Rajarajeswari Polali DT Nt pg 8 - Page 23

Kalika Kalighat

Here Goddess Kali is worshipped as a manifestation of Devi Sati. Devi Sati's right toes fell in the Kalighat shrine. There is also a temple dedicated to Lord Shiva worshipped as Nakulesh in lingam form nearby. Kolkatta gets its name from Kalighat.

Kalighat temple is located to the South of Kalighat. The nearest metro stations are Jatin Das Park and Kalighat. Buses and trams are available from Kolkatta. Since Kalighat is a tram depot, trams start from here and end here. Thus the connectivity to the shrine is very good. Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International airport is the nearest airport.

The temple was earlier located on the banks of the Adi (original) Ganga River. The river has moved away from the temple over a period of time. Thus the temple is now on the banks of a canal called as Adi Ganga connecting Hoogli

The original Kalighat temple was a small hut. Later, King Manasingh constructed a small temple in the 16th Century. The present day temple was built by Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family of Barisha in 1809. The Haldar family are the official Shebaits (priests who perform the rituals associated with Kalighat shrine). They also own the entire temple complex. A committee was formed in 1960 with representatives from the government and the Haldar family to manage the temple administration.

Kalighat shrine is an ancient temple. The temple has references in the Mahabharat indicating that the temple was built before 8th- 9th Century.

The temple is built in typical Bengali style architecture. Kalighat mandir is a four sided structure with a dome that is truncated. There is a similar projection which caps the domed structure. Inside the sanctum Sanctorum, the idol is installed. The sanctum has two large doors which open to jor bangla. Jor-bangla is an elevated veranda with opening on all the four sides. Devotees walking through the jor bangla get the darshan of Maa Kali housed in the sanctum. A large rectangular covered platform called Natmandir was erected adjacent to the main temple by Zamindar Kashinath Roy in 1835. Maa Kali is visible from Natmandir. Jor bangla is in between the sanctum sanctorum and natmandir. Jor -bangla leads to the natmandir (large pavilion) where devotees make offerings to the deity. Havans are also conducted in natmandir. Inside the sanctum is a path winding around the deity which is fenced using protective metal railing.

There are many legends connected with this place.

Tulasi was the daughter of Dharmadvaja and Madhavi. After spending many years in penance she told Lord Brahma, "I was the Tulasi gopi in my previous birth. Overcome with jealousy, Radha cursed me to take birth as a human being . Lord Krishna assured me that he would be with me in next birth also.

Brahma blessed her, "You will be the wife of a man who is a part of Krishna. Sudama, a friend of Krishna also got cursed by Radha as he showed intimacy towards Krishna's mind. He was in the form of Shankhachuda and hence Tulsi was asked to marry him. Thus she became a devoted wife of Shankhachuda. After a time Shankhachunda became too mighty. Hence Shiva and Vishnu waged a war with him.

Initially Bhadrakali came to fight with him on behalf of Shiva. But she became very disappointed because he was as mighty as before. Then a heavenly voice indicated that Shankhachuda was mighty because of the merits of Tulasi. Then Vishnu cheated her by taking the form of Shankhchuda and destroyed her purity. On the other side Shiva was fighting the war with Shakhachuda. Shankhachuda lost his strength and Shiva created goddess Kali to help him kill the enemy. Kali who was wild during the war started dancing due to the victory. She wore a garland of skulls of demons drinking their blood. Hence she is depicted in this form only.

As stated in Markandeya Purana, Goddess Kali was formed out of the raised eye brows of Jagadamba when she was waging a war with Chanda and Munda. According to Linga Purana, a demon namely Daruka had a boon that only a woman could destroy him. Hence Shiva created Goddess Kali from the poison in his throat. Kalika Puranasays that she was born from the Kukshi of Mahamaya.

Another legend states that after getting defeated by demons, all the gods went to the trinity, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh for a remedy. They asked the gods to pray to Mahakali. As a result, Mahakali created twelve goddesses to help the gods in the war. Kali was the first among them hence she is known as Adyakali.

The legend of the temple states that a devotee discovered a bright ray of light coming from the Bhgirathi river bed. After investigating its source a piece of stone carved in the form of a human toe was found. He also found a Svayambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav nearby. So he started worshipping them.

