We all get fascinated by the idea of time traveling, don’t we? A journey through a highway of time to a period we want to witness. Let’s assume we are given the opportunity to time travel to Bishnupur, the famous tourist spot in Bankura, West Bengal. We start in the 21st century and arrive in the 11th century. Would you get to see something familiar?
A Fascinating Scenario
Certainly, we cannot expect any of the famous terracotta temples from that time. The world-famous Rasamancha, Madanmohan temple, and all the heavenly creations of terracotta that represent Bishnupur today were built between the 17th and 19th centuries. We will see the earliest rulers of the Malla dynasty. The era will be that of the kings of the Pala dynasty, possibly King Mahipala or his son Nayapala. In the rough geography of Mallabhum, today’s Bankura, we will witness the foundation of a prosperous kingdom. The roads will be different, the buildings will be more majestic. But one temple and the idol within will be just as we see it today. That’s the famous Ma Mrinmoyee temple, a 1000-year-old Durga temple of Bishnupur.
History Entangled with Legends
The clay idol of Ma Mrinmoyee Durga was established by Adimalla, the first ruler of the Malla dynasty, somewhere between the 10th and 11th centuries. Mother Durga, in her ten-handed or Dashabhuja form, is depicted killing Mahisasura while stepping on her lion. Goddesses Laxmi, Saraswati, Kartik, and Ganesha surround her. On the outer aspect of this majestic mandala are Lord Shiva and the Dasha Mahavidyas. This very idol has been worshipped from the Pala era until the present day. The word Mrinmoyee means “made of clay.” Merely insignificant clay has created an eternal idol of the supreme mother, hence the name.
Her Worship
Although the era of ancient kings is no more, neither is the majestic wealth of Bengal. Till Mallabhum Bankura Bishnupur celebrates Durga Puja by worshipping Maa Mrinmoyee with a perfect combination of grandeur and devotion. Canons still roar to inaugurate the ceremony. The mother is revered along with her other ancient forms, like Pateswari (an ancient drawn image of Maa Durga in Patachitra style) and the 18-handed Ugrachanda. Another fascinating tradition is the worship of Ma Khaccharvahini, a wrathful form of the mother goddess. Legends say Maa Mrinmoyee took this form to protect Bishnupur in the 16th century from a grave famine.
She is the Legend
For 1000 years, her temple has never closed. The Pala era was followed by the Sena era. Then came the turbulence of the Middle Ages. Turki, Pathan, Mughal, and Nawab rulers came and went. The British colonials came, the modern era ensued. We became independent again. Throughout this journey of history, Bishnupur never strayed from its eternal mother, Maa Mrinmoyee. She was, she is, and she will remain. Hence, entangled with legends and histories, the mother herself has become a legend. Still, folk songs of Bengal enchant her name: Malle Maa Mrinmoyee (Hail Maa Mrinmoyee, whose abode is Mallabhum).
