Biṣaharῑ Worship among the Rajbanshi Community of North Bengal: Folk Rituals, Manasā Tradition, and Cultural Identity

                                       

                                                    Plate  1 - Cork Image of Goddess Biṣaharῑ.

                                       (Courtesy: https://images.app.goo.gl/DxmLgdswLfrRFYaW6 )

  Plate  2 - Earthen Sculpture of Goddess Biṣaharῑ.

(Courtesy: https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/bengali-style-maa-manasa-devi-2853469678288.html )

Author - Biswarup Chatterjee.

Abstract: This article explores the traditional worship of Biṣaharῑ, a local manifestation of the snake goddess Manasā, among the Rajbanshi community of North Bengal, particularly in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar. Biṣaharῑ, also known as Padma, is revered as a household deity and is closely linked to the region’s folk religious practices and cultural heritage. The article delineates the forms of Biṣaharῑ worship Kāni-Biṣaharῑ and Gῑdālῑ-Biṣaharῑ highlighting their social significance, seasonal observance, and ritualistic variations. It further examines the ritual components including Deodhāni dance, folk songs like Biṣohorā Gān, and the musical instrumentation unique to the Rajbanshi community. Drawing connections with tantric Buddhism, the paper investigates the appearance of the goddess as Jāṅgulῑ in Vajrayāna texts and as Śaṅkaraputrikā in Hindu mantras. Literary representations in Maṅgalkāvyas and folk epics such as Manasāmaṅgalkāvya and Manasāvijaya are analyzed to trace the mythic evolution of the deity. The article concludes that Biṣaharῑ worship, while rooted in Rajbanshi tradition, extends its cultural reachness across other local communities, symbolizing a vibrant continuum of folk religiosity, fertility symbolism, and communal identity in rural Bengal.

The Rare Reclining Sculpture of Lord Balarama at Daria Balai Dham, Cooch Behar: History, Iconography, and Cultural Significance

 

                                              The Idols of Sleeping Balarama in Dariya Balai Temple.

Author – Biswarup Chatterjee

                                                                      

Introduction

         India has long been celebrated as a land of vibrant cultural traditions, heritage, and artistic excellence. Every region of the Indian subcontinent possesses its own distinctive folk traditions, crafts, sculptures, and ritual practices that collectively shape the cultural identity of the nation. Among these artistic expressions, sculpture occupies a particularly significant place, reflecting the religious consciousness, aesthetic sensibilities, and social imagination of ancient India. 

             The state of West Bengal represents one of the richest cultural landscapes of India. Its literary traditions, folk culture, temple architecture, terracotta art, and sculptural heritage together form a remarkable historical continuum. The cultural diversity of Bengal is deeply rooted in regional traditions preserved through literature, oral narratives, ritual performances, and artistic practices.

            This article explores a rare and fascinating sculptural representation of Lord Balarama located at Daria Balai Dham in the Cooch Behar district of West Bengal. The sculpture is exceptional because it depicts Lord Balarama in a reclining posture—an extremely uncommon iconographic form in Indian art history. Through archaeological observation, literary references, iconographic interpretation, and regional history, this article attempts to analyze the cultural and religious significance of this sacred site.  

Tibetan Funeral Customs Explained: Sky Burial, Buddhist Philosophy, and Rituals of Death in Tibet

Author - Biswarup Chatterjee.    

Introduction: Death Beyond Fear - Understanding Tibetan Perspectives

The remote and mystic land of Tibet, often described as the “Forbidden Land,” preserves a fascinating spectrum of spiritual traditions. Among these, its funerary customs stand out as deeply philosophical and culturally unique. Rooted in Tibetan Buddhism, these practices reflect the doctrines of impermanence, rebirth, and the pancha bhuta (five elements) theory.