He located Lord Bhairav temple, Nakuleshwar near Haldar Para Lane. Lord Nakuleshwar temple is an ancient temple, about 500 years old. The Lingam at the temple (svamyambu) is below the floor level, thus the devotees who want to touch the lingam have to lie flat on the floor and stretch their arms. The lingam is made out of polished black stone and has a brass cobra with its tail coiled around the lingam and its body extending upward, raises its hood to form a protective canopy above Lord Nakuleshwar. Flowers, bilva leaves and milk are offered to Lord Nakuleshwar.

Within the temple complex is a tree shrine called the Shoshti tola. Beneath the tree, on an altar are three stones representing goddess Sosthi, Sitola and Mongol Chandi placed side by side. Gobinda Das Mondal constructed this altar at the samadhi of Brahmananda Giri in 1880.This shrine has only women priests. The rituals at this shrine are unique, that is, neither the deities are worshipped daily nor is Anna Bogh offered to the deities daily. Worship at this shrine is only leaving few coins near the deities. The priests apply a tilak on the forehead to the devotees who visit the shrine.

Kalighat Temple Tank

The sacred tank of the temple is situated in the south-east of the temple outside the enclosure walls. In the past the tank was bigger and was called Kaku Kunda'. legend says that in the 16th century Sati Ango' ( the right toe of Sati) 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. Efforts at draining the water from the tank for cleaning has failed in the past showing the possibility of a subterranean link with Adi Ganga.

Guhyeshwari Shakthi Peeth is the place where Devi Sati's knees fell. Here Devi is worshipped as Mahamaya or Mahashira and Lord Shiva as Kapali. Guhyeshwari in derived from the Sanskrit word Guhya (secret) and Ishwari (goddess). The word "Guhyarupini (The form of God is beyond human perception and it is a secret) is mentioned in Lalitha Sahasranama. It is also believed that Guhyeshwari temple is the

Shakthi Peeth of the Pashupathinath temple of Lord Shiva.

Guhyeshwari Shakthi Peeth is located east of Pashupathinath temple (1 km) in Nepal. Guhyeshwari Shakthi Peeth is located on the south west bank of the River Bagmati at Devpatan.

The temple was constructed during the reign of King Shanker Dev of the Lichhavi period with the help of Narasingha Thakur, a Tantric. The temple was later renovated by King Pratap Malla in 1654 AD with the advice of Lambakarna Bhatta, a noted Tantric. Tantric rites are performed at the temple. The temple architecture is built in Bhutanese Pagoda style. Several musical instruments to be used during prayer were presented by King Rana Bhadur. The idols in the temple are made of gold and silver.

People offer eggs and wine to the goddess.

Navaratri is celebrated with great fervour. The king of Nepal takes a dip at Bagmati river and worships the Devi at Guhyeshwari temple.

There is a belief that if people get married at this temple, the couple will be soul mates for seven lives.

Another belief is that women who pray for their husband's health are blessed of the same here.

Also the enemies will be wiped off with the grace of goddess.

Mahisha mardini Barakeswar

The temple dedicated to Mahishamardini is not only the home of an asthadhatu murti, but the forty-seventh shakti pith traditionally listed in various manuscripts such as the Mahapithanirupana. Like every other shakti pith the presence of the locally-revered goddess at Bakreshwar is expressed in a two-fold manner: revealed and concealed. While most of the religious pilgrims visiting this temple come to venerate the ashtadhatu murti, there is more to this place than what initially meets the eye. It is within the pedestal upon which the murti rests that the source of this locale's designation as a shakti pith resides.

Within this mandir, a metal gate creates a buffer where the Brahmins can perform their rites in front of the murti while separated from the throngs of devotees who periodically arrive in large numbers; either on holidays, or as groups completing a temple circuit. During periods of relaxed temple activity, or upon special request (often accompanied with baksheeshan encouraging monetary tip), one can enter the garbhagriha and approach the murti.

In the garbhagriha there is a circular hole, a little over a foot in diameter, on top of the marble pedestal. This hole provides direct access to the adi rup (original form) of the local goddess: by placing a hand inside, one can touch the goddess' bhru moddo, or the space between her eyebrows. Reaching in, a stone formation is felt its outer surface is smooth, round, and wet from the libations regularly poured into it. In the center of this hollow circular space, the rock juts upward. it resembles a crescent with rounded edges.

