Kali Temple at Kalighat is the most venerated Hindu temple in Kolkata. Kalighat is located about 20 kilometres north of Kolkata city on the banks of the river Hooghly (Bhagirathi). This 200 year old temple is a significant site of religious worship for Hindus and attracts numerous devotees throughout the year. It is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of India. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell. The name Calcutta is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat.
Kali Temple : Legends
As per legends Sati is the wife of Shiva. She was the daughter of Daksha Prajapati a descendant of Brahma. She is known as Dakshayani. Sati married Lord Shiva against the wishes of her father. Once Daksha Prajapati had performed a great yagna to which he invited all of the gods and goddesses except his son in law Shiva. Against Shiva's wishes, Sati attended this sacrifice and was insulted by her father. Unable to bear this insult, Sati immolated herself by jumping into the homa. On hearing about his wife’s death Shiva’s rage knew no bounds. He picked up the remains of Sati's body, and danced the dance of destruction throughout the Universe. The other gods intervened to stop the destruction. Then lord Vishnu cut through the corpse of Sati with his disk and various parts of the body fell at several spots all through the Indian subcontinent and formed the sites of what are known as Shakti Peethas today. Kalighat represents the site where the toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell.
Legend has it that a devotee discovered a luminous ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi river bed, and upon investigating its source, came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human toe. He also found a Syayambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby, and started worshipping Kali in the midst of a thick jungle.
Kali Temple : History
The Kalighat temple in its present form is only about 200 years old. However it has been referred to in Mansar Bhasan composed in the 15th century, and in Kavi Kankan Chandi of the 17th century.
The original temple was a small hut. A small temple was constructed by King Manasingha in the early Sixteenth century. The present temple was built by Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family, completed in the year 1809.
The original temple was built by Raja Basant Roy, who was the uncle of Pratapaditya and the King of Jessore (Bangladesh). The temple is now on the banks of a small canal called Adi Ganga which connects to the Hoogly. The Adi Ganga was the original course of the river Hooghly (the Ganges). Hence the name Adi (original) Ganges.
Kalighat is also associated with the worship offered to Kaali by a Dasanami Monk by name Chowranga Giri. It is said that the Chowringee area of Calcutta is said to have been named after him.
About Kali Temple
The main temple has been built in classic Bengali ‘one-spire’ structure. The design is based on the pancharatna and navaratna but without the subsidiary towers. The temple has the atchala or ‘eight-roofed’ construction.
The temple is situated on the banks of Adi Ganga. The main attraction of this temple lies in the image of Goddess Kali that bears three huge eyes, long protruding tongue made of gold and four hands. On the initial level, the face of the goddess was made and further tongue and hands made of gold and silver were added to the image. The present idol of touchstone was created by two saints - Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram Giri.
Natomandir is a large rectangular covered platform erected adjacent to the main temple. Sosthi Tala or Monosha Tala is a rectangular altar about three feet high bearing a small cactus plant. Beneath the tree, on an altar are three stones placed side-by-side from left to right representing the goddesses Sosthi, Sitola and Mongol Chandi.
Goat sacrifice is a common feature at the temple. There are two sacrificial altars for animal sacrifices side by side situated adjacent to the Natmondir. These are known as Hari Kath Tala. Radha-Krishna Temple is situated to the west of the main temple inside the temple complex. A separate kitchen is present to prepare vegetarian bhog to Radha Krishna. Towards the north-east of this sanctum there is a Shiva Temple. Kundupukur is a sacred tank and it is situated in the southeast of the temple outside the boundary wall. This holy tank water is treated as sacred as Ganges water.
The goddess is offered a ceremonial bath every year on the snan-yatra day. On the day of 'Snan Yatra' the priests cover their eyes with cloth strips, while giving the ceremonial bath to the Goddess. On the days of festivals like Kali Puja, Durga Puja, Poila Boishakh, the Bengali New Year day and Sankranti huge of devotees visit the temple. The temple is open from 5.00 A.M. to 2.00 P.M and 5.00 P.M to 10.30 P.M. It is closed from 2.00 P.M to 5.00 P.M. for Bhog. There are Aarthis in the morning and evening.
There are numerous shops and vendors around the temple selling religious wares and icons. Kalighat in South Kolkata has many roads connected to it and thus provides an easy access to the pilgrims. Buses, minibuses, metered taxis and trams are available from all parts of Calcutta. Kalighat has a Tram depot. The nearest Metro station is the Kalighat Metro Station and Jatin Das Park. The nearest airport to the temple is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport and the nearest railway station is Howrah.