in one hand and a broom on the other. Her name literally means "the cool one." Her followers believe that she sprinkles the nectar-mixed water with the broom and dispels disease and sufferings.

 

Goddess Sitala, a deity in Hinduism, is associated with the dreaded disease of small pox. The suffering person is given food and drinks having a cooling effect. The patient’s body is rubbed with the leaves of ‘neem’ (Azadirachta indica) tree, which has a cooling effect. This tree is believed to be the abode of the goddess. The association of the cool things with goddess is seen in her name ‘sitala’, which literally means ‘cool one’.According to the Hindu devotees, the disease is medium by which the goddess enters one’s body and becomes one with the devotee. The disease is therefore treated with respect. Goddess Sitala is considered as the mother goddess. The disease of small pox is seen as a means of strengthening the body. Once a person gets through the disease, he arises more strong and resistance to various diseases. The disease is thus a blessing in disguise. However in some areas, the disease is also considered as a punishment of the goddess.

Shitala is accompanied by Jvarāsura, the fever demon, Olāi Caṇḍi/Olāi Bibi, the goddess of cholera, the Cauṣaṭṭī Rogas,

 

                     Sitala is a harsh mother; she prepares us for the world. 

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                       BARA THAKUR

 

                                 “BARA THAKUR “(BARA GOD)  IS A SKILL IDOL,BUT WITH OUT CARRIAGE.HE IS WORSHIPED AT MASHS,HOUSE,PADDY FIELD.ON “POUSHA SANKRANTI”(END OF ONE BENGALI MONTH),PAHELA MAGHA(1^ST OF ONE BENGALI MONTH) BARA THAKUR WORSHIPED AS DAKSHINSHWRA , THERE ARE SOME VILLAGE RELATED THE WORD   “B A R A”.EX.-BARASAT( 24 PARGANAS),BARATALA / BARAGRAM (BIRBHUM),BARANASI (UTTAR PRADES).

“PADMA”(LOTUS) IS THE NATIONAL FLOWER OF WEST BENGAL. “PADMA”(LOTUS) IS LOOK BRIGHT ON THE HEAD OF BARA. BARA IDEOL IS DRAWN ON THE GHOT (WATER POT OF PUJA) BY POTTER. SOUTH PART OF 24 PARGANAS’S POTTERS BURN BARA IDOL WITH THE HELP OF STRAW,BUT IT IS UNETHICAL OF HINDU RELIGION.
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MANIKPIR.

                                        

            MANIKPIR WAS POOR MOSLEM SUFI .THERE WERE   FEW NUMBER OF IDOL   OF MANIKPIR .THE SYMBOL OF MANIKPIR TWO SMALL MUD  GRAVES .

  

                             LONG TIME AGO MANY PEOPLE DO BEGGARY BY SINGING AND BLOWING THE HORN . A SONG THAT WAS SANG BY THEM NOW ALSO KNOWN BY US LIKE “MUSKILASAN KARO DAYAL MANIKPIR” DR.SUKUMAR SAN THINK THAT.MANY PEOPLE THINK MANIKPIR&MAHADEV ARE SAME PARSON .FOR  EVOLUTION OF CIVILIZATION  THIS  SOCIETY GAVE THEM DIFFERENT CHARACTER  .  

                

                               

 PURPOSE OF THIS PUJA

RECOVERY &CURE OF CATTLE FROM HARMFUL.
ALSO INCREASING OF HERD OF COWS.

 IN PRESENT,  PEOPLE WORSHIPED HIM FOR EYE DISEASE.

              TO  GET FREEDOM FROM LEPROSY.

                   

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                                                           PANCHANAN THAKUR.

     Name Panchanan generally means Five eyed or Lord Shiva, is of Indian origin, Name Panchanan is a Masculine (or Boy) name. Person with name Panchanan are mainly Hindu by religion. Name Panchanan belongs to rashi Kanya (Virgo) and Nakshatra (stars) Uttara Phalguni, Hastha, Poorva Phalguni. Name Panchanan is associated to God/Goddess Shiva.

            GOD OF INFAN LIFE SPARED / GUARD & ALSO PROTECTOR OF CHILD.

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             LADY OF LEGEND: BONO DEVI / BANA BIBI

 

                   Banabibi  will save the forest goers from the attack of the mighty Dakshin Roy. That is why the fishermen,Boulis,Moulis use to worship the messiah Banabibi before entering the forest.Tigers are worshipped by both Hindus and Muslims in different ways.

