Sugandha (Shikarpur)

Sugandha (Shikarpur)

pilgrimage site

Type
Pilgrimage Site
Best season
Winter

Sugandha (Shikarpur) in Shikarpur, Gournadi, Barisal, Bangladesh is one of the Shakti Peethas, the sacred shrines of the Divine Mother in the Shakta tradition of Hinduism. According to tradition, this is where the nose of Goddess Sati fell when Lord Vishnu's Sudarshana Chakra divided her body. Here the Goddess is worshipped as Sugandha, and her guardian Bhairava (a form of Shiva) as Trayambaka. Shakti Peethas are among the holiest pilgrimage sites for devotees of the Goddess, drawing pilgrims especially during Navratri and Durga Puja. Each is tied to the legend of Sati, whose body parts fell across the Indian subcontinent and beyond, sanctifying the ground where they landed.

When to go

Navratri (around October and April) is the most auspicious time; winter months are comfortable for a quieter visit.

Why visit

On the Sugandha river outside Barisal in southern Bangladesh. Reached from Dhaka by road, or by the overnight river launch, which is the better way to arrive.

Cultural notes

Presiding deity (Shakti): Sugandha. Bhairava (consort/guardian): Trayambaka. Associated relic: the nose of Goddess Sati. The site forms part of the Shakti Peetha pilgrimage circuit rooted in the Daksha Yagna legend.

Sugandha (Shikarpur) guide & itineraries

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