On the darkest night of bhadra, the tradition keeps the Great Night Of Maa Tara. Enter the night below: ring the bell, receive the Divine Darshan, make the offerings, light the one hundred and eight lamps, and be Carried across the ocean of samsara.

The “Maa Tara Pith” Temple lit through the night — The lamps Of The Temple burn until dawn, “TaraPith”

The Story Of The Great Night

On “Kaushiki Amavasya”, the tradition remembers The Divine Mother “Kaushiki”, Who Emerged From The Form Of Maa Parvati to end the darkness of shumbha and nishumbha, as the Devi Mahatmya tells. The name comes from kosha, the sheath: The Divine Power That Stepped Forth from within.

In bengal this amavasya is the Great Night Of Maa Tara. At the great cremation ground of “TaraPith”, sadhak bamakhepa, the avadhuta saint of the smashan, was Blessed with realisation at the feet of Maa Tara on this very night. Each year, on this night, lakhs of devotees walk to the “TaraPith” Temple, and its lamps burn until dawn.

The tradition keeps this amavasya as the night when the worship Of Maa Tara bears its deepest fruit. The Temple's own teaching stands over this night as over every night: Maa Tara Guides devotees to cross the ocean of samsara, and carries them safely over.

The Temple under festoons at tarapith — The Temple kept for the Sacred days, “TaraPith”

The Shape Of The worship

Enter the night. Ring the bell. Hear the story of the night. Receive the Divine Darshan Of Maa Tara. Offer gandham, the blue utpala, dhūpam, and naivedyam by your own hand. Light the one hundred and eight lamps of the amavasya. Hold, and the boat is carried over the ocean of samsara. Pray To Maa, and depart with Pranam.

The Night In The Year Of The Temple

The amavasya, the night without a moon, is kept at “TaraPith” through the whole year, and two of those nights are kept above the rest: the Phalaharini Amavasya, and the “Kaushiki Amavasya” of the month of bhadra, which is the Great Night Of Maa Tara. On the “Kaushiki” night the town does not sleep. The lamps of The Temple and the lamps of the great cremation ground burn together until morning, and the devotees who have walked here stand through the night in the one queue that does not shorten. This is the night that this place keeps above all its nights.

For Those Who Go On That Night

Those who go to “TaraPith” on the “Kaushiki” night should go knowing that lakhs go with them. Roads into the town are held, and the walk from where a car can be left is long. Go early in the day, carry little, keep the elderly and the small children close, and do not count on the ordinary hours.

“Kaushiki Amavasya”

The Story Of The Great Night

The Shape Of The worship

The Night In The Year Of The Temple

For Those Who Go On That Night

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