A crown that was gifted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to a famous temple in Bangladesh dedicated to Hindu goddess Kali has been stolen as per latest information. PM Modi visited Bangladesh in March 2021 and the crown was kept in the Jeshoreshwari temple in Satkhira’s Shyamnagar. It was stolen on Thursday when Dilip Mukherjee, the temple priest left the premises around 2:00 p.m after the day’s worship was completed. As soon as the temple cleaning staff visited the temple, they noticed that the crown was missing from the idol’s head and this was reported to local media including Bangladesh in the newspaper ‘The Daily Star’ which has revealed the incident.
The Indian government expressed concern upon learning about the theft and urged Bangladesh to investigate the situation and take necessary action to recover the stolen crown. Meanwhile, inspector Taizul Islam from Shyamnagar police station has confirmed that the investigation related to the matter has been initiated by local police and the investigation is going on swiftly. The crown was silver and gold plated and was a symbolic gesture by the PM. It carries significant cultural as well as religious importance to several devotees of goddess Kali.
Jeshoreshwari temple is one of 51 Shakti Peeths
The Jeshoreshwari temple that is believed to have been originally built around the 12th century by a brahaman named Anari, is of utmost significance to Hindus as it is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths and serves as an important pilgrimage site in Hindu mythology. In Hinduism, the Shakti Peeths are believed as those places where parts of the Goddess Sati’s body fell when Lord Shiva carried her body through the skies. The Jeshoreshwari Peeth is believed to be where Sati’s hands or palms fell, making it a place of deep spiritual importance for devotees of Goddess Kali.
In the 13th century, the temple was renovated by Lakshaman Sen and was again renovated in the 16th century by Raja Pratapaditya. During PM Modi’s visit, he had highlighted the temple’s historical significance. Let us tell you that the name “Jeshoreshwari” means “Goddess of Jeshore.” The temple is situated in Iswaripur village in Satkhira, Bangladesh.
Moreover, when PM Modi had visited Bangladesh, he had announced plans to build a multipurpose community hall at the temple. The hall is supposed to be used for social, religious, as well as educational purposes and will also act as a shelter during disasters such as cyclones. The crown that is stolen is considered sacred and culturally significant and since the location is near the India-Bangladesh border, it is significant for both the countries. It signifies a deep bonding between India and Bangladesh, particularly in the context of Hindu spiritual heritage and Shakti Peeths.