History of Jagadhatri Puja
Exploring the sacred traditions and divine legends of Goddess Jagadhatri in Chandannagar
Ancient Legends & Sacred Origins
There are many legends centering around the introduction of the jagadhatri puja in Chandernagore (at present Chandannagar). Now, we are neither historians nor researchers. So we are not going deep into the scholarly debates about Jagadhatri Puja in Chandernagore.
But as the website is about Jagadhatri puja in Chandernagore, we are trying to concentrate on the history of Jagadhatri puja on Chandernagore(Chandannagar).
There is a hearsay that Dataram Sur, the dewan of Krishnachandra started this puja at Gourhati, adjacent to Chandannagar in the year 1762 at the residence of his widowed daughter, though according to Chaulpatti Jagadhatri puja committee this puja dates back to 1690, but there is no record in favour of this statement.
Sacred Scriptures & Ancient Texts
Now, we find mention of this great goddess in many mythologies and tantras, such as the Mārkaṇḍeya Purāṇa, Bhaviṣya Purāṇa, māyātantram, Kātyāyanī Tantra, Shakti Sangam Tantra, Kāmakhyā Tantram, and many more.
With the intention of crushing the pride of the gods at heaven, Goddess Durga appeared before them in the form of a fierce and radiant image, as bright as a million suns.
ॐ Sacred Sanskrit Verses ॐ
सिंहस्कन्धाधिरूढां नानालङ्कारभूषिताम् ।
चतुर्भुजां महादेवीं नागयज्ञोपवीतिनीम् ॥
शङ्खशार्ङ्गसमायुक्तवामपाणिद्वयान्विताम् ।
चक्रं च पञ्चबाणांश्च धारयन्तीं च दक्षिणे ॥
रत्नद्वीपे महाद्वीपे सिंहासनसमन्विते ।
प्रफुल्लकमलारूढां ध्यायेत्तां भवसुन्दरीम् ॥
✦ Sacred Translation ✦
"Seated upon the shoulder of a lion, adorned with many ornaments,
the four-armed Great Goddess, wearing a serpent as her sacred thread.
In her left hand she holds the conch and the bow Śārṅga,
in her right hand she bears the discus and the five arrows.
Upon the bejeweled great island, seated on a lion-throne,
enthroned on a blossomed lotus — meditate upon that Beautiful Goddess of the worlds."
The Divine Manifestation
She is a Vaishnavite. She is the goddess of the universe. The arrogant gods are afraid and terrified. They began to worship this radiant goddess as the Supreme Goddess. Thus, Goddess Durga appeared as the goddess of the universe, goddess Jagadhatri.
At the feet of the Goddess Jagaddhatri lies the enormous figure of an elephant, which seems to be a creation of popular imagination or folklore. In fact, in the design of the towering idol of the Goddess, this colossal, weighty elephant at the very base serves as the foundation to balance the immense height and structure of the image.
The Legend of Karisasura
According to another traditional account, this elephant is none other than Karisasura or Gajasura. The exact etymology of the name Karisasura is uncertain, nor is it clear whether such an asura is directly mentioned in the Purāṇas.
The story tells that once upon a time, when the mortal world was tormented and oppressed by an asurawho had assumed the form of an elephant, the people suffered in countless ways—their fields and farmlands utterly ravaged and destroyed.
Then, deprived of divine protection, the mortals turned to the Supreme Mother: to Her who is the embodiment of the three guṇas, the source of all worlds, the consort of Hara and Hari, the refuge of all beings, supreme knowledge itself, the root of the universe, bestower of liberation, remover of afflictions, supreme nature, primal energy, the great Māyā.
They praised and worshipped Her with incense and offerings, and She—revered by hosts of divine heroes, benefactress of the three worlds—manifested Herself before the mortals as Goddess Jagaddhatri. Mounted on a mighty lion, She slew the elephant-demon Karimbasura. Defeated and overpowered, the demon fell lifeless at the feet of the lion. Thus did the lion-borne Jagaddhatri, the subduer of demonic pride, descend from heaven to the mortal world.