Information of Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Kolkata, West Bengal

The Dakshineswar Kali temple is located on the eastern banks of the Hoogly River, a tributary of The Ganges in the metropolitan city of Kolkata in West Bengal, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali, the destructor of evil and demons. She is worshipped in the name of Bhavatarani, "She who liberates her devotees from the ocean of existence". The Dakshineswar Temple was built by Rani Rashmoni in the 19th century.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple Mythology & History

A famous Philanthropist of that time, Rani Rashmoni was an ardent devotee of Goddess Kali. She belonged to the low cast of Shudra hence there was a controversy, that a person belonging to a low caste cannot own a Divine temple.

Rani Rashmoni had decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy city of Kasi taking all her relatives along with her. Legends speak out that the previous night of the voyage Rani Rasmoni had vision of the all powerful Goddess Kali. She asked her to install her idol on the banks of the holy river of Ganga and promised to manifest herself as a sign of pleasure from her devotee and that there is no need to travel all the way to Kasi. She immediately began the construction of the temple on an 81,000 square meters of land with an expenditure of 900 thousand rupees. It took nine years to complete the temple. On 31st May 1855 the idol of Goddess Kali was installed and more than 1 lakh priests were invited to witness the auspicious occasion assisted by priest Ramakumar Chhattopadhya. Prior to his death his brother Ramakrishna Parmahamsa carried on his work. It was in this temple that he got enlightened and started spreading his teachings.Just a day before Rani Rashmoni died she handed over the temple in Dinajput for maintenance in 1861.

Dakshineswar Kali Temple Architectural Significance

The Temple structure of Dakshineswar was built in a typical Nava- Ratna Bengal Architectural style. The temple is built on a raised stairs flanked by a few stairs and is at a height of 30 meters. The area that is occupied by the main temple is 14 meters square. It consists of nine spires distributed in two levels. The main shrine is at the first level facing to the south. In main shrine is a thousand petaled lotus made up of silver on which there is an idol of Goddess Kali decorated with infinite number of precious and magnificent jewelleries who stands on the chest of her consort Lord Shiva. There are twelve identical temples of Lord Shiva adjoining to the main Temple. The temple is somewhat white in colour with bordered in all parts with crimson colour, featuring typical Bengali style.

The Temples are surrounded by a huge compound where devotees can rest and can enjoy the beauty of the temple along with the holy river of Gnaga. There is also a ghat where people perform various rituals. To the south of the sanctuary there is a music room, a shrine dedicated to the wife of Ramakrishna, Saradevi. There is also a Vishnu and Krishna Radha temple towards the northeast side.

Worship at Dakshineswar Kali Temple

Devotees can visit the temple throughout the year. It is opened from 7 am in the morning till 12 noon and again from 4 pm in the evening till 9 pm at night. It is advised to visit the temple in the holy hours of the morning but if one visits in the evening it is worth to attend the Aarati which vibrates the surrounding with spiritual Divinity. The main festival celebrated here is during Kali Puja.