Kolkata: It is almost noon, the time when the four huge gates of the famous Kalika Temple Kalighat, one of the 51 ‘peeths’ (sacred places) shakt school of hinduism, are closed to keep the devotees.
The ultimate crush of worshipers, some of whom are upset about social distancing norms codified in capital letters on a board outside, are eager to catch a glimpse of the ruling deity of Calcutta. Villagers and townspeople in Bengal, northern Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh hold flowers, garlands, boxes of sweets and banknotes as prasad by ‘pandas’ (religious guides) as policemen close the huge gate with much fanfare .
In folklore, Mother Goddess is considered to be the giver of good fortune. From West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who lives just a few blocks away from the temple complex, to her election rival in the upcoming Bhabanipur by-election, Priyanka TibrewalEveryone comes here some day.
“Everyone comes here. Ministers, industrialists, police commissioners, scientists, farmers, saints, sinners. Some appoint a priest, some quietly offer their prayers…. I personally believe that mother listens to everyone, you don’t need mantra or tantra (Sanskrit prayer) to talk to her,” said Dipankar Chatterjee, 58, secretary of the executive committee of the Sebayit (hereditary servant) council.
“Elections are busy times, leaders and their allies are regular visitors to vote,” he said.
The Communists were among the few politicians in Bengal who chose to stay away from the charm of the temple to prove their atheist credentials.
“The then chief minister Jyoti Basu never visited Kalighat, but his wife did,” said Rajat Roy, political analyst and member of the think-tank Calcutta Research Group.
However, there are unconfirmed rumors of communist leaders who visited at midnight away from the prying eyes of newspapers.
Over time, Chatterjee said, “Instead of decreasing the number of devotees over the years, we find them increasing. On the basis of all their scientific knowledge the new technological generation has stepped up to worship the mother enthusiastically. ”
Religious inclination towards Kali, who historians say was a local tribal deity, was incorporated into the Hindu pantheon, was associated with Durga and became one of the presiding deities of the Shakta school, certainly overall in religiosity. Might have to do with growth. In the 1990s, when India’s economy started booming.
Chatterjee, however, shrugs that the economic crunch and pathetic economy the country has been facing in the past few years has also given birth to new devotees whom even the pandemic has not been able to keep at home. “People with problems come here in large numbers and it seems that the problems have increased,” he said.
Apart from the common people, the rich and famous people of Kolkata and India never hid their devotion towards the Goddess. A slab on one of the complex’s smaller temples says two brothers from the city ruia The business family helped restore the ‘Mansa’ (Snake Goddess) temple.
Sebayits, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they understand that a Mumbai-based industrial conglomerate wants to help restore the sanctum sanctorum at a huge cost.
The original temple on the banks of the Ganges has been rebuilt several times – the last probably 200 years ago – while the river has long since moved east to merge into the Hooghly, leaving behind a thin, muddy stream. , which is called ‘Adi Ganga’. Mool Ganga) flows through it.
The goddess herself, called ‘Dakshina Kali’ (the southern dark one), is of touchstones with three eyes, a huge golden tongue and four golden hands. In one hand he is a symbol of wisdom and in the other holds an ‘asura’ (demon) head indicating the ego, which must be killed. The two other hands are in ‘Abhaya’ (the remover of fear) and ‘Varada’ (compassion) mudras (gestures).
The black statue of Kalighat, first mentioned in the 15th-century religious-literary work ‘Mansar Bhasan’ and then in ‘Chandi Mangal’ by poet Mukunda Das, is believed to have been finalized by two monks – Atmaram Brahmachari and . Brahmananda Giri.
The tribal deity Kali, said Professor Suchandra Ghosh, formerly and now with the University of Calcutta, “makes its first major appearance in Sanskrit culture in the ‘Devi Mahatmya’ (Glory of Goddesses) section of the Puranas.” History Department of the University of Hyderabad.
The final whistle is blown to signal to the devotees that it is time for the mother to have lunch and retire for the day.
The last crowd of devotees still left to watch on the premises, crossing tunnels broken down by temple managers, into a crowded sunlit alley, including small miniatures of the four-handed Kali. sells trinkets and souvenirs, is thrown out. With his tongue intertwined, legend has it that he is ashamed that he has stepped on the body of Lord Shiva, in some cases the way life has come to a halt for the pestilence that still threatens both atheists and devotees alike. puts in.
