Kalighat Kali Temple
• Devi: Devi abides in Kalighat as Kalipitha Shakti Peetha (identified with Kalighat Kali).
- Kalighat Kali Temple
नकुलीशः कालीपीठे दक्षपादाङ्गुली च मे । सर्वसिद्धिकरी देवी कालिका तत्र देवता ॥
- Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 27 (Kalighat has the Kalipitha Shakti Peetha where the Daksha Pada Anguli of Devi had fallen)
देवि सुरेश्वरि भगवति गङ्गे त्रिभुवनतारिणि तरलतरङ्गे । शङ्करमौलिविहारिणि विमले मम मतिरास्तां तव पदकमले ॥
- Ganga Stotram - verse 1 (River Ganga flowed through Kalighat as river Hooghly in ancient times)
▬ Kalipitha Shakti Peetha: I meditate on the Kalipitha Shakti Peetha where the Daksha Pada Anguli (Fingers of Right Foot) of Devi had fallen. The Devi there is known as Kalika and the Bhairava is called Nakuleesha. (Peetha Nirnaya Tantra - Shakti Peetha Stotram - verse 27)
• Temples and Places:
Presence of Devi in Kalighat:
• Kalipitha Shakti Peetha: The Daksha Pada Anguli (Fingers of Right Foot) of Devi had fallen here. The Devi is known as Kalika and the Bhairava is called Nakuleesha.
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)
► Kalighat - Devi Kali Temple (Kolkata district, West Bengal)
Kalighat Devi Kali Temple is identified with the Kalipitha Shakti Peetha mentioned in the Peetha Nirnaya Tantra.
According to legend, the foundation of the first Kali Temple is associated with two sadhakas: Brahmananda Giri and Aatmaram Brahmachari. Brahmananda Giri performed penance in Nilagiri Parvata in south India. When he still did not get the vision of Devi, he tried to end his life inside the sea. At this moment, Devi out of compassion appeared before him in Her terrible form. Brahmananda could not endure that form. Then Devi appeared as Kumari (girl) inside a stone. She told Brahmananda to ask for a boon. Brahmananda asked the boon that the Devi should remain with him in that stone and whenever he wishes, the Devi should appear before him in that stone. Unless he tells Her, the Devi cannot leave him. Thus, Devi was bound by Brahmananda in that stone.
On the other side, Aatmaram Brahmachari came to Kali Kshetra (present Kalighat) and started performing penance sitting on a stone. On that very stone, earlier, Lord Brahma performed penance and attained siddhi. There was a tank created by the waters of river Bhagirathi, and a Panchavati (five Trees). After severe penance, Devi became pleased. He instructed Aatmaram to go to Nilagiri Parvata and bring the stone worshipped by Brahmananda. Then, establish Her, giving form to that stone, on the Brahma Shila (where Lord Brahma had earlier performed penance). He should retrieve Her four fingers which was in that tank and also getting Nakuleshwar Shiva, establish them.
Getting the command from Devi, Aatmaram went to Nilagiri Parvata and brought Brahmananda and the stone of Devi worshipped by Brahmananda. They started meditating on Devi to visualize Her form on that stone. Devi showed Her form to them in a vision. Vishwakarma appeared there and gave that form to that stone. They established the stone on the Brahmashila and started worshipping that. Brahmanandagiri discovered the Nakuleshwar Shiva Linga inside a forest (on the month of Chaitra) when he saw that a cow was shedding milk at a place. The four fingers of Devi was discovered by a brahmani who came to that place with her husband to perform sadhana. She saw a divine light on the tank. Her husband could not see that light but Brahmananda and Aatmaram could see that. The light was being emitted by the four fingers of Devi. The day was Jyeshtha Shulka Chaturdashi. Thus, the stone worshipped by Brahmananda, the Shiva Linga of Nakuleshwar and the four fingers of Devi was established by Aatmaram and Brahmananda in Kalighat.
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