 

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     IN OUR FOLK LITERATURE THE FOUNDATION PLACE OF BANABIBI IN 24PARAGANA(SOUTH), WEST BENGAL.BANABIBI WORSHIPED BOTH OF HINDU & MUSLIM .IN CHITRA ,BISHAK,POUSH & MAGHA (BENGALI MONTH ) SHE WORSHIPED  BUT THEIR  IS NOT  FIXED DATE OR TIME.BEFORE ENTER THE FOREST PEOPLE WORSHIP BANABIBI &WOMEN SPEND THEIR LIFE PURE-MINDED BEFORE ONE WEEK OF THIS TIME . TIME OF THE PUJA HEN IS LET GO IN RESPECT OF BANABIBI & WOMEN DEPOSIT WITH BANABIBI THEIR SANKHA,PALA & SINDUR .OPEN THEIR DOOR AT NIGHT STILL PEOPLE RETURN HOME. AFTER RETURN,THEIR WIVES WORSHIP BANABIBI.

 
                                       WARRIOR GODDESS.

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     DharmaThakur/ Dharma raj / Dharma /Katha thakur.

                                Dharmathakur is represented by a shapeless stone daubed with vermillion and is normally placed under a tree or placed in the open (at CHAMPAHATI - NARIDANA VILLAGE / SHITAKUNDU-DHARMATHAKUR TALA) but sometimes enshrined in a temple (AT BARUIPUR - NIHATA KALNANPUR, APPOX.250 YEARS AGO).

The worship takes place in the Bengali months of Baisakh, Jaistha andBhadro, Asarh on the day of full moon Dharmathakur is worshipped mainly by castes Bauri, Bagdi, Hari, Dom etc. Some people pass a comment that DharmaThakur & Dharma raj  is different.

 
                        PURPOSE OF THIS PUJA.

    Cure of (skin disease) leucoderma, ulcer, and leprosy.
                                              Co-operate rich with corn.
                                                        Begetting children.

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Ghutiari Sharif Majar .

                           

                                               Pir Mubarak Gaji was one such Pir and his Majar at Ghutiari Sharif is visited by thousands of people of all faith. Popularly known as Gaji Baba Pir Mubarak Gaji, got the patronage of the Hindu king of Rajpur Raja Madan Roy.  Madan Roy donated several acres of land to the Pir in Basnra region in 1936 by Fazrul Haq..

MOSLEM WARRIOR “MOBARAK KHA GAJI” IS UNIVERSALLY ADMITTEDOF   24 PARGANAS (W.B).HIS GRAVEYARD IS CLOSED BY 

              (Ghutiari Sharif) STATION.

 

The main attraction of the complex is the circular pond called Mecca Pukur. The circular pond has four ghats (TWO & HALF DEAL A BLOW WITH A WEAPON) CLOSED BY MOSQUE.THEY LIGHT A CANDLE &FLOAT ‘SINNI’ (A MIXTURE OF MILK, ATTA etc.) IN THIS POND. From where women make wish by dipping their palms in the water. According to legend a wish made out of the heart is bound to come true. This custom is followed by both Muslim & Hindu women.

 FESTIVAL OF “YURASH” THERE IS PERFORMED “CHANDAN MELA” EVERY YEAR(According to the Bengali calendar) ON 7^THOF ‘ASHAR’<MANIFESTAT DAY> &17 ^TH OF ‘SHRABAN’  the (death anniversary) of Gaji Baba.IN THIS MELA MEN BROUGHT  TOGETHER WITHOUT DISTINCTION OF CASTE OR CREED. FRIDAY OF EVERY WEEK DEVOTEES COME TO FREEDOM FROM DANGER OR         DIFFICULT.

     IT IS SAID THAT, “MOBARAK KHA GAJI”ABSORBED IN MEDITATION FOR RAIN & RICH WITH CORN.HE WAS ABSORBED IN MEDITATION.

AFTER THREE DAYS HIS INSENSIBLE BODY IS BURY WITH HIS DEVOTEES.AFTER LONG TIME ON THIS GRAVE YARD BUILDS A VERY GREAT MOSQUE.

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ALAXMI

             

         ALAXMI IS OPPOSITE OF LAXMI. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT THIS GOOD STOP PEOPLE TO BECOME WEALTHY. THERE IS NO PURITY IN ALAXMI PUJA.

