Dakshinshwar Kali Temple, Dakshineshwar, Kolkata, India
Location
Dakshineshwar Kali Temple is located at Dakshineshwar, a suburban area near Kolkata on the eastern bank of Hoogly river.
[ Dakshineshwar Kali Temple ]
[ Dakshineshwar Kali Temple in Night ]
The idol inside the temple is called Bhavtarini form of Mata Kali. Bhavtarini literally means who liberates her devotees from re birth law of Mother Nature ie Moksha.
Shumbha and Nishumbha were the two demons, so strong that the Gods were defeated in battle with them. Gods were driven out of the heaven. They then, jointly prayed Mata Adyashakti to save them from the demons.
At this, a Devi came out of the body of Adyashakti and named as Koushiki. Devi appeared form her body was black in colour and known as Mata Kali.
Kali is among one of the Ten Vidyas as stated in Hindu holy books. She wears tiger skin. She plays with Mahakal so she is named as Mahakali,.having a terrible face and at the same time calm and benefactress of the world.
The temple was built by Rani Rasmoni, a great devotee of Maa Kali and famous philanthropist in 1855 AD. The temple is famous for its association with Ramkrishna Paramhansa, a famous devotee of Maa Kali. He was a man of spiritual, religious and mystic power by the grace of Maa Kali.
About Rasmoni Devi, the founder
Rani Rasmoni was the founder of the temple. She was a well known personality, for her social, religious and philanthropic activities. She was by caste Mahishya (Sudra). but a dynamic lady of her time. she also had the quality of a good and generous administrator, who took over the charge of enormous estate after the death of her husband. People loved her daring and fighting attitude against the stringent British laws.
[ Ramkrishna Ghat on Hoogly River ]
In the year 1847, when she was prepared to go on a pilgrimage to holy city Varanasi to express her devotion to the Divine Mother (Maa Kali). On the night before the pilgrimage Rasmoni had a dream of the De vine Mother Kali, who told : --
There is no need to go anywhere. Come, construct, and installed my statue in a beautiful temple
on the bank of holy Ganga and arrange for my worship there. I shall be there in my
image and accept worship of my devotees.
As directed in the dream, Rasmoni immediately started searching land for the temple. A plot of 20 acres of land was for sale. She purchased the land and started construction of temple. In 1855 AD the construction of the temple was completed.
On SNAAN YATRA day, 31 May 1855, a beautifull statue of Goddess Kali, installed amid festivities at the temple.
Formerly Maa Kali was known as Sri Sri Jagdishwari Mahakali. More than one lac Brahmins were invited in the inauguration of the temple from every corner of the country.
Ramkumar Chattopadhyay was appointed as the Head priest of the temple. But unfortunately Ramkumar died after one year and the post of head priest was given to his younger brother Gadai or Gadadhar ( later on known as Ramkrishna) along with his wife Sardamoni Devi
Rani Rasmoni survived only for five years and nine months after the inauguration of the temple. Before her death, Rasmoni gifted her property to the temple trust, being used for the maintenance of the temple in future.
About the Temple complex
Lord Shiva Temple
The temple complex is very large in size. There are 12 Shiva temples inside the campus and all are identical perhaps, representing Dwadas Jyotirlinga. The temple architect is Aat Chala style ( having eight roofs ) of Bengali culture. All the 12 Shivlingas inside the temples are made of black stone.
The series of temples are divided by river bank, keeping six temples on each side.. Prayers and rituals are offered daily. It is said, Shri Ramkrishna meditated here to achieve enlightenment.
Vishnu Temple
Lord Vishnu temple is situated to the north east side of the complex in which a small and beautiful statue of Lord Krishna and Radha are installed on a silver throne.
About Ramkrishna Paramhansa
Sri Ramkrishna was born on 17 / 02 / 1836 in Kamarpukur, Hoogly. He was the fourth child of his parents. His nickname was Gadadhar. From the very childhood he had an unusual memory and keen interest in Hindu mythology. After the death of his elder brother - Ramkumar he took the charge of head priest of the temple
.
At the age of 23 in May1859 he married Shardamoni of Jairambati. But soon after his marriage, he took SANYASA under the Sage Totapuri who guided him in finding the truth of life. His quest for truth started with meditation of Maa Bhairavi.
During meditation he often went to Bhavsamadhi having no sense of the earthly world. He started Adityasadhna in which he realized the existence of God. He worshipped Sardamoni in the same way as he worshipped Mother Goddess. By his spiritual influence,.many famous and scholar persons of Bengal became his disciples. One of them was Narendranath.
Narendranath was one of his dearest disciple, with whom he developed a strange theological relation. He taught Naren about the truth of life by letting him see a Holy spirit. Later on, he was known as Swami Vivekanand who spread the teachings of Ramkrishna Paramhansa to the world. During a celebration at Kashipur Garden in Kolkata, some of his disciples accidentally touched by him felt an unearthly feelings and some became speechless and went to the state of Samadhi. The great devotee and preacher passed away in 16 August 1886.
Places to Visit Nearby
Gaji Tala
Gaji Pukur is a pond situated to the east of the temple. North east to this pond is Gaji Tala, a place where Ramkrishna explored Islam. Very close to this place is a Peepal tree. Rani Rasmoni did not disturbed this place and marked it as the place, where Hindu and Muslims together came to offer prayers. Today it is being maintained by Debottar Estate.
Kuthi Bari
Towards north of Ganga is Khuti Bari, originally built by Lord Hastings. It was the temporary reseidence where Rani Rasmoni and their spouse came to worship Dakshineshwar temple from 1855 – 1870. Ground floor rooms were the residence of Sri Ramkrishna. Today it is being utilised as a police camp, deployed for the safety of the visitors.
Nahabat Khana
Nahabat means an assortment of musical instruments and khana means the house. In the ancient time, the instruments were played by the musicians.
Chadni
Chadni is the river bank of Ganga. It is the place, where the Vedantic Guru Tota puri had achieved enlightenment..
Nat Mandir
It is an open hall constructed on 16 pillars, served the purpose of many religious programs In the year 1864, Annomeru Utsava was celebrated by Mathur Mohan Biswas. Various religious songs like Chandigaan, Jatragaan, Bhajan Kirtan, Matri Sangeeet were held here.
Room of Ramkrishna
Inn the temple complex, there is a room of Shri Ramkrishna where he resided for 14 years, till the end of his life. Today it is the place where the articles used by Sri Ramkrishna are now exhibited. The preacher having holy Ganga Jal in his room is still found in its place.
Bakul Tala
Bakul Tala is the name of a Ganga Ghat where Maa Sardamoni used to take her bath. This was the place where Tantra Sadhna Guru Bhairavi Brahmani Yogeshwari Devi teaches Tantra Vidya to Sri Ramkrishna..
Panchabati
It is the place, where Sri Ramkrishna planted five trees namely Peepal,Neem, Amlaki, Banyan, and Wood Apple. Soil from Radhakund and Shyamkund was brought here to plant these trees. It was the place of meditation for Sri Ramkrishna and.a hut was built for this purpose, which later on rebuilt and named as Shanti Kutir. Rituals and Pujas are performed here everyday.
Festivals
Every year on 1st January Kalptaru Day is celebrated in which Devotees from all over the country gathers in large numbers.
It is an annual religious festival observed by the Monks of Ramkrishna Math. The followers of Ramkrishna Mission and Vedanta societies took part in this celebration.
How to Reach
Kolkata is one of the Metro city of India and well connected by every means of transport. Reach Kolkata and hire a taxi and reach Dakshineshwar.
This is a historical as well as the place from where the personality like Swami Vivekanand came out must be visited.
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