Dakshineswar Temple is located in Kolkata, West Bengal and is dedicated to goddess Kali. It is renowned for its association with great mystic saint Ramakrishna Paramhans who achieved spiritual vision and preached the harmony of all religions here. Bhavatarini is the main deity of this temple who is an incarnation of goddess Maa Kali. The temple is situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, alongside the Vivekananda Bridge, north of Kolkata. It is about 20 kms from the famous BBD Bagh of Kolkata.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple History
The temple was constructed by Queen Rashmoni in 1855. Queen Rashmoni belonged to local Kaivarta caste and was known for her philanthropic actions. The queen had a dream before she was about to start on a lengthy pilgrimage to Benares. Goddess Kali ordered her to install her deity in a beautiful temple on the banks of Ganga and arrange for her worship instead of going on a pilgrimage. The goddess promised her that she will manifest herself in the image and accept worship at that place. The construction of the temple started in 1847 and it was completed in 1855. The idol of Goddess Kali was installed on the Snana Yatra day on 31 May 1855, with Ramkumar Chattopadhyay as the head priest. He was assisted by his younger brother Gadai or Gadadhar (later known as Ramakrishna) and nephew Hriday. After priest Ram Kumar Chattopadhyay passed away, the position was given to Ramakrishna, along with his spouse Maa Sarada Devi.
Spiritual giant Sri Ramakrishna Paramahansa served as temple’s head priest for several years until his death thirty years later. Ramakrishna developed intense devotion to Mother Kali and spent hours in loving adoration of her image. He was filled with a rare form of love for the Mother which is called Maha-Bhava. It is said that he was often seen immersed in spiritual trance and lost consciousness of the external world. He domiciled in the temple premises. The bed in which Sri Ramakrishna used to rest is carefully preserved here.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple Architecture
This is one amongst the largest temples of Kolkata. It rises majestically over 100 feet and is spread over 46 feet square. The temple is a large elongated building standing on a high platform with a flight of stairs. The temple is built in the traditional 'Nava-ratna' or nine spires style of Bengal architecture. The temple which faces the south is three-storeyed and bears 9 spires disseminated in higher 2 storeys. The Garbhagriha (sanctum sanctorum) houses an idol of goddess Kali idol, known as Bhavatarini. The idol here is depicted as standing on the chest of a lying Shiva, and the two idols are placed on a thousand-petal lotus made of silver. To the west of the Kali Temple, across the wide, paved courtyard, twelve small temples in the atchala or eight roofed style, are lined up parallel with the river and are devoted to Lord Shiva. Apart from there one can also find Lakshmi-Naryan temple, one Rani Rashmoni temple and one Thakur Ramakrishna temple here. There is a long spacious Natmandir (Dancing hall) in front of the temple. In the north western corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples one can see the chamber in which Ramakrishna spent a considerable part of his life.
How to reach Dakshineswar Kali Temple
The nearest international airport is the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at Kolkata. The airport is well connected with all major cities of India. The nearest railway stations are Dakshineswar (suburban) & Howrah (main junction). Nearest Metro station is Dum Dum. Dakshineshwar Temple is situated alongside Vivekananda Bridge, about 22 km from BBD Bag and 40 km from Kudghat bus terminus in Kolkata. Local city buses, metered taxis as well as autorickshaws are readily available from various parts of the city.