THIS GOD DON'T HAVE ANY IDOL. VISHAKOSHS (A BOOK) TALES US THAT ALAXMI IS ELDER SISTER OF LAXMI.IN” POROHIT DARPAN” NO MANTRAS ARE THERE FOR ALAXMI. THE PRIEST WORSHIPED HER WITH LEFT HAND . SHE MAINLY WORSHIPED BY WOMAN. IN PRESENT COW DUNK IS USED TO REPRESENT HER . BUT IN ‘PADHA PURAN’ (A BOOK) TALES US THAT AFTER ‘SAMUDRA MUNTHAN’ THE SECOND GOD AFTER LAXMIIS KNOWN US BY ALAXMI & IMAGINING  A IDOL.

                     

                    PURPOSE OF PUJA:

   TO FORGET THE REMARKABLE NIGHT DAY OF THE PAST.  

 

                                               YEARLY PUJA:

                   ONLY ONE TIME. (NIGHT AT KALI PUJA).

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SASTY DAVI

IN “PURAN” SASTY DABI IS KNOWN TO US BY DIFFERENT TYPES.BUT IN BENGAL SHE IS WORSHIPED IN CONTEXTUAL THEORY.

 

IN THAT TIME THE BENGAL PARENTS FACED A HUGE PROBLEM.

i.              NOT GIVING BIRTH TO A CHILD

ii.            GIVE PROTECTION TO THE CHILD FROM DISEASE

 

 DAVI SASTY WORSHIPED IN TWO TYPES.

i.              IDOL WORSHIPED

ii.            STONE ,PEBBLE WORSHIPED

 

DAVI SASTIS CARRIAGE IS CAT.(WHITE OR BLACK). MANY PEOPLE THINK THAT MA SASTY HAS A SIMILARITY WITH HARITIK(BHUDHA THANTRIK DAVI).

PEOPLE WORSHIPED STONE, PEBBLE AS SASTY THAN IDLE WORSHIPED. SO IN MOST OF THE HINDU HOUSE WE SEE SASTY’S STONE &PEBBLE. PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT SHE IS  THE GOD OF CHILD BIRTH. FOR THIS REASON IN DURGA SASTY (ASHIN – BENGALI MONTH)

AND ASHOK SASTY (CHAITRA- BENGALI MONTH) . AFTER 21TH OF CHILD BIRTH SASTY PUJA SET UP BY THEIR PARENTS.
 

   PURPOSE OF PUJA

 i.              PROTECT THE CHILD.
   ii.             FOR BECOME WEALTHY.

                     iii.           GIVING A CHILD TO A CHILDLESS MOTHER. 
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VISHAWLAXMI /BASALI / BASULI .

THE NAME OF V.LAXMI MAINTAIN IN 10TH CENTURY BOOK “CHARGAPATH”THIS GOD WORSHIPED IN 50^TH CENTURY. IN SOUTH BENGAL (URBAN SOCIETY) SHE IS POPULAR . SHE IS WORSHIPED MAINLY BY FISHERMAN.IN PART OF THE SUNDER BAN V.LAXMI WORSHIPED AS BANA BIBI.SHE IS WORSHIPED BY TWO OTHER COMMUNITIES VAISNAVA & BUDDHIST. SHE IS ALSO PROCLAIMED “TRANTRIK DAVI” BY MANY PEOPLE. 

CHINA ROSE, BALPATA, LAL-NOTA ARE USED IN WORSHIPED.

THE PEOPLE WHO SPEND THEIR LIVE IN WATER MAINLY WORSHIPED THIS GOD.PEOPLE BELIEVE THIS THAT GOD SAVE PEOPLE IF ANY PERSON FACED DANGER IN RIVER/SEA WAY. DEVELOP MAN MACHINE SHIP SATELLITE ARE USED NOW, SO THE GOD IS NOT NOW WORSHIPED IN LARGE SCALE.

PURPOSE OF PUJA

i.              TO PREVENT DISEASE & UNHAPPINESS.

ii.            PEOPLE BELIEVED SHE IS PART OF DURGA,IN PRESENT SHE WORSHIPED FOR PIECE & POWER  .

iii.           SAVING PEOPLE WHO FACE NATURAL DISASTER IN WATER WAY.

                 






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SAYTA PIR 

 

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