In many popular images of Hindu goddesses, the place between the deity's eyebrows is ornamented with a lunar crescent. This is not merely an aesthetic embellishment emphasizing the goddess' transcendent beauty, but also symbolizes the power she wields over time itselfattributable to the moon appearing as a crescent shape throughout its repeating cycles of waxing and waning. The obvious correlation between the shape of this adi rup and the recurrent moon motif makes us believe that apart from such commonly heard claims that Sati's "third eye, "forehead, or "mind ,has fallen here it is possible that the middle space between the eyebrows must have been the reality.Within the Mahishamardini Mandir, a stone formation corresponding in shape to the ornamented portion of flesh between the Mahadevi's eyebrows, her bhru moddo, is enshrined and venerated.

Mahadev is worshipped as Barakeswar here.

The Shiva temple and Shakti pith both are highly famous . People from all places visit this place and pay their respect..

Danteswari Jagadal pur

Danteshwari Temple Jagdalpur. It is an ancient temple built by the kings of Bastar for inhabiting their family Goddess, Devi Danteshwari. Devi Danteshwari is the Goddess of entire Bastar division, equally worshipped by Hindus as well as tribals. This temple is located beside Bastar palace and near to Gole Bazar. It is worth seeing and pleasant to watch the temple during the famous Bustar Dusshera festival season, decorated in color lights and lambs, where the main traditional functions of the festivals are being carried out.

Danteshwari Temple is temple dedicated to Goddess Danteshwari, and is one of the 52 Shakti Peethas, shrines of Shakti, the divine feminine, spread across India. The temple built in the 14th century by the Chalukyas of the South, is situated in Dantewada, a town situated 80 km from Jagdalpur Tehsil, Chhattisgarh. Dantewada is named after the Goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of the earlier Kakatiya rulers. Traditionally she is the Kuldevi (family goddess) of Bastar state.

The temple is as according legends, the spot where the Daanth or Tooth of Sati fell, during the episode when all the Shakti shrines were created in the Satya Yuga.

Every year during Dusshera thousands of tribals from surrounding villages and jungles gather here to pay homage to the goddess, when her idol was taken out of that ancient Danteshwari temple and then taken around the city in an elaborate procession, now a popular tourist attraction part of the Bastar Dussehra' festival. There also a is tradition of lighting Jyoti Kalashas during Navaratris here.

- Jogadya Kshirgram

According to mythology ,the right great toe of Goddess Sati had been dropped here in the time of Dakshya Joggya . The goddess is named as Jogadya . The specialty of this particular Sati pith is that the name of Kshirgram is mentioned in all of the Tantras ,i.e 1) Kujjika tantra ,2) Brihanil Tantra, 3) Gandharbha Tantra, 4)Tantrasaar, 5)Tantrachuramani, 6)Annada Mangal,7) Mahapith Nirapanam,8)Shiva Charitha. By the way Kamrup ,Nepal, Prayag, & Kshirgram (Kshirika) these four shakti piths are mentioned in each of the above Tantras.

Besides all of these, Kshirgram is famous for another reason also. According to Ramayana, Mahi Ravan had kidnapped both of Lord Shri Ram & Lakshman and kept them in Patal. Actually Mahi Ravan was a devotee of Goddess Bhadrakali . Lord Hanuman Went to Patal and escaped from there along with Lord Ram and Lakshman by killing Mahi Ravan,during that time Lord Hanuman also took the idol of Devi Bhadrakali and set up the idol in Kshirgram. Later, Devi Bhadrakali had been renamed as Jogadya.

Old Temple:- A large brick temple was erected in the in the middle of the village ( C-11th Century). It is surrounded with a large wall. People use to call it " Maa-er Baari,this temple includes Nat Mandir', Bhog Ghar','Bhander Ghar' etc. But no idol of Devi Jogadya or not even a picture of Devi had been set up here. " Kalapahar Trayed to destroy the Temple. In the time of "Kritichandit was restored(1760)

New Temple:- In the Year 2005, a new temple made of white marble had been erected in the middle of a pond named "Kshirdighi. The idol of Devi Jogadya is kept underwater in this tample. During the re-excavation of Kshirdighi another ancient idol of Devi Jogadya was found. In 31st December 2011 new temple made of Red Stones had been inaugurated and idol mentioned above was set up there. In this temple one can find Bhog Ghar ,Bhandar Ghar, Nat Mandir,and a guest house for fooding and lodgings of the tourist, and it is surrounded with a boundary wall.

