THE TEMPLES IN MIDNAPORE

The impact of regionalism in temple structure is clearly seen at Garbeta, an extensive village in Midnapore district about 32 miles north of Midnapore. Garbeta formed in olden days the capital of the Bagri Rajas. The village has the remains of an old fort, which, though in ruins shows that the Raja of Bagri must have been a powerful chief.

At the entrance there are still ruins of massive gateways, which bear their old names viz.,Lal Darwaja, Hanuman Darwaja, Pesha Darwaja and Rauti Darwaja. Within the fort there are large silted up tanks each with a temple in the center. They all lie towards the north of the fort and it is believed that they were excavatedbetween 1555-1610 A.D. in the time of theChauhan Rajas of Bagri.

There are a number of temples in Garbeta but particular mention ha to be made of the temple of Sarva Mangala. It is peculiar in having its door facing the north. According to the tradition during the days of Maharaja Vikramaditya of Ujjain a Yogi was wandering about in the thick of forests and was attracted to this particular place. He immediately brought about a temple of Sarva Mangala Devi through his mantras.

Maharaja Vikramaditya came to know of the dynamic force of the deity Sarva Mangala Devi of Garbeta and came over to Garbeta and did tantric sadhana sitting on a dead body. The Devi was pleased with the sadhana of the Maharaja, blessed him with supernatural powers and gave him the services of Tal and Betal. The Maharaja wanted to test the spiritual power conferred on him by the Devi and asked Tal and Betal to turn the temple and make it face the north. Tal and Betal did so and it is said that the name Garbeta derives its name from Tal and Betal.

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