DHINAM ORU KOVIL -128.

SRI.KALIGHAT KALI TEMPLE, KOLKATA, WEST BENGAL.

Kalighat Kali Temple dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali is situated on a Ghat (landing stage)
sacred to Kali on the old course of the Hooghly river in the city of Calcutta. It is one of the
51 Shakti Peethas. The name Calcutta is said to have been derived from the word Kalighat. The
river over a period of time has moved away from the temple. The temple is now on the banks of a
small canal called Adi Ganga which connects to the Hoogly. The Adi Ganga was the original course
of the river Hoogly (the Ganges). Hence the name Adi (original) Ganga.
Kalighat is regarded as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas 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 Dakshayani or Sati fell. Legend has it that a devotee discovered a
luminous ray of light coming from the Hooghly 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 Svayambhu Lingam of
Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby, and started worshiping Kaali in the midst of a thick jungle. Kalighat is
also associated with the worship offered to Kali by a Dasanami Monk by name Chowranga Giri, and
the Chowringee area of Calcutta is said to have been named after him.
The Kalighat temple in its present form is only about 200 years old, although it has been referred to
in Mansar Bhasan composed in the 15th century, and in Kavi Kankan Chandi of the 17th century.
Only two types of coins of Chandragupta II, who incorporated Vanga in the Gupta Empire, are known
from Bengal. His Archer type coins, which became the most popular type of coinage with the Gupta
rulers after Kumaragupta I, have been found in Kalighat. This is the evidence of the antiquity of the
place. The original temple was a small hut. A small temple was constructed by King Manasingha in
the early16th century. The present temple was erected under the patronage of the Sabarna Roy
Chowdhury family of Barisha. It was completed in 1809 by Santosh Roy Chowdhury and his
grandson and they spent Rs.30000/- to build the temple. Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family is the
original owner of this temple. Halder family of kalighat is called the 'sebadas' of this temple. In the
1960s a committee was formed for the administration and management of the temple with
representation from the Government.
The image of Kali in this temple is unique. It does not follow the pattern of other Kali images in
Bengal. The present idol of touchstone was created by two saints - Brahmananda Giri and Atmaram
Giri. Three huge eyes, long protruding tongue made of gold and four hands, which all are made of
gold too. Two of these hands holding a scimitar and a severed head of the asura king 'Shumbha'.
The scimitar signifies Divine Knowledge and the asura (or, human) head signifies human Ego which
must be slain by Divine Knowledge in order to attain Moksha. The other two hands are in

the abhaya and varada mudras or blessings, which mean her initiated devotees (or anyone
worshiping her with a true heart) will be saved as she will guide them here and hereafter.
The temple is visited by pilgrims from all over India irrespective of sectarian differences. The
thousands of pilgrims who flock daily to the Kalighat temple treat Kali very much like a human
mother, bringing her their domestic problems and prayers for prosperity, and returning when their
prayers are fulfilled to express their gratitude. Their attitude towards the Goddess is guided by their
religious traditions and training, their spiritual and intellectual capacities, and the guidance of their
temple priests.
I HAVE VISITED ONCE.