Kalighat Temple
There are several temples of the Mother Goddess throughout the country, the place the black form of the Goddess is worshiped. But Kali Mata has two distinctive temples in Kolkata, West Bengal.Kalighat Temple is the second Siddha temple of Kali Maa in Kolkata. The statue of Kali Maa on this temple is made of black stones. The black mother's tongue, arms and teeth are covered with gold.
This place is the biggest temple for the devotees of Kali Maa. The 200-year-old temple has a special tradition that the temple is closed every day after 12 o'clock in the night and the reopening of the temple is reopened at exactly 4 o'clock in the morning.
Due to religious beliefs, the head priest is blindfolded while bathing the goddess. This temple is famous for Aghor kriyas and tantra-mantras. There is a custom of animal sacrifice in the temple on the day of Mahashtami of Navratri.
Talking about religious beliefs, Kolkata is considered to be the abode of Maa Kali. That's the reason the city was named Kolkata. Different forms of Goddess Bhagwati are worshiped all over the world. But in Kolkata, the black form of the mother goddess is mainly worshiped.
It is stated that once Goddess Kali got angry at something, after which she began committing genocide. Whoever comes in their way would kill her. The idol where Kali Devi is seen with feet on the chest of Shiva means that Lord Shiva lay in his path to calm his anger. This try of Lord Shiva might also not calm the anger of Goddess and Goddess angrily stepped on his chest. During this time, he recognized Lord Shiva and his anger subsided.
Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Dakshineswar Kali Temple is one of the 51 Shaktipeeths situated on the banks of the Hooghly River. Dakshineswar Kali Temple is counted among the greatest Goddess shrines of India. This temple of Kali Mata is two storied which stands on 9 domes. A beautiful statue of Maa Kali is installed in the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, standing on these domes, about a hundred ft excessive, and here the idol of Kali Maa is standing on the chest of the lying Lord Shiva.It's said that Ramakrishna Paramahamsa appeared in Dakshineshwar Kali temple by Dakshineswar Kali. Adjoining the Dakshineshwar Kali temple is the Paramhansa Dev's room, in which his bed and different souvenirs are secure. Outside the Dakshineshwar Kali temple is the Samadhi Mandir of Srimarada Mata and Rani Rasmani, the wife of Paramahamsa and the vat tree under which Paramahamsa Dev used to meditate.
Statue made of touchstone
A raging statue made of touchstone of Kali Devi is put in. In this statue, mother Kali is seen with feet on Lord Shiva's chest. Wearing garland of Narmundas around the neck and holding ax and Narmund in hand.The black mother's tongue is out, so a few drops of blood will also be seen dripping. The idol of Kali Mata is black in color. Eyes and head are in vermilion color. Even the tilak of mother Kali is also covered in Sinduria color. They hold a loop in the hand which is of Sinduria color.
Kalighat Temple is 200 years old
The Kalighat temple is about 200 years old in its present form, though it is referenced in Mansar Bhasana within the 15th century and the Kankan Chandi of the 17th century. The present structure was accomplished in 1809 under the guidance of Sabran Roy Chaudhary. The mention of Kali temple is also found in the 'Samband Ninoy' of Lalmohan Bidyanidhi.In the early sixteenth century a small temple was constructed by King Mansingh. The present temple was built under the patronage of Sabran Roy Chaudhary household of Banisha. It was completed in 1809.
According to a popular legend, as soon as a devotee saw a bright ray of light from the river Bhagirath. He positioned the light and found a piece of stone in the form of a human toe.
Within the vicinity, he found a self-styled lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairava. He kept these images in a small temple and started worshiping them within the forest. The popularity of the temple increased over time and thus the Kalighat temple was recognized.
The temple is built within the style of the traditional Bengal School of Architecture, with a big dome on top. Different sections within the temple are saved for various purposes. The Natamandir and Jor Bungalow provide a better view of the sanctum sanctorum and the hartal is the Yagna altar. A temple dedicated to Radha-Krishna is located within the western a part of the complex.
Darshan time for devotees
5 AM to 2 PM5 pm to 10:30 pm
First Aarti - 4 AM
Sandhya Aarti: 6:30 pm
Bhog or Prasad - 2 pm to 5 pm
(During this time the temple stays closed for the common people.)
