The great right toe of Sati — Bhoot Dhatri, the sustainer of beings, in the sacred village of Kshirgram in Bengal's Bardhaman district.
Yugaddya Peetha at Kshirgram village, Bardhaman district, marks where the great toe of Sati's right foot fell. The Goddess is Bhoot Dhatri — "the sustainer of all beings (bhoota = all living things, dhatri = sustainer/nourisher)" — a deeply nurturing, cosmic form of the Mother who maintains the entire web of life. The Bhairav is Ksheer Khandak (the Milk-Divider, or he who distributes the essence of nourishment).
Kshirgram is a quiet village in the Ajay-Damodar river basin of Bardhaman, surrounded by the agrarian landscape that has sustained Bengal's civilisation for millennia. The "Kshir" (milk) in the village name reflects an ancient tradition of sacred dairy offerings to the Goddess. Yugaddya translates as "the beginning of the Yuga (cosmic age)" — the great toe being the first point of contact with the earth when walking, the beginning of each new step forward.
By road from Bardhaman town: approximately 45 km. Local buses connect through Katwa. A hired taxi from Bardhaman is recommended for the Bardhaman Peetha circuit.
October to February. Combine with Bahula Peetha (Ketugram, 20 km), Kankalitala (Birbhum, 60 km) for a multi-Peetha circuit.
The Kshirgram Yugaddya Peetha is one of the lesser-visited but authentic Bengal Peethas — the rural temple atmosphere here is very different from the urban Peethas.
The Great Toe (Right) of Goddess Sati fell at Yugaddya, consecrating this land as a Shakti Peetha. The Shakti here is Bhoot Dhatri and the guardian Bhairav is Ksheer Khandak.
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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