At Vakreshwar in the Birbhum district, beside the Paphara river and famed for its natural hot springs, stands a revered Shakti Peetha. In the tradition of the Peethas, the space between the eyebrows (the bhru-madhya) of Sati fell here, and the Goddess is worshipped as Mahishmardini, with Vakranath as her Bhairava — from whom the place takes its name.
The site is celebrated for its several thermal springs, the hottest of which, the Agni Kund, is held sacred by pilgrims who bathe in its warm waters. Uniting a Shakti Peetha, a Bhairava shrine, and holy springs in one place, Vakreshwar is among the most visited of the Birbhum seats of the Mother.