The ultimate crush of worshipers, some of whom are upset about social distancing norms codified in capital letters on a board outside, are eager to catch a glimpse of the ruling deity of Calcutta. Villagers and townspeople in Bengal, northern Bihar and eastern Uttar Pradesh hold flowers, garlands, boxes of sweets and banknotes as prasad by ‘pandas’ (religious guides) as policemen close the huge gate with much fanfare .
In folklore, Mother Goddess is considered to be the giver of good fortune. From West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar to the state’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who lives just a few blocks away from the temple complex, to her election rival in the upcoming Bhabanipur by-election, Priyanka TibrewalEveryone comes here some day.
“Everyone comes here. Ministers, industrialists, police commissioners, scientists, farmers, saints, sinners. Some appoint a priest, some quietly offer their prayers…. I personally believe that mother listens to everyone, you don’t need mantra or tantra (Sanskrit prayer) to talk to her,” said Dipankar Chatterjee, 58, secretary of the executive committee of the Sebayit (hereditary servant) council.
“Elections are busy times, leaders and their allies are regular visitors to vote,” he said.
The Communists were among the few politicians in Bengal who chose to stay away from the charm of the temple to prove their atheist credentials.
“The then chief minister Jyoti Basu never visited Kalighat, but his wife did,” said Rajat Roy, political analyst and member of the think-tank Calcutta Research Group.
However, there are unconfirmed rumors of communist leaders who visited at midnight away from the prying eyes of newspapers.
Over time, Chatterjee said, “Instead of decreasing the number of devotees over the years, we find them increasing. On the basis of all their scientific knowledge the new technological generation has stepped up to worship the mother enthusiastically. ”
Religious inclination towards Kali, who historians say was a local tribal deity, was incorporated into the Hindu pantheon, was associated with Durga and became one of the presiding deities of the Shakta school, certainly overall in religiosity. Might have to do with growth. In the 1990s, when India’s economy started booming.
Chatterjee, however, shrugs that the economic crunch and pathetic economy the country has been facing in the past few years has also given birth to new devotees whom even the pandemic has not been able to keep at home. “People with problems come here in large numbers and it seems that the problems have increased,” he said.
Apart from the common people, the rich and famous people of Kolkata and India never hid their devotion towards the Goddess. A slab on one of the complex’s smaller temples says two brothers from the city ruia The business family helped restore the ‘Mansa’ (Snake Goddess) temple.
Sebayits, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they understand that a Mumbai-based industrial conglomerate wants to help restore the sanctum sanctorum at a huge cost.
The original temple on the banks of the Ganges has been rebuilt several times – the last probably 200 years ago – while the river has long since moved east to merge into the Hooghly, leaving behind a thin, muddy stream. , which is called ‘Adi Ganga’. Mool Ganga) flows through it.
The goddess herself, called ‘Dakshina Kali’ (the southern dark one), is of touchstones with three eyes, a huge golden tongue and four golden hands. In one hand he is a symbol of wisdom and in the other holds an ‘asura’ (demon) head indicating the ego, which must be killed. The two other hands are in ‘Abhaya’ (the remover of fear) and ‘Varada’ (compassion) mudras (gestures).
The black statue of Kalighat, first mentioned in the 15th-century religious-literary work ‘Mansar Bhasan’ and then in ‘Chandi Mangal’ by poet Mukunda Das, is believed to have been finalized by two monks – Atmaram Brahmachari and . Brahmananda Giri.
The tribal deity Kali, said Professor Suchandra Ghosh, formerly and now with the University of Calcutta, “makes its first major appearance in Sanskrit culture in the ‘Devi Mahatmya’ (Glory of Goddesses) section of the Puranas.” History Department of the University of Hyderabad.
The final whistle is blown to signal to the devotees that it is time for the mother to have lunch and retire for the day.
The last crowd of devotees still left to watch on the premises, crossing tunnels broken down by temple managers, into a crowded sunlit alley, including small miniatures of the four-handed Kali. sells trinkets and souvenirs, is thrown out. With his tongue intertwined, legend has it that he is ashamed that he has stepped on the body of Lord Shiva, in some cases the way life has come to a halt for the pestilence that still threatens both atheists and devotees alike. puts in.
.