Kalighat Kali Temple

The Kalighat kali temple in its present form is about 200 years old, although it has been referred to in Mansar Bhasan composed in the 15th century, and in Kavi Kankan Chandi of the 17th century. Only two types of coins of Chandragupta II, who incorporated Vanga in the Gupta Empire, are known from Bengal. His Archer type coins, which became the most popular type of coinage with the Gupta rulers after Kumaragupta I, have been found in Kalighat. This is evidence of the antiquity of the place.

The original temple was a small hut. A small temple was constructed by King Manasingha in the early Sixteenth century. The present temple was erected under the patronage of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Banisha. It was completed in 1809. The Haldar family claims to be the original owners of the temple property. But this was disputed by the Chowdhrys of Banisha. In the nineteen sixties a committee was formed for the administrative management of the temple with representation from the Government and the Haldar family. The responsibility of conducting the worship rests with the Haldars and their heirs, generally known as sebadas.

Kalighat kali temple is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peeth of India, where the various parts of Sati’s body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva’s Rudra Tandava. Kalighat represents the site where the head of Sati fell. But some people believe that the right toe of Sati fell here.

The image of Kali in this temple is unique. It does not follow the pattern of other Kali images in Bengal. The present idol of touchstone was created by two saints – Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram Giri. Three huge eyes, long protruding tongue made of gold and four hands in which two hands will be holding a sword and a severed head. The Sword signifies Divine Knowledge and the Human Head signifies human Ego which much be slain by Divine Knowledge in order to attain Moksha. The other two hands are in the abhaya and varada mudras or blessings.

The Kalighat Kali Mandir is a classic example of the Bengali architectural style which is a structural emulation of the mud and thatch-roofed huts of the villages. Kalighat’s main temple is a four-sided building with a truncated dome. A smaller identically-shaped projection caps this domed structure. Each sloping side of the roof is referred to as a chala Therefore the Kalighat Mandir is designated as chala temple. The two roofs will bear a total of eight separate faces. This stacked, hut-like design is common for Bengali temples and we find the same exact style of architecture used at another shakti peeth.

Both roofs are painted with shiny, metallic silver and are decorated with bright bands of red, yellow, green, and blue where they join the building at the cornice. The uppermost roof is topped by three spires with the tallest central spire bearing a triangular pennant flag. Each of the mandir’s outer walls is decorated with a diamond chessboard pattern of alternating green and white tiles. A recent addition to the temple complex is the implementation of an elaborate lighting system which creates a novel mood and causes the mandir to glow with funky colors throughout the night.

Kali Idol at Kalighat Mali Mandir

The main shrine comprises the idol of Goddess Kali. The idol of Goddess Kali is made of black stone and decorated with gold and silver. The one of Lord Shiva is in silver. Three beautiful yet fiery eyes, long protruding tongue made of gold and four hands, which all are made of gold too. Two of these hands holding a scimitar and a severed head of the asura king ‘Shumbha’. The scimitar signifies divine Knowledge and the asura (or, human) head signifies human ego. The other two hands are the abhaya and varada mudras or blessings, which means her initiated devotees (or anyone worshiping her with a true heart) will be saved as she will guide them here and hereafter. The goddess is offered a ceremonial bath every year on the snan-yatra day, the rituals being performed by the priests who cover their eyes with cloth during the ceremony. Kali represents the destructive side of Siva’s consort and demands daily sacrifices; therefore in the morning goats have their throats slit here to satisfy the goddess’s bloodlust. The Kali idol, primitively only had her face. Further tongue and hands made of gold and silver were added to the image. Another Kalika murti which is housed within is a representation of the goddess considered so powerful that it is never displayed to the public, nor ever seen by the priests. This hidden image of the goddess was not made with human hands, but was created by nature, and is therefore described as the self-generated, or svayambhu image of Kalika. Identified as one of the toes from Sati’s right foot, the adi rup (original form) is said to have fallen at this shakti pith, and is concealed within the pedestal upon which the Kalika murti stands.

Right adjacent to the temple lies the Natmondir- it’s a platform through which the deity could be seen directly. Right next to the natmondir lies two sacrificial altars which also have a murti of Radha-Krishna. A sacred tank called Kundupukar lies in the south-east corner of the temple premises. The water of this pond is consider to be as holy as river Ganga and and has the power to bestow the boon of a child. There are two queues going for darshan, i.e. Garbha-Graha (Nijo-Mandir) and other for having darshan from Verandah. (Jor- Bangla).