Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata ~ One of the 51 Maha Shakti Peeths

The Kalighat Kali temple in Kolkata is among the 51 Shakti peethas on the Indian subcontinent. This temple, dedicated to Goddess Kali, is located on the banks of the Adi Ganga, hence its name.Let’s dive deep into the mind boggling history and anecdotes associated with this temple.

Table of Contents

1. About Kalighat Kali temple
2. Kalighat kali temple history
3. Kalighat Kali temple Architecture
4. Significance of Kalighat Kali temple
5. Bhog offered to Maa Kali
6. Best time to visit Kalighat Kali temple
7. Kalighat Kali temple timings
8. How to reach Kalighat Kali temple?

About Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Temple, also known as Kali Mata Temple, is a well-known Hindu temple in Kolkata, West Bengal, that is devoted to the goddess Kali. Situated in Kolkata on the Hooghly River, Kalighat Temple is a famous ghat. Visitors to the temple come from all across the nation to ask for the Maa Kali’s blessings.
The statue is composed of gold and features four hands, three eyes, and a long tongue. In addition, the southeast corner of the temple complex contains a holy pond known as "Kundupukur." This pond's water is revered equally to the Ganges. Holy Water is said to have the ability to bless childless couples with a child. Lord Shiva is positioned as Nakuleshwar and Goddess Sati as Kalika.

Kalighat Kali Temple History

Legend says that when Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra to cut the corpse of Goddess Sati into 51 pieces, the Goddess's right toe fell here. This action was taken by Lord Vishnu in order to prevent Lord Shiva's anger from the Universe.
Another well-known legend states that a devotee once witnessed a brilliant light beam coming from the river Bhagirath. After locating the light, he discovered a fragment of stone that resembled a human toe. He discovered a Nakuleshwar Bhairava lingam nearby. He began worshipping these idols in the barren landscape and maintained them in a little temple. As the temple's popularity grew, the Kalighat temple gained official recognition.

Kalighat Kali Temple Architecture

The current Kalighat Kali Temple was constructed in 1809 by Sabarna Roy Chaudhary. In writings like the Fifteenth-Century Mansar Bhasan, the Kalighat temple is frequently mentioned. King Basant Rai, the monarch of Jessore (Bangladesh) and Pratapaditya's uncle, constructed the first temple. It is mentioned in a number of Bengali devotional books from the 15th and 17th centuries. It has been thought to exist from Chandragupta II's era.
King Mansingh constructed the initial temple, a little hut-shaped building, in the sixteenth century. Under Sabran Roy Chaudhary's supervision, the current building was finished in 1809. A unique statue of Goddess Kali is located in the temple's main hall. Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram Giri are two saints who sculpted the current version of Maa Kali. The statue is composed of gold and features four hands, three eyes, and a long tongue. The temple's Victorian-style tiles feature flowers and peacock shapes.

Significance of Kalighat Kali Temple

Kalighat Kali Temple is a popular Kali Mandir. During Diwali, on the moon day of the Hindu month Ashwin, devotees from all around India gather to do Kali puja. Kali puja is celebrated with great enthusiasm. The Snan Yatra of this temple is also well known. Priests conceal their eyes and bathe the idols. This temple is well known for its stunning and unusual architecture. The three stones represent the Goddesses Shashti, Sitala, and Mangal Chandi. The priests here are all female. The temple's tank is supposed to hold pure Ganga water. This location is known as Kaku-Kunda. According to devotees, bathing in the tank offers numerous advantages. Many childless couples are said to bathe here in hopes of becoming parents. Jor-Bangla is the name of the bathing ghat. The location of the sacrifices is Harkath Tala. The Shamo-Ray temple is another location dedicated to Radha Krishna.
Harkath Tala is the location designed for Bali (sacrifice) that is south of the Natmandir. For animal sacrifices, there are two side-by-side Sacrificial platforms. They are referred to as Hari- Kath.
The larger one is used for sacrifices of buffalo, while the smaller one is used for goats and lambs. When compared to professional slaughterhouses, there is relatively minimal animal cruelty involved in the single-strike sacrifice of the animals.

Bhog offered to Maa Kali

In Kolkata, West Bengal, at Kalighat is the most well-known temple dedicated to the goddess Kali. The cuisine offered at the Kalighat Temple is unique. Typically, bhog is served twice a day. Fruits and sweets are served as the first course at roughly 6:30 AM.
Rice, pulao, bhajis (vegetables dipped in gram flour and deep fried), curries, fish, mutton, sweets, and fruits make up the first main bhog, which is served around 2:00 pm.
Between 6:00 and 7:00 PM is when the next major meal is served. The evening meal consists of sandesh, begun bhaja (fried eggplant slices), aloo bhaji, and various bhajis made with seasonal vegetables.
The last meal is served at 10:30 p.m. The primary offerings are sweets and milk.

Why is Kalighat Kali temple famous?

The Kalighat Kali Temple has gained fame due to its age and perceived religious significance. It is thought that the temple is among the most significant Shakti Peeths. Within the framework of Hindu scriptures and Kali worship, a Shakti Peeth is a hallowed location connected to the Goddess Shakti, especially in her numerous identities as Parvati, Durga, or Kali. "Shakti" denotes the divine feminine force or energy, whereas "Peeth" denotes a place of worship or shrine. Every Shakti Peeth has its own mythology and meaning, and each is connected to a particular bodily portion of Sati. Goddess devotees come to these temples to adore and ask for favours. 

Best time to visit Kalighat Kali Temple 

The best time to travel is between October and March. Navratri is celebrated during this time with a lot of buzz and spectacle, and a vast number of devotees visit the temple and offer their heads in front of the temple idols. In addition, October through March are regarded as the ideal months to visit Kolkata.

Kalighat Kali temple Timings

Temple Hours: 5:00 AM to 2:00 PM in the morning and 5:00 PM to 10:30 PM in the evening.
Disclaimer : In honour of Bhog, the temple is closed from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.

Places to visit near Kalighat Kali Temple

1. Marble palace, West Bengal
2. Rabindra Sarobar, West Bengal
3. Kolkata Zoo, West Bengal
4. Birla planetarium, West Bengal
5. Birla temple, West Bengal
6. Victoria Memorial, West Bengal

How to reach the Kalighat Kali temple?

Airways
The closest airport to the city is Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport, which has regular domestic flights to Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and other major cities.

Railways
The closest train station is Howrah, which has connections to all of the nation's major cities and states, including Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Ajmer, and Chennai. The train station provides easy access to buses and taxis.

Roadways
There are buses available from every region in the state. The national highways number two and six link Kolkata to the rest of the nation. To go to the temple, one can alternatively hire a private vehicle or a taxi.