Banbibi

Banbibi (Bengali: বনবিবি, the lady of the forest), also Bandevi, Bandurga and Byaghradevi is a guardian deity of the forests worshipped by both the Hindu and the Muslim residents of the Sundarbans (spread across West Bengal state in eastern India and Bangladesh). She is worshipped mostly by the honey-collectors and the woodcutters before entering the forest for protection against the attacks from the tigers. It is believed that the demon king, Dakkhin Rai (the lord of the south), an arch-enemy of Banbibi actually appears in the disguise of a tiger and attacks human beings.
Contents [hide]
1 The narrative of Banbibi
1.1 Battle with Dakkhin Rai
1.2 Narrative of Dukhe
2 Iconography
3 Shrines of Banbibi
4 Notes
5 External links
[edit]The narrative of Banbibi

The narratives of Banbibi are found in several texts named as the Banbibir Keramati (the magical deeds of Banbibi) or the Banbibi Jahuranama (glory to Banbibi). Amongst its earliest poets, Bayanuddin and Mohammad Khater are well known and their texts are almost similar.[1] These texts consist of two major episodes, her battle with Dakkhin Rai and the narrative of Dukhe.
[edit]Battle with Dakkhin Rai
Banbibi is believed as the daughter of Ibrahim, a faqir from Mecca. When his first wife Phul bibi could not bear any child, Ibrahim married Golal Bibi with Phul Bibi's permission tagged with a condition of fulfilling a wish of her later. At the same time, Allah decided to send Banbibi and Shah Jangali from heaven for a divine mission. He instructed them to take birth as the children of Golal Bibi. When Golal Bibi became pregnant, Ibrahim left her in a forest to satisfy his first wife's wish, as he promised her earlier. Banbibi and Shah Jangali were born in the forest to Golal Bibi. Allah sent four maids from heaven to take care of them. After seven years, Ibrahim understood his mistake and took back Golal Bibi and her two children to Mecca.
Once, while praying at the mosque of the prophet of Islam, Banbibi and Shah Jangali received two magical hats. With the help of those magical hats, they flew to the country of eighteen tides (atharo bhatir desh) in Hindustan (but, according to another version of the narrative, they were brought to the country of eighteen tides by Gibril). After reaching there, they started praying. The country of eighteen tides (the Sundarbans) was under the control of the demon king Dakkhin Rai, till their arrival. The sound of prayer reached his ears. He sent his friend Sanatan Rai to enquire about them. When, Sanatan informed him about the duo, he decided to throw them out of his territory. While he was about to go into the battle, his mother Narayani prevented him from going and she herself went with her army of ghosts and goblins to fight them. Banbibi defeated Narayani after a long battle. But out of mercy, she returned the half of the erstwhile kingdom of Narayani and her son. Narayani became a friend of Banbibi.[1] While the inhabited part of the Sunderbans is believed as the realm of Banbibi, Dakkhin Rai is believed as the ruler of the deep forest.
[edit]Narrative of Dukhe
Once, there were two Moule (honey collector) brothers, Dhona and Mona (or Dhanai and Manai) in a village named, Barijhati. Dhona planned to go for an expedition with a fleet of seven boats to collect honey in a mahal (dense forest) of the country of the eighteen tides but his brother Mona opposed it. He took a poor shepherd boy, Dukhe along with him. Before leaving, Dukhe's mother told him to remember Banbibi in case of any serious trouble. When the fleet reached the Kendokhali char, which was a part of the kingdom of Dakkhin Rai, Dhona forgot to give an offering to Dakkhin Rai. As a result, he was not able to collect any honey of wax for three days. On the third night, Dakkhin Ray appeared in dreams of Dhona and asked for the human sacrifice. After some arguments with Dakkhin Rai, greedy Dhona agreed to sacrifice Dukhe in exchange of honey and wax. So, after collecting enough wax and noney, he left Dukhe there and returned back to village. When Dukhe was about to be killed by Dakkhin Ray in the disguise of a tiger, he started chanting prayers invoking Banbibi. On hearing his chant, Banbibi came along with her brother Shah Jangali. Shah Jangali defeated Dakkhin Rai. After defeat, Dakkhin Rai took refuge with Bara Khan Ghazi. They followed Dakkhin Rai there. Finaaly, Bara Khan Ghazi was able to convince Banbibi not to harm Dakkhin Rai. In return, Ghazi gifted Dukhe seven cartfuls of precious items, while Rai gifted him sufficient amount of wax and honey. Banbibi ordered her pet crocodile, Seko to drop him to his village. After return to the village, Dukhe popularised the worship of Banbibi in the neighbourhood. Later, Dhona married her daughter Champa with Dukhe and he became the Chaudhury (chief) of the village.[1]
[edit]Iconography

Banbibi is worshipped by her Hindu followers as Bandurga,Bandevi or even as Banbibi, and her predominantly Hindu images are found as wearing a crown and garland, carrying a club and trishul and her vahana (vehicle) is a tiger. She is worshipped by her Muslim followers as Banbibi and her predominantly Muslim images are found with braided hair, wearing a cap with a tikli. She wears ghagra and pyjama (instead of a sari) and a pair of shoes. Her vahana is a horse or a hen. Both Hindu and Muslim images have a boy in her lap.[2]
[edit]Shrines of Banbibi

In most of the shrines of Banbibi in the Sundarbans, Banbibi is worsipped along with her brother Shah Jangali and Dakkhin Rai.