User:TheMandarin/Sandbox1
| TheMandarin/Sandbox1 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Hinduism |
| Location | |
| Location | Kolkata |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Bengal architecture |
| Creator | Rani Rashmoni |
The Dakshineswar Kali Temple (Bengali: দক্ষিনেশ্বর কালী মন্দির Dokkhineshshôr Kali Mondir, Sanskrit: दक्षिणेश्वर काली मन्दिर) is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. It is considered one of the one of the important pilgrimage centers of India.[1] Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, literally meaning, 'She who takes Her devotees across the ocean of existence'.[2]
The temple compound has temples dedicated to three major Hindu faiths.... apart from the nine-spired main temple, contains a large courtyard surrounding the temple, with rooms along the boundary walls. There are twelve shrines dedicated to the aspects of Shiva, Kali's companion, along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine to Rani Rashmoni. The chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa spent a considerable part of his life.
Dakshineswar temple complex
[edit]
The Dakshineswar temple complex is located on the banks of the river Hoogly. The Temple complex includes a tall nin-turret temple of Kali, a temple for the Radha Krishna, and a string of twelve temples dedicated to Shiva.[3] The temples dedicated three major Hindu cults is considered unique.[3] The complex overlooks the Belur Math monastery across the river—the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Mission.[3]
Kali Temple
[edit]The main attraction in the temple complex is the Kali Temple. The temple is built in the traditional 'Nava-ratna' or nine spires style of Bengal architecture, the three-storeyed south-facing temple has nine spires distributed in upper two storeys, and stands on a high platform with a flight of stairs, over all it measures 46 feet square and rises over 100 feet high.[4]
The garbha griha (sanctum sanctorum) houses an idol of goddess Kali idol, known as Bhavataraini, standing on the chest of a lying Shiva, and the two idols are placed on a thousand-petaled lotus made of silver.
Bhavatarini
[edit]The presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, literally meaning, 'She who takes Her devotees across the ocean of existence'.[2]
Shiva's temples
[edit]
The main temple has a spacious courtyard, and followed by a row of twelve identical Shiva temples located on the riverfront.[5]
built facing the east in the typical ‘Aat Chala’ Bengal architecture, they are built on either side of the ghat on the Hoogly river. To the North east of the Temple Complex is the Vishnu Temple or the Radha Kanta’s Temple. A flight of steps lead to the columned verandah and into the temple where a silver throne rests with a 21 and half inches idol of Lord Krishna and 16 inches idol of Radha.
Radha Krishna temple
[edit]Ramakrishna's room
[edit]A full-length marble statue of Ramkrishna has been installed in the corner room facing the Ganga on the western side of the temple. Ramkrishna stayed in this room for more than 16 years.[6]
Nahabat or musical towers
[edit]
Sarada Devi stayed at one of the Nahabats.[7]
Further reading
[edit]- [ The chapter about Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Ramakrishna Kathamritam] Sri-Sri-Ramakrisna-kathamrta.
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Tesorio (2008-10-18). "Travel: Kolkata Surprise". MySinchew. Retrieved 2009-11-11.
- ^ a b Mehrotra 2008 p.11
- ^ a b c Dutta 2003, p. 104
- ^ "A diamond in the rough". The Sydney Morning Herald. October 14, 2007. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
- ^ Isherwood 1987, p. 102
- ^ Chowdhury, Raja (October 27, 2009). "Rack Of Reads". Kolkota Mirror. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
- ^ Nikhilananda, Swami (2004). Sri Sarada Devi, the Holy Mother: her teachings and conversations. SkyLight Paths Publishing. p. 68. ISBN 9781594731792.
References
[edit]- Dutta, Krishna (2003), Calcutta: a cultural and literary history (illustrated ed.), Signal Books, p. 255, ISBN 9781902669595
- Harding, Elizabeth U. (1998), Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar, Motilal Banarsidass, ISBN 8120814509
- Mehrotra, Rajiv (2008), Thakur: A Life Of Sri Ramakrishna, Penguin Books India, ISBN 978-0143063711
- Nikhilananda, Swami (1942), "Introduction", The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, Sri Ramakrishna Math Chennai, ISBN 9788171209828
- Prabhananda, Swami (October 2003), "The Kali Temple at Dakshineswar and Sri Ramakrishna", Vedanta Kesari
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Sen, Amiya P. (2001), Three essays on Sri Ramakrishna and his times, Indian Institute of Advanced Study
- Sen, Amiya P. (June 2006), "Sri Ramakrishna, the Kathamrita and the Calcutta middle classes: an old problematic revisited", Postcolonial Studies, 9 (2): 165–177, doi:10.1080/13688790600657835, S2CID 144046925
{{citation}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link) - Isherwood, Christopher (1987), The wishing tree: Christopher Isherwood on mystical religion, Vedanta Press, ISBN 9780062504029
External links
[edit]
- Dakshineswar Kali Temple, website
- "Map of Kali Temple at Dakshineshwar". Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- Dakshineswar.com - gives details about the origin and history of the temple
- Pilgrim shrine connected with Sri Ramakrishna
