Tarapith

Goddess Tara in her temple, Chandipur, Birbhum

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King's Attire of Maa Tara in Tarapith Temple
King's attire of Goddess Tara in Tarapith Temple

Ugra Tara or Ugra Tarini, Goddess of Salvation

Kali, Maha-Kali, Shamshan Kali
Goddess Tara is just one different aspect of Goddess Kali. Goddess Kali, also known as Goddess Tara for her appearance in the color blue. This form of the mother Goddess Kali is one who bestow Salvation and have an extreme knowledge, all knowledge of the entire Universe is with her. She is also famous in the name of 'Tarney-Wali' or she who bestow liberation from the cycle of death and birth, as she is known as "Tara". Her first aspect is famous by the name of Ugra Tara or Ugra Tarini, as she gives every possible protection to her devotees and bestows upon them her blessings, always protects her devotees from all Terrible dangers and helps us to get rid with all the earthly worries. Even though there is no such significant difference between the two forms Goddess Tara and Kali. Goddess Kali manifest herself in blue color to killed the Demon Hayagreeva, and since then she has become famous as Goddess Tara. The Goddess is visualized in Pratyalidh Mudra (The pose of a warrior, the way he stands before an action putting one of his leg forward; in the same manner, the goddess stretches her right leg forward and stands) on the dead body of Lord Shiva. Her complexion is blue, her three eyes are as beautiful as three blue lotuses, she poses with scissors, a skull, lotus and a type of sword in her four hands respectively. Her body is covered with tiger membrane, she wears a garland of human and snakes skulls around her neck. Even though her Ugra Tara form is a scary, in aggressive form, she is always eagerly ready to lend her hand of protection and help towards her worshiper. For this reason, Goddess Tara is also known as the ultimate goddess of sympathy among her devotees. There are three Goddess of Tara's family,
1. Ugra Tara,
2. Neel Saraswati,
3. Ek Jata.

Mother of the whole Universe and supreme in every type of Knowledge

Kali, Maha-Kali, Shamshan Kali
When, at the time of churning of Ocean, a dangerous poison named Kalakut appeared and starting destroying everything. To stop that huge destruction, the poison was extracted was gulped down by Lord Shiva, without any hesitation and hence he was well known by the name "Akshovya" and the Goddess Tara is associated with him. In Shiv-Shakti-Sangam Tantra (a text book of Tantra dedicated to the combined form of Shiva and Shakti), the word "Akshovya" has been used to refer to Lord Shiva or Mahadev, who gulped the poison Kalakut. In the aspect of Ek-Jata, she carries Akshovya (Shiva) on her head, i.e., the Savior or bestow Salvation. Goddess Ek-Jata, who bestow Salvation as hold her devotee in her hair do. There is a significant mystery behind her bright yellowish orange hair do. The randomly spread locks of hair symbolizes the rays of the burning sun. Goddess Tara, along with Akshovya in her brightly colored hair is known as Ekajata. In another form, this Ugra Tara steps on the torso of a dead body and have a extreme knowledge to converting the dead body into Lord Shiva, and hence she becomes manifest in the form of Goddess Neel Saraswati. Maharishi Vashishtha (Sage Vasistha, master of Lord Rama) was the first person to worship Goddess Tara, but he could not become successful in his worship as he had wished. Then he was notified by Adhya-Shakti (primal female power in Hinduism), that he should worship the Goddess using the Chinachara rites, in which he would surely find success as desired. At that time, Lord Buddha, residing in the country of China, was the only person who had knowledge about Chinachara rites.
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Goddess Tara is adore, worship by tantrik rituals

Maa Tara, Devi stand on the pire of Shiva
So, Maharishi Vashishtha reached China, where Lord Buddha taught him the Chinachara or Tantric ways of worship. After Maharishi Vashishtha acquired knowledge about the these Tantric rites and the specified place where he do his spiritual practice, he became successful in worshiping Goddess Tara and get her boon and blessing. As told by Lord Buddha, he have to fine out a place, which is in the west of Bakreswar and east of Baidhanath (holy places of Lord Shiva) and where a river name Dwarka is north face flowing. He searched and found this holy place, in which there is a Samadhi Mandri of Great Saint Bama-Khyapa or Bama Charan Chatopadhaye. Where, he made the Pancha Mundi Assan, a holy seat, use by Tantricks where the skull of premature death man, monkey, black snake, elephant and owl was buried, under a white Bombax tree. And got the blessing and boon of Goddess Tara, Now, this place is famous as the name of Tarapith, ancient name is Chandipur. Goddess convert her appearance aspect in a stone idol and still this idol is there in the temple and known as Shila Murti. She also give boon to Vasistha, anyone who chant three lack mantra, with seated on this Assan or seat, she must appear to devotee. This place is very significant for her devotees. In Tara Rahasya (text book with the mystery of Goddess Tara), it's better for devotee to visit this place regularly.

In the Kaamkala-Khand of Mahakal Sanhita (text book dedicated the god of causing death Mahakal), the significance of worshiping Goddess Tara is during the Tara-Ratri has been thoroughly described. Tara-Ratri refers to the night of the Chaitra navami tithi (ninth day) during the lunar fortnight in the month of Chaitra, this day is also known as Ram Navami. Goddess Tara resides in a cremation ground, she appears in a very horrible form, posing in the Pratyalidh Mudra on a dead body of Shiva, which burning pyre. Her breasts are covered with the heads detached from human bodies, she wears the garland human and snakes skulls and bones. Her ornaments are mostly made up of Rudraksh (a seed recognized tears of Rudra , a incarnation Shiva with anger) and snakes. GoddessTara poses with scissors, human skull, blue lotus and a modified sword in her four hands respectively. Tiger skin is her only clothing. In reality, the Goddess steps on the unconscious dead body in the Pratyalidh Mudra and in this process, the unconscious is converted into the omniscient Lord Shiva, she carries him on her head, who is also known as Akshovya Shiva or Rishi. Thus Goddess Tara is well-known for her rare presence of strength and knowledge. Goddess Tara bestows her devotees with her blessings, both to enjoy the worldly things as well as to be free from worldly desires. But in spite of such a scary appearance of the Goddess, she is also known for her soft and simple nature. No such worldly pleasure exists which cannot be provided by Goddess Tara, she is such a powerful giver. Among-st the three Mother Goddesses of the Tara-Kul (Tara Family), Neel Saraswati is termed as the mother of many a Saraswati's, and it is said that she has originated as a result of the combination of all the knowledge scattered all over the world. Goddess Tara has accumulated the entire knowledge within her, as a result of which her devotees are also known as the ultimate knowledge-seekers. The Goddess helps us get rid of the worldly sorrows, and thus is better known as Tara.
Maa Tara in Tarapith Temple
King Attire of Goddess in Tarapith Temple
Maa Tara, Appearance as descirbe in Iconography

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