Temple History

Kshirgram’s Jogadya temples are situated in the Kshirgram Village, Mongalkote, East Burdwan. It is said that the original 11th-century brick temple was destroyed in the face of an invasion led by Kalapahar, and it is believed that during that time, the original idol was lost. Maharaja Kirti Chandra of Burdwan rebuilt the old temple in 1760, and a replica of the original Jogadya idol was carved by renowned sculptor Nabin Chandra Bhaskar in 1870. As per a popular Ramayana Lore, the goddess here is Patalvasini. When Mahiravan, the king of the underworld and a great devotee of Goddess Bhadrakali, abducted Ram and Lakshman, Lord Hanuman went to rescue them. After defeating Mahiravan, lord hanuman brought the idol of Goddess Bhadrakali to this world and installed it in Kshirgram as Maa Jogadya. In 2005, a temple was erected in the middle of the Kshirdighi, a pond adjacent to the main temple. The idol is kept underneath the water for 360 days a year, and during the Baishakh Sankranti (31st Baisakh), it is brought out and placed in the old temple for darshan and puja. In 2009, during the re-excavation of Kshirdighi, an older idol was found, which is believed to be the original idol of Goddess Jogadya. A new temple was erected for this idol in 2011. People who visit Kshirgram visit both of these temples.