Both the idols are made of "Kashti Stones and looks like the idol of Goddess Durga. The newer idol was made by Nabin bhaskar around 180 years ago. The older idol is around 600 yrs old.

Kshireswar :- The Bhairav (Shiva) of this sati pith is named as Khireswar . This Temple is also ancient one and its height is about 30 feet and it's a three steps temple. Kalapahar' had tried to destroy this idol.

Kshirdighi:- Kshirdighi covers an area of 13 acre. Plenty of large fishes are here. They come to brink of the pond is Pick Pices of food from the visitors. The dighi is surrounded with a beautiful garden. The place is very Pleasant.

Kalmadhava Amarkantak

Kalmadhava Peeth is among the 51 Saktipithas . It is said that, the left Buttock of maa Sati fell here, when lord Vishnu in order to relieve lord Shiva from grief of losing his wife Sati, used his Sudarshan Chakra' to incise maa Sati Body. Then, at the place of fall of left Buttock, this temple was constructed. Kalmadhava Shakti Peeth is situated in Amarkantak,Madhya Pradesh. Here the idol of maa Sati is called as Kalmadhava' and the lord Siva is worshipped as Asitananda'.

When it comes to the art and architecture, Kalmadhava Shakti Peeth is quite adorable. The white stone made temple with ponds all around it produces a picturesque view. Adding to the charm of the location, the picturesque view of Son River and the nearby kund, is something that can't be left unseen. The most important part of this location is that, two main ranges, Satpura and Vindhya merge together here. There around 100 steps in total which are need to be travelled in order to reach the temple. One more thing that makes this place more charming is the flow of Narmada River

Amarkantak is said to be founded about 6,000 years back by the Suryavanshi Samrat Mandhata. History to this place dates back in the time when it is said that the Left Buttock of Maa Sati fell to this place. Best information about the origin and the formation of this temple, people can be taken from with local people. Religious books, Purans etc are worth trying to find out the history about the Shakti pith

Sankranthi Sarad Purnima Somvati Amavasya, Ram navami are some of the other important festivals being celebrated here.

Navratri are celebrated for over 9 days, with some people not eating any type of food that is derived from the soil for these nine days. Special ceremonies and rituals are carried during these days

People (Almost every day) offer their offering to the god in form of fruit, milk, homemade sweets etc

Another festival that is celebrated with great enthusiasm is the Shivaratri' and during this day, people keep fast, pour milk on the Shiv Lingam and offers Bail' (A type of fruit) to the god idol.

Ambaji Gujrat

Devi Shakti is the incarnation of the supreme Cosmic Power of the Universe or Adya Shakti and she is responsible for vanquishing the evil. The Goddess emerges as a circle of light with weapons on all sides and she is also worshipped as Mahishasura Mardini.

The devotees who flock to Ambaji temple also worship the divine cosmic power who is incarnated as Ambaji. The temple signifies the heart of Goddess Shakti and is one of the major Shakti Piths in India.

Mythology says that the original temple is dedicated to Maa Ambe Arasuri and it is built on top of a hill called Gabbar Hillock. This is the site where the heart of Goddess Sati fell after her body disintegrated into 51 sacred pieces post the Tandav dance of Shiva.

The original Danta temple was worshipped by devotees till the King Danta fervently requested the Goddess to reside in Danta. The Goddess granted his request with one condition that the king should not look back even one time till he reached the temple of Danta. In case he failed to do so the Goddess would not shift. The king accordingly led the Goddess down the ill towards the site of Danta.

The anklets of the Goddess tinkled and seemed to signal her movements behind the king. However, the king could not resist his curiosity and peeped back for a small look. The Goddess (true to her word) refused to budge even a n inch and the disappointed king had to go away. The place where the Goddess stopped her sojourn was the site of Ambaji temple. Some pilgrims consider their visit incomplete till they have visited both Ambaji temples.