Kalka Mata Mandir, Himachal Pradesh

Kali is the feminine version of Kaal, or time. She is also known as the feminine form of Lord Shiva, or Kaal. Together, they signify the passage of time, which brings death and destruction to all living things. The name Kali is also used to refer to Kali mata's complexion, which can be translated as "The dark mother". 

Table of Contents

1. About Maa Kali
2. Origin of Maa Kali
3. Where is Kalka Mata temple located?
4. History of Kalka Mata Temple
5. Contribution of Pandavas in the establishment of Kalka Mata Temple
6. Architecture of Kalka Mata Temple
7. Festivals celebrated in Kalka Mata Temple
8. When should one visit Kalka Mata Temple?

About Maa Kali

Kali is a feminine celestial force who appears prominently in the Devi Mahatmya, a significant Hindu philosophical treatise on Shaktism that identifies the Goddess as the supreme power and creator of the Universe. It is part of the Markandeya Purana. Kali is represented in all her forms as dark blue (showing that she is beyond the brahman), with disordered hair, and wearing a garland of severed human heads, with her blood-red tongue lolling and bloodshot eyes blazing.
Mahakali, the wife of Lord Shiva's incarnation of Mahakal, is typically represented with 10 heads, ten limbs, and ten legs. In each of her 10 hands, each weapon is dedicated to one God which means she is the source of all abilities. One chapter of the Devi Mahatmya depicts Kali erupting from an infuriated Durga's forehead. Kali's visage is dark blue and emaciated, with sunken eyes, dishevelled hair, and a lolling crimson tongue.

Origin of Maa Kali

There are several ideas on Kali Mata's origin. In the first chapter of Devi Mahatmya, Brahma requested Lord Vishnu in the form of Mahakali, also known as Yog Nidra, to awaken him from his profound sleep when the two Asuras, Madhu and Kaitabh were causing havoc on the earth. Lord Vishnu fought the asuras for days, but was unable to overcome them. Then Mahakali adopted the form of Mahamaya to captivate the asuras. Lord Vishnu slayed the asuras when they were under her influence.
She promptly kills the asuras Chanda and Munda, garnering her the moniker Chamunda. Kali also defeated the demon Raktabija in the same battle, who could replicate himself with every drop of his blood that fell to the ground. Maa Kali defeated him by sucking his blood before they struck the ground.

Another idea about Maa Kali's origin comes from the benevolent and gentle Goddess Parvati. When Lord Shiva begged Goddess Parvati to fight the monster Daruka, she combined with Lord Shiva and became Kali, killing the demon and his soldiers. But then her bloodlust spiralled out of control, and only Shiva could calm her down. This is another story of Maa Kali. 

Let us know about famous temple of Maa Kali at Himachal Pradesh i.e. Kalka Temple. 

Where is Kalka Mata Temple located?

Kalka Mata Temple is located in the town of Kalka, located in Panchkula district of Haryana state of India. The temple is situated in the heart of Kalka Bazaar, in the central part of the town. It comes on the Kalka-Shimla highway, a major road connecting Kalka to the hill station of Shimla.

History of Kalka Mata Temple

In the era of Satya Yuga (the first of the four Hindu ages), the gods were troubled by demons named Mahishasura, Chand-Mund and Shumbha-Nishumbha. The gods prayed to Goddess Parvati, who appeared as Goddess Kaushiki Devi to defeat the demons. When Kaushiki Devi's blood fell on the ground, more demons emerged, so Parvati appeared as Goddess Kali to defeat them all.
It is believed that during the Mahabharata, the Pandavas worshipped Kali in this temple during the reign of Yudhishthira.
The temple is said to have been built by Thok Brahmins and Thok Jogis on the orders of Goddess Kali herself.
The oldest part of the present temple structure is believed to have been constructed by the Marathas around 1764 AD, with further additions in 1816 by Mirza Raja Kidar Nath. The temple is also known as Jayanti Peeth or Manokamna Siddha Peeth, which means it is a holy pilgrimage site where the wishes of devotees are fulfilled.

Contribution of Pandavas in the establishment of Kalka Mata Temple

The Pandavas are believed to have contributed to the establishment of the Kalka Mata Temple. During the Mahabharata period, the Pandavas resided in Virat Nagar during their 12-year vanvaas. They discovered Kali Mata's pindi (pinda) here, as well as the fact that a cow named Shyama bathed it with milk on a daily basis. The Pandavas were impressed by this sight and built this temple.
It is said that both the Pandavas and the Kauravas performed religious rituals and ceremonies at the Kalka Mata Temple during the Mahabharata period, which is believed to be the Bronze Age.

Architecture of Kalka Mata Temple

1. The temple is built of brick masonry, finished with plaster and marble.
2. The central chamber is in a 12-sided plan, 24 feet wide, with a doorway on each side. It is paved with marble and surrounded by an 8'9" wide verandah with 36 arched gateways or outer gates. This verandah surrounds the central chamber on all four sides.
3. In the middle of this arch, in front of the eastern gateway, two red sandstone tigers sit on a pedestal of marble. Between the tigers is a stone image of Goddess Kali with her name engraved in Hindi, and a trident of stone stands in front of it.
4. The temple complex is surrounded by a pyramidal tower.
5. The floor and pyramidal superstructure are made of marble, giving the temple a unique marble exterior with a brick-like appearance.

Festivals Celebrated at Kalka Mata Temple

Navratri is the most important and celebrated festival at Kalka Mata Mandir which lasts for 9 days. During the Navratri festival, a large fair is held at the temple. Devotees gather to sing bhajans and songs praising Goddess Durga. Many merchants and vendors selling handicrafts and other products visit the temple during the Navratri festival to promote their business. Devotees stand in long queues to catch a glimpse of the goddess during the Navratri celebrations. The main rituals include bathing the idol with milk, followed by aarti every morning and evening. Bhajans are also sung.

When should one visit Kalka Mata Temple?

The best time to visit Kalka Mata Mandir is during the Navratri festival in spring and autumn which lasts for 9 days. This is considered the most auspicious and popular time to visit, when large crowds of devotees sing bhajans and perform rituals. Saturdays are also considered very good. The temple is heavily crowded with pilgrims on this day of the week. The best time to visit is during the morning and evening aarti ceremonies, which are considered the most spiritual times to visit. The temple can be visited at any time of the year, but the Navratri festivals in spring and autumn are peak times when devotees come to the temple in large numbers to worship Goddess Kali. Visiting during the morning and evening aarti rituals is also recommended for a more spiritual experience.