KALIGHAT TEMPLE

                 KALIGHAT TEMPLE

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 evidence of the antiquity of the place.

The original temple was a small hut. A small temple was constructed by King Manasingha in the early Sixteenth century. The present temple was erected under the patronage of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Banisha. It was completed in 1809. The Haldar family claims to be the original owners of the temple property. But this was disputed by the Chowdhrys of Banisha. In the nineteen sixties a committee was formed for the administrative management of the temple with representation from the Government and the Haldar family.

It is necessary to know the history of the temple to understand the practices which are prevalent today. There is a complex organization involving Sevaiyats, Phaledars, Mishras, and Sathi Brahmins.

The Government of West Bengal has taken a lot of interest in improving the temple which is also one of the biggest tourist attractions. They have sanctioned funds for improving the temple. An office cum guest accommodation was constructed at a huge cost some years back. The building is now being run by the Tourism Development corporation as a guest house. Accommodation is available for pilgrims here

Some Devotees have approached the courts over the years for improving the temple. The courts have taken a keen interest in improving the temple. New construction is continuing inside the temple and a lot of improvements have been brought about.

TEMPLE DETAILS

Sosthi Tala

This is a rectangular altar about three feet high bearing a small cactus plant. Beneath the tree, on an altar three stones are placed side by side - left to right representing the Goddesses "Sosthi", "Sitola", and "Mongol Chandi". This sacred spot is known as Sosthi Tala or Monosha Tala. This altar was constructed By Gobinda Das Mondal in 1880. The place of the altar is the Samadhi of Brahmananda Giri.

Here all the priests are female. No daily worship or offering of Bhog is done here. The Goddesses here are considered as part of MAA Kali.

Harkath Tala

This is the spot adjacent to the Natmondir, southwards meant for Bhali. There are two Bhali Peet for animal sacrifices side by side. These are known as Hari- Kath.

The bigger one is for buffalo sacrifices and the smaller one for goats and sheep. The animals are sacrificed with a single stroke of the knife and there is very little cruelty to animals when compared to the professional abattoirs.

Radha- Krishna Temple

This temple is known as Shamo-ray temple and is situated inside the temple at the west side of the main temple. In 1723, a settlement officer of Mushirabad district first erected a separate temple for Radha-Krishna. In 1843 a Zamindar called Udoy Narayan Mondal erected the present temple in the same spot. The Dolmancho was founded in 1858 by Madan Koley of Saha Nagar. There is a separate kitchen for preparation of vegetarian Bhog for Radha-Krishna.

The four Shiva temples inside the temple were constructed by different Sevait families who retain control over them.

Kundupukur

This is the sacred tank situated in the south-east of the temple outside the boundary walls. Present area of the tank is approximately 10 cottahs. In the past it was bigger and called 'Kaku-Kunda'. In sixteenth century 'Sati-Ango' was discovered from this tank. This tank is well known for its power to bestow the boon of a child. The water from this tank is regarded as sacred as that of the Ganges.

Unfortunately the attention of the Devotees towards this tank has dwindled in recent times.

Nakhuleshwar Mahadev Temple

This is in Haldar Para lane on the opposite side of the temple behind the police station. This temple is also very old and mentioned in the history. Please have Dharshan here.

TTMPLE  GUIDE

Kalighat is located in south Calcutta. Buses are available from all parts of Calcutta. All buses going to south Calcutta have to pass through Shyam Prasad Mukherjee road. The temple is off this road. You get down in Kalighat (Kalighat Tram Depot) bus stop and walk down the Kali Temple road to the temple. Kalighat is connected by Metro railway.

The nearest metro stations are Jatin Das Park and Kalighat. Please take the Northern exit in Jatin Das Park and the Southern exit in Kalighat.

The steps in Jatin Das Park station are many and steep. There is an escalator part of the way in Kalighat station. It is advisable for elderly people to alight at the Kalighat station.

The temple is open from 5.00 A.M. to 2.00 P.M and 5.00 P.M to 10.30 P.M. It is closed from 2.00 P.M to 5.00 P.M. for Bhog. There are Aarthis in the morning and evening.

The temple schedule as per the notice put up.

	Sun/Sat/Tue	Weekdays
Opening Time (For Mongal Aarti)	4.00 A.M	4.00 A.M
Opening Time (For Public)	5.00 A.M	5.00 A.M
Nitya Puja	5.30 A.M to 7.00 A.M	5.30 A.M to 7.00 A.M
Bhog Rag	2.30 P.M. to 3.30 P.M.	2.00 P.M. to 3.00 P.M.
Sandhya Aarti	6.30 P.M. to 7.00 P.M.	6.30 P.M. to 7.00 P.M.
Closing of Temple	11.30 P.M.	10.30 P.M.

Tuesdays and Saturdays are special days for worship. Ashtami days are also special.

If you want to avoid the crowds the best day to visit is Wednesday or Thursday.

There is a general queue which is free. Other than the general queue there is a Sevaits/V.I.P/Staff queue. Other than these queues people muscle in by paying money.

There are two queues. One for going to the Garbha Graha (Nijo -Mandir) and another for having Dharshan from the Varandah (Jor- bangla).

The queue going to the Garbha Graha (Nijo -Mandir) is more orderly, and is controlled by security guards and police men (at least on Tuesdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and festival days).

The queue for the Varandah (Jor- bangla) is under the control of the Dalals and Pandas and they allow people to enter at different points.

You are told by the Dalals and Pandas that it will take hours to have Dharshan in the Garbha Graha (Nijo -Mandir) and advised to go in the Varandah (Jor- bangla) queue. This information is incorrect.

You can have better Dharshan in the Garbha Graha (Nijo -Mandir) and it does not take that long. It took 4.5 hours to 5 hours on Bangla New Year day and Bijoy Dhasami. Average 1 to 1.5 hours. You can also avoid the Dalals and Pandas.