Rani Bhabani
Encyclopedia
Rani Bhabani (1716–1795) was a zamindar
of Rajshahi, in (now) Bangladesh
during the British colonial era.
, Bhabani was married off to Raja Ramkanta, the then zamindar of Rajshahi. After his death, Bhabani became the de jure zamindar, and started being referred to as Rani, meaning queen. A woman as a zamindar was extremely rare in those days, but Rani Bhabani managed the vast Rajshahi zamindari most efficiently and effectively for over four decades. Holwell, an English writer, speculated that the stipulated annual rent of the estate to the crown was 7 million rupees, the real revenues being about 15 million.
However, what made Rani Bhabani a household name among the common people was her philanthropy and general generosity, combined with an austere personal life. The number of temples, guesthouses and roads she constructed across Bengal is believed to be in the hundreds. She also built numerous water tanks, alleviating the acute water problem of her subjects. She was also interested in the spread of education and donated generously to many educational institutes.
During the era of Rani Bhabani, she might have made some great contributions for the development and renovation of Bhabanipur
temple. The deity or Goddess of Ma Tara of the Bhabanipur Temple is probably named after Rani Bhabani. Bhabanipur is a shakti-peeth
which is located at Sherpur Upazila of Bogra
District.
Rani Bhabani's house in Natore remains a main tourist attraction in Bangladesh
to date.CONTRIBUTIONS-Rani Bhabani is famous also as 'NATORER RANI'.Her great contribution was in *Tarapith
* & in *Varanasi
*[Benaras].At that time there was no Bangladesh. That was Bengal.Tarapith today is a famous place in West Bengal,India.This place is famous for Tara-Ma(goddess *Tara
*) & HER Son-Sadhak Bamdev[*Bamakhepa
*].
At that period he was expressing his divine powers. He expressed his divine bliss to Rani Bhabani.The result is Today's Temple.She took the responsibilities of expenses of Tarapith. Rani Bhabani is immortal in West Bengal's people's mind today for this..
In Varanasi there are two *Durga
*temples. One is established by Rani Bhabani & another is by rani*Ahilyabai Holkar
* of Indore.Both are beautiful,gorgeous. Till today the golden Durga is being worshipped in Varanasi[Benaras].We have to note both these Ranies of India came at same period. Both of them have great contributions on *Indian heritage*.Ranies are still alive in India & *West Bengal
*.
Zamindar
A Zamindar or zemindar , was an aristocrat, typically hereditary, who held enormous tracts of land and ruled over and taxed the bhikaaris who lived on batavaslam. Over time, they took princely and royal titles such as Maharaja , Raja , Nawab , and Mirza , Chowdhury , among others...
of Rajshahi, in (now) Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
during the British colonial era.
Life
Born in Chhatin gram,Thana: Adamdighi, Bogra DistrictBogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
, Bhabani was married off to Raja Ramkanta, the then zamindar of Rajshahi. After his death, Bhabani became the de jure zamindar, and started being referred to as Rani, meaning queen. A woman as a zamindar was extremely rare in those days, but Rani Bhabani managed the vast Rajshahi zamindari most efficiently and effectively for over four decades. Holwell, an English writer, speculated that the stipulated annual rent of the estate to the crown was 7 million rupees, the real revenues being about 15 million.
However, what made Rani Bhabani a household name among the common people was her philanthropy and general generosity, combined with an austere personal life. The number of temples, guesthouses and roads she constructed across Bengal is believed to be in the hundreds. She also built numerous water tanks, alleviating the acute water problem of her subjects. She was also interested in the spread of education and donated generously to many educational institutes.
During the era of Rani Bhabani, she might have made some great contributions for the development and renovation of Bhabanipur
Bhabanipur, Rajshahi Division
Bhabanipur is a union under Sherpur Upazila in Bogra of Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. It is the sacred site around Karatoyatat, one of the Shakti Peethas. The Bhabanipur Shaktipeeth is a place of worship consecrated to the Goddess Ma Bhabani...
temple. The deity or Goddess of Ma Tara of the Bhabanipur Temple is probably named after Rani Bhabani. Bhabanipur is a shakti-peeth
Shakti Peethas
The Shakti Pithas are places of worship consecrated to the goddess Shakti or Parvati or Sati or Durga, the female principal of Hinduism and the main deity of the Shakta sect...
which is located at Sherpur Upazila of Bogra
Bogra District
Bogra is a northern district of Bangladesh, in the Rajshahi Division. It is called the gateway to the north Bengal. It is an industrial city where many small and mid sized industries are housed. Bogra district was a part of the ancient Pundravardhana territory and Bogra was the capital of...
District.
Rani Bhabani's house in Natore remains a main tourist attraction in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
to date.CONTRIBUTIONS-Rani Bhabani is famous also as 'NATORER RANI'.Her great contribution was in *Tarapith
Tarapith
Tarapith is a small temple town near Rampurhat in Birbhum district of the Indian state of West Bengal, known for its Tantric temple and its adjoining cremation grounds where Tantric rites are performed...
* & in *Varanasi
Varanasi
-Etymology:The name Varanasi has its origin possibly from the names of the two rivers Varuna and Assi, for the old city lies in the north shores of the Ganga bounded by its two tributaries, the Varuna and the Asi, with the Ganges being to its south...
*[Benaras].At that time there was no Bangladesh. That was Bengal.Tarapith today is a famous place in West Bengal,India.This place is famous for Tara-Ma(goddess *Tara
Tara (Devi)
In Hinduism, the goddess Tara meaning "star" is the second of the Dasa Mahavidyas or "Great Wisdom [goddesses]", Tantric manifestations of Mahadevi, Kali, or Parvati...
*) & HER Son-Sadhak Bamdev[*Bamakhepa
Bamakhepa
Bamakhepa popularly known as the "mad saint" was a Hindu saint, held in great reverence in Tarapith and whose shrine is also located in the vicinity of the Tara temple. Bama-khepa, literally means the mad follower of "left handed" path – the Tantric way of worship...
*].
At that period he was expressing his divine powers. He expressed his divine bliss to Rani Bhabani.The result is Today's Temple.She took the responsibilities of expenses of Tarapith. Rani Bhabani is immortal in West Bengal's people's mind today for this..
In Varanasi there are two *Durga
Durga
For the 1985 Hindi Film of Rajesh Khanna see DurgaaIn Hinduism, Durga ; ; meaning "the inaccessible" or "the invincible"; , durga) or Maa Durga "one who can redeem in situations of utmost distress" is a form of Devi, the supremely radiant goddess, depicted as having eighteen arms, riding a lion...
*temples. One is established by Rani Bhabani & another is by rani*Ahilyabai Holkar
Ahilyabai Holkar
Punyashlok Rajmata Devi Ahilyabai Holkar , also known as the Philosopher Queen, was a Holkar dynasty Queen of the Malwa kingdom, India. She is often compared with Catherine II of Russia, Elizabeth I of England, Margaret I of Denmark...
* of Indore.Both are beautiful,gorgeous. Till today the golden Durga is being worshipped in Varanasi[Benaras].We have to note both these Ranies of India came at same period. Both of them have great contributions on *Indian heritage*.Ranies are still alive in India & *West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
*.