Cities and towns in Bolpur subdivision of Birbhum district M: municipal city/ town, CT: census town, R: rural/ urban centre, U: University. Owing to space constraints in the small map, the actual locations in a larger map may vary slightly
Note: The map alongside presents some of the notable locations in the area. All places marked in the map are linked in the larger full screen map.
Earlier, Kankalitala was marked as a gram panchayat under Bolpur-Sriniketan block.[3] However, in the 2011 census, it was not identified as a separate place, as per Google map and map of Bolpur-Sriniketan on page 718 of District Census Handbook Birbhum (Part A), it appears to be a part of Bengutia village.
It is one of the Shakti Peethas where the waist (or kankal in Bengali) of sati fell.[1] There are several temples in the town. This is also a popular Hindu pilgrimage site of West Bengal.[5][6] There is another temple in Kankalitala, Kanchishwar Temple in Kankalitala Temple complex.
The mythology of Daksha yaga and Sati's self immolation is the story of origin behind Shakti Peethas. Shakti Peethas are holy abode of Devi formed due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Shiva carried it and wandered through. There are 51 Shakti Peeth linking to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit. Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava. The Shakti of the temple is addressed as "Devgarbha" and the Bhairava as "Ruru". It is believed that Sati Devi's bones have fallen here.[7][8]
References
^ ab"Kankalitala". District Administration. Retrieved 3 March 2009.
