History of Shri Mahishasuramardin Temple Shakti Peeth

According to the Devi Bhagavata Purana, when Sati immolated herself during Daksha’s Yagna, Lord Shiva carried her body across the universe. Lord Vishnu dismembered her body with his Sudarshan Chakra to save the world from Shiva’s grief. The body parts fell at 51 locations, which became the Shakti Peethas.
At Bakreshwar, the “mind” or “eyebrow center” of Sati is believed to have fallen. Thus, the Goddess is worshipped here as Mahishasuramardini and the accompanying Bhairava (Shiva) is known as Vakranath.
The temple is also associated with Rishi Ashtavakra, who meditated here for thousands of years. His name is linked with the place “Bakreshwar”, derived from “Vakra” (crooked), referring to his curved body.