Kalighat Kali Mandir, Kolkata, West Bengal, IN

Deity: Goddess Kali
Location: Kolkata, West Bengal
Built by: Sabarna Roy Chowdhury
Built in: 1847
Significance: One of the 52 Shakti Peethams

Kalighat Temple is a Mahapith which is well known to the world. This is the temple where offering Puja means a connection with the divine power. Millions of people come here to fulfill their desire. If you are facing any problem on the way of your life, just spend only one minute and send Puja to Kaalighat temple. See whether your desires get fulfilled or not...

The Kalighat Temple in Kolkata of goddess Kali is 20 kilometers north of Kolkata city, situated on the banks of river Hoogly. It was established in 1847. Kalighat temple is about 200 years old. Kalighat is a significant religious place for the Hindus in eastern India.

Kali is regarded as one of the principal deities of Bengal. There are other temples to Kali - Sahasrabhuja Kali, Sarvamangala, Tarasundari and Simhavaahini. Kali is regarded as the destroyer or liberator and is depicted in a fearful form. Despite the terrifying form, she is considered to deliver bliss to worshippers.

Kalighat is regarded as one of the 52 Shakti Peethams 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 toes of the right foot of Shakti or Sati fell.

The image of the deity is incomplete. Only the face of the deity was made first. The hands made of gold and silver, the tongue, the Shiva statue and all the jewellery were added over the years.

Legend:
It has that a devotee discovered a luminary ray of light coming from the Bhagirathi river bed, and upon investigating its source came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human toe. He also found a Syayambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby, and started worshipping Kaali in the midst of a thick jungle. This shrine grew to its present form over a period of time. This family is also said to have built the Chitreswari Kaali temple at Chitpur. It is believed that there was a pathway through the jungle between Chitpur and Kalighat, and this pathway is said to have become the Chitpur road of Calcutta.

Kalighat is also associated with the worship offered to Kaali by a Dasanami Monk by name Chowranga Giri, and the Chowringee area of Calcutta is said to have been named after him.

The Dakshineswar Kaali temple across from the river, near Belur Math, bears an image of Kaali worshipped by the spiritual leader Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, guru of Swami Vivekananda.

Festival:
On snanyatra day, while giving Mother the ceremonial bath, the priests tie their eyes with cloth coverings. On auspicious occasions like Kali Puja, Durga Puja, Poila Boishakh, the Bengali New Year day and sankranti large number of devotees throng the place with offerings.

How to reach:
One can easily reach Kalighat Kali Temple by taking local Buses, Rickshaws or by hiring Taxis from Kolkata. The nearest Metro station is the Kalighat Metro Station.

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