Dakshineshwar Kali Temple

Dakshineswar Kali Temple
Location in West Bengal
Geography
Coordinates	22°39′18″N 88°21′28″E / 22.65500°N 88.35778°E / 22.65500; 88.35778Coordinates: 22°39′18″N 88°21′28″E / 22.65500°N 88.35778°E / 22.65500; 88.35778
Country	India
State	West Bengal
District	North 24 Parganas
Location	Kolkata
Culture
Sanctum	Bhavatarini Kali
Major festivals	Kali Puja, Snana Yatra, Kalpataru Day
Architecture
Architectural styles	Bengal architecture
Number of temples	12 Shiva temples, 1 temple of Radhakrishna and 1Main Temple of Goddess Kali
History
Date built	1855
Creator	Rani Rashmoni
Website	Official website

Dakshineswar Kali Temple is a Hindu temple located in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. Situated on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River, the presiding deity of the temple is Bhavatarini, an aspect of Kali, meaning, 'She who liberates Her devotees from the ocean of existence i.e. Saṃsāra'. The temple was built in 1855 by Rani Rashmoni, a philanthropist and a devotee of Kali. The temple is famous for its association with Ramakrishna, a mystic of 19th Century Bengal.

The temple compound, 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 Shiva—Kali's companion—along the riverfront, a temple to Radha-Krishna, a bathing ghat on the river, a shrine dedicated to Rani Rashmoni. 'Nahavat-Khana', the chamber in the northwestern corner just beyond the last of the Shiva temples, is where Ramakrishna spent a considerable part of his life.

The Dakshineswar Kali Temple was founded around the middle of the 19th century by Rani Rashmoni. Rani Rashmoni was a Mahishya by caste and was well known for her philanthropic activities. In the year 1847, Rashmoni, prepared to go upon a long pilgrimage to the sacred Hindu city of Kashi to express her devotions to the Divine Mother. Rani was to travel in twenty four boats, carrying relatives, servants and supplies. According to traditional accounts, the night before the pilgrimage began, Rashmoni had a vision of the Divine Mother, in the form of the goddess Kali in a dream and reportedly said,

There is no need to go to Banaras. Install my statue in a beautiful temple on the banks of the Ganges river and arrange for my worship there. Then I shall manifest myself in the image and accept worship at that place.