Kalighat Kali temple, the sacred Shakti Peeth of Kolkata
The original temple was believed to have been a small hut; this was actually later transformed into a proper temple, that was commissioned by King Manasingha during 16th century.
NewsBharati 19-May-2022 17:35:26 PM
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The legend behind the temple we are about to explore is an interesting one, and in it, also lies the secret behind how the city of Kolkata is seemed to have been named. Viewed as one of the holiest of the 51 Shakti Peeths in the world, the Kalighat Kali Temple is a must visit in Kolkata owing to its history & legend. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali and is located on the very banks of Adi Ganga - a small canal connecting to the Hooghly River. The canal is named Adi Ganga as it used to be the original course of the Hooghly River and ‘Adi’ meaning original.
The Idol | The idol of the Goddess Kali, having 3 big eyes, four hands and a long tongue, is made out of sandstone that was crafted by the twin saints - Atmaram Giri and Brahmananda Giri. The tongue and the eyes of the idol are made of gold. The idol does not resemble the usual idols of the Goddess at all other places where Kali is worshipped.
Legend | The Kalighat Kali Temple is being regarded as one of the most important Shakti Peeths out of 51 peeths that are spread all across India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The mythology behind this sacred temple is related to Rudra Tandav of Lord Shiva after he was enraged by self-immolation of his consort, Sati, after an altercation with her father on not being invited for a puja ceremony at her father’s place.
Of the many legends relating with the Kalighat Kali Temple, is the most famous one is of the Brahmin named Atma Ram. He found a human toe shaped stone structure in the Bhagirathi River. He prayed to the piece of stone that evening, and had a dream the same night when he was informed about Sati’s toe that fell into the river. In his dream, he was instructed to set up a temple and also search for a Swambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav, which he later did.
History | The current temple building was constructed in the 19th Century and is 200 years old! Interestingly, the same temple’s reference has also been found in 15th Century composition of Mansar Bhasan and also in the Kavi Chandi published back in 17th Century. There is another mention of the Kalighat Kali temple in Lalmohon Bidyanidhis's 'Sambanda Nirnoy’.
The original temple was believed to have been a small hut. This was actually later transformed into a proper temple, that was commissioned by King Manasingha during 16th century. The temple was under the patronage of Sabarna Roy Chowdhury’s family of Barisha that the present structure was completed in circa 1809.
The question whether the temple belonged to antiquity was answered in great description and factual proofs of presence of coinage that belongs to the Gupta Empire. The popular archer coins that became famous during the Gupta rule after Kumargupta I were found in Kalighat temple, and hence the proof of temple being even in Gupta dynasty.
The Idol | The idol of the Goddess Kali, having 3 big eyes, four hands and a long tongue, is made out of sandstone that was crafted by the twin saints - Atmaram Giri and Brahmananda Giri. The tongue and the eyes of the idol are made of gold. The idol does not resemble the usual idols of the Goddess at all other places where Kali is worshipped.
The Goddess, in her hand, holds a scimitar, which signifies the divine knowledge and a severed head of the demon king, Shumbha, that’s shows that the human ego that is supposed to be slayed by the divine knowledge and removed from our lifestyles. That is the only path how one can attain moksha.
Legend | The Kalighat Kali Temple is being regarded as one of the most important Shakti Peeths out of 51 peeths that are spread all across India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The mythology behind this sacred temple is related to Rudra Tandav of Lord Shiva after he was enraged by self-immolation of his consort, Sati, after an altercation with her father on not being invited for a puja ceremony at her father’s place.
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It is said that Shiva carried Sati’s burnt body while performing Tandav and that’s when various parts of the Goddess’s body fell on earth. The right toe of Sati fell at Kalighat and that’s where the temple was built later and the presiding deity here is called Kalika, after whom, the city was named as Kolkata.
Of the many legends relating with the Kalighat Kali Temple, is the most famous one is of the Brahmin named Atma Ram. He found a human toe shaped stone structure in the Bhagirathi River. He prayed to the piece of stone that evening, and had a dream the same night when he was informed about Sati’s toe that fell into the river. In his dream, he was instructed to set up a temple and also search for a Swambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav, which he later did.
Kinjal Dixit
Kinjal Dixit has a degree in bachelors in English and is currently pursuing her Master's in Journalism and Mass Communication. She has a hand at writing about infrastructure, culture and in sharing humanitarian stories.