| Ugratara
temples are extremely rare in this part of the country. So far as it is known, there is no
other regular temple of Ugratara anywhere in Bihar, although the image of Tara
particularly of the Pala period have been found at various places, including Kurkihar in
Gaya district. The worship of this rare deity at this in accessible village excites
curiosity, but can be explained from its background. Ugratara is also known as
Maha-Cina-Tara and this later Buddhistic image has been imported into India from Tibet
through Nepal. Saharsa district is quite close to Nepal. The frontiers of Saharsa district
and the district of Saptari in Nepal adjoin. The cult of Tantricism has had a great
development in the district of Saharsa. Ugratara is an image of Tantric culture.
It has been mentioned: "The Sanmoha Tantra speaks of
the Tantric culture of foreign countries like Bahlika, Kirata, Bhota, Cina, Mahacina,
Parasika, Airaka, Kamboja, Huna, Yavana, Gandhara and Nepal. This does not mean that the
Indian Tantras were prevalent in all these countries, though we know they were prevalent
in some of them. It means, if anything at all, that these foreign countries also possessed
modes of esotericculture, and that some of them were known in India, and recognized as
being similar to the other Indian Tantras. |
