Kalighat Kali Temple Kolkata

Kali Mata Mandir In Kolkata

Kalighat Kali Temple, located in central Kolkata, is one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, dedicated to Goddess Kali and believed to mark where Sati’s right toe fell. Built in the 19th century by Zamindar Kashinath, the temple features a sanctum sanctorum, a large Nat Mandir hall, and the Jor Bangla verandah. The complex also houses a Shiva temple, a Radha Krishna shrine with its own kitchen, sacred altars for offerings, and Kundupukur, a holy tank revered like the Ganga. It remains a serene spiritual haven amid Kolkata’s bustle.

Kalighat Temple History

The Kalighat Kali Temple, over 200 years old in its current form, has historical references dating back to the 15th and 17th centuries. Originally a small hut, it was later developed into a temple by King Manasingha in the 16th century and completed in 1809 under the patronage of the Sabarna Roy Chowdhury family. Archaeological findings, like Gupta-era archer coins, suggest the site’s ancient roots.

The idol of Goddess Kali, unlike traditional depictions, features three eyes, four arms, and a golden tongue and eyes. Crafted from sandstone by saints Atmaram Giri and Brahmananda Giri, the idol holds a scimitar and demon head, symbolizing the triumph of divine knowledge over ego.

As one of the 51 Shakti Peeths, the temple marks the spot where Sati’s right toe is believed to have fallen during Shiva’s Rudra Tandav. A key legend tells of Atma Ram, a Brahmin who discovered the toe-shaped stone in the Bhagirathi River, guided by divine light and dreams, leading him to worship it along with a naturally formed Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav.