Gazing down the lanes of the past
The temple that stands today began with a dream. Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devout believer of Goddess Kali was preparing for a pilgrimage to Varanasi to offer her prayers. As she went to rest for the night, ready to leave in the morning, she dreamt that the Goddess ordered her to construct an imposing architectural marvel in the form of a temple near Ganges. It is said that the Goddess wanted her to instate an idol too so that people from far and near could offer their prayers and find solace.
Inspired by the divine whisper, Rani hastened to orchestrate the creation of a sacred haven, where prayers would weave into the fabric of eternity. She skirted through numerous plots of lands, imagining the place that would hold the temple in its embrace and spell peace. After a tedious search, Rani chose the 20-acre land by the eastern banks of Ganges. It is said that a fraction of the land was a Muslim burial ground while another slice called Saheban Bagicha belonged to a European named John Hasty. The coming up of the Hindu temple made this place a confluence of all faiths which stood as an emblem of unity.
It took the craftsmen, the artisans and the workers 8 years to complete the construction of this edifice. On 31st May 1855, the sacred ‘snana-yatra’ day, the idols of the Gods and Goddesses were instated. The day was marked with sanctity, devotion and spiritual calmness as one hundred thousand Brahmins graced the festivities and were fed. The temple was formally named Sri Sri Jagadishwari Mahakali temple.
Manmade adornments for the all powerful
The edifice has been built in a typical Bengali architecture style popular as the Nava-Ratna style. The main sanctum of three storeys is guarded by nice spires that stand tall and proud. The main temple is surrounded by a verandah which acts as a chamber for the devotees. The Natamandir is built infront of the temple.
You must visit the Garbha Griha that embraces the idol of Kali also known as Bhavatarini. She is shown standing on Shiva’s chest while both are placed on a thousand petaled lotus made from pure silver.
As you watch the courtyard spread exuberantly in front of you, you will also notice 12 smaller shrines each dedicated to Lord Shiva. The devotees throng these shrines to worship the Shivlinga carved out of black stone. These shrines depict the grace of Aat Chala, a typical Bengali styled architecture. The temple complex also holds the idols of Radha and Krishna and is popularly known as the Radha Kanta’s temple.
The other places to visit around the temple are, the room of Sri Ramakrishna where he spent 14 years of his life, before being shifted to Kuthi Bari. You can look at the various artefacts used by Sri Ramakrishna. Many tourists like to take a walk along the Rani Rashmoni trail and walk through the Vivekananda gateway to the Kali temple complex. The Kuthi Bari is also open to tourists. This is where Rani Rashmini lived with her daughter and son-in-law.
Look for the Nahabat Khanas. One is permanently closed but the other comes alive with the rhythms of dhak, dhol, and kashi during the daily aarti. You can also spend a moment at Chadni, where the footsteps of Sri Totapuri, Sri Ramakrishna's revered guru, are said to have touched the earth. As you walk further you will be greeted by the Bakul Tala Ghat, named after the Bakula tree, which was the bathing spot of Sri Sarada Maa and the site of Sri Ramakrishna's initiation into Tantra Sadhana. Pay a visit to Panchavati as this is the holy spot where Sri Ramakrishna embarked on twelve years of intense spiritual practice.
It takes a few hours to completely soak in the aura of Dakshineswar temple and its neighbouring centers of attraction. But once you’ve completed the trip, you will feel the presence of the divine calm your soul.
