Dakshineswar Kali Temple,Kolkata

India Tourism — By NikhilBhide on June 3, 2009 at 11:21

kali-temple

One of the most revered and a famous temple of India is the Dakshineshwar Kali temple in the Hoogli district on the banks of the sacred Ganges. This temple rose to fame with its association with the greatest spiritual masters of all times. Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

The temple which is a century and a half old was originally founded by the renowned queen of Janbazar Rani Rasmani in 1847. The queen had made all arrangements to go to Banaras and install an edifice devoted to exalted purposes of the divine mother. However the same night the wealthy widow dreamed the Divine Mother, in the form of the goddess Kali.

She appeared to the Rani in a dream and said, “There is not need to go to Banaras. Install my statue in a beautiful temple on the banks of the Ganges River and arrange for my worship there. Then I shall manifest myself in the image and accept the unquestionable and uncritical love of my ardent followers at that place.”

Affected to a great depth by the dream psychologically, Rani immediately purchased the land adjoining the Ganges from a Mr. Hasti, and responsively began construction of the temple. It took 8 years for the temple construction to end and an estimated 9 lakhs was the total expenditure borne. The temple, built in conventional Nava-Ratna style, measuring 46 feet square and rising over hundred feet high is a large elongated building standing on a high platform with a flight of stairs. It is one of the largest temples of kolkatha and a true architectural masterpiece.

The temple has a lot of mysticism colligated with it. The great Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was so immersed in veneration that he would be lost in his spiritual trance becoming totally unconscious of the external world (material world). It is these trances that attract a large number of pilgrims not only from India but all around the world. He was a great spiritual preacher who was considered an incarnation of god by many of his disciples, and is considered as such by many of his devotees today.

The temple and its adjoining areas stand on 25 acres of land. The Ganga River flows beside the temple with immense tranquility. To the east it houses twelve Shiv temples. To the north is a Radha-Krishna temple. There is a sort of courtyard behind the Shiv temple. Here stands the main temple where everyday, the Goddess Kali is worshipped with ceremonial elegance and splendor which can be characterized by a characterized by strong enthusiasm and devotion. There is a long spacious dancing hall in front of the temple, where the goddess Kali stands on the chest of lord Shiv with her splendor and glory. The whole ambience of this temple with the arboreta is extremely ethereal.

Even now, we get the blessings of Maa-Kali (mother Kali) from Dakshineshwar for any distress of life, any problem of mental agonies and anxieties or for any family criticalities to get peaceful solutions and successful achievements in fulfilling the prayers by the touch of her auspicious Nirmalya and Pujas (ceremonies) with pure heart. It is a must visit attraction for anyone who visits Kolkatha. Even if one is an atheist the devotional ambience that surrounds this place truly touches one’s heart.

Ritu Naiya

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