Bakreswar Temple

History

West Bengal Tourism’s Birbhum top-destination narrative places Bakreswar beside Tarapith and Nalhateswari in the district’s Shakti pilgrimage belt, describing multiple linga shrines encircling the main temple and the peetha association with Sati’s brow.

Regional fair and bathing traditions at the thermal springs continue to anchor the town’s ritual calendar, especially during cooler months when devotees combine Bakreswar with Tarapith and Kankalitala circuits.

Stories

Ashtavakra and the bent sage's blessing

The name Bakreshwar is traced to the Sanskrit vakra, bent, and ishwar, lord. Tradition says that at the wedding of Lakshmi and Narayan, the sage Ashtavakra, then called Subrata, was insulted by Indra, and in his rage his body became bent in eight places.

After many years of meditation here, the sage is said to have been blessed by Shiva. The place is also counted among the 51 Shakta pithas, with a temple of the Adi Shakti. Both accounts are matters of belief.

Ten hot springs beside the temples

Bakreshwar is also of geological interest because it has ten hot springs. They include Paphara Ganga, Baitarini Ganga, Khar Kunda, Bhairav Kunda, Agni Kunda, Dudh Kunda, Surya Kunda, Shwet Ganga, Brahma Kunda and Amrita Kunda.

Among the temples here are the Bakreswar temple, the Mahisasur Mardini temple and the Bhairabnath temple. The village is in Birbhum district of West Bengal, and the nearest railway station is Dubrajpur.

Good to know

Shakti Peetha tradition linked with Sati’s forehead and brows (West Bengal Tourism)

Main Bakreswar temple with surrounding Shiva shrines

Hot springs used by pilgrims near the temple complex

Getting there

Rail: Bakreswar or Suri on the Ahmadpur–Katwa line, then local transport. Road from Suri or Bolpur. Air: Kolkata or Durgapur (Kazi Nazrul Islam), then road.