The nose of Sati — the Goddess of divine fragrance in the historic Murshidabad district, once the capital of Bengal's Nawabs.
Sugandha (the Fragrant One) is the Shakti at Shikarpur in Murshidabad district, WB — the Peetha of Sati's nose. The Goddess Sunanda ("the joyful") is worshipped here, and the Bhairav Trayambak (the Three-Eyed, related to the Tryambakeshwar mantra) guards the site. Murshidabad district is historically extraordinary — the seat of the Bengal Nawabs, site of the Battle of Plassey (1757) and simultaneously home to ancient Shakti Peethas predating all this history by millennia.
The fragrance attribute of this Peetha is devotionally significant — the nose is the organ of smell, and in Hindu worship, fragrant flowers, incense and camphor are central offerings. Pilgrims visiting Sugandha traditionally bring the most aromatic flowers available as offerings to the Goddess. The Trayambak Bhairav is also connected to the Maha Mrityunjaya mantra, making this a Peetha associated with both beauty and transcendence of death.
By road from Berhampur (Murshidabad district HQ): approximately 30 km. By rail: Berhampore Court or Lalgola line stations. From Kolkata: approximately 200 km.
October to March. Combine with the Hazarduari Palace museum and the Nawabi heritage of Murshidabad for a rich heritage-and-pilgrimage day.
The Murshidabad circuit combines Sugandha Peetha with the Nawabi palaces, Katra mosque and Kireet Peetha — all within the same district.
The Nose of Goddess Sati fell at Sugandha, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Sunanda and the guardian Bhairav is Trayambak.
One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
Explore →One of the 51 sacred Shakti Peethas — explore its unique significance in the divine circuit.
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