Skip to main content

Poote Kali Temple Of Kolkata

Poote Kali Temple:

Poote Kali temple is situated at Kali Krishna Tagore Street of Burra bazar area beside Tarasundari Park. The founder of this temple is Tantrik Manik Chandra (or Manik Ram) Bandyopadhyay. The temple is 'char chala' (চার চালা) and it has three peaks (চূড়া). The peaks have symbol of Chakra, Trishul and Pataka (flag). At the basement of this temple, there is a room. Here, the idol of goddess Kali is only 6 inches tall.

There are several stories about the name of this temple. Some say, 'puti' (পুঁটি) means a small girl in Bengali. The deity here is only six inches tall, therefore, the small height of idol is responsible for the name 'Poote Kali'.

Another story is behind the name of this temple. One day, Khelaram Bandyopadhyay - descendant of founder Manik Ram Bandyopadhyay was performing 'Homa' (হোম). In the meantime, a small fish (pooti mach) hopped to the 'homa' suddenly from the nearby 'khad' of river Ganga. Khelaram picked up the small fish and returned it back to river. The fish got life again. As the fish was 'pooti' - the name of the goddess Kali here found as 'Pooti Kali' and the devotees use to said later 'Poote Kali'.

It says, one employee of the then zaminder bought the idol from 'Naba Brindaban' and surreptitiously established the deity. Another story is there. First temple was established in the year 1558 where the decoits used to sacrifce human being and accumulated the skull in nearby well. The idol was founded from this well and Manik Ram established the idol in the temple.

During British period, the government tried to demolish the temple to pave the way of making broad road, but the temple authority knocked the door of court and got stay order. In decade of 1930, the temple was renovated and it got the present form. It was the history of this temple. Now, let me tell about the method of puja.

Puja of goddess Kali is performed here everyday. The method of puja is by doctrine of 'Tantra' (তন্ত্র). Goddess Kali wear golden cloths and ornaments on the night of Dipanwita Kali Puja. Bhairavi puja is performed on that night. Next day Kumari Puja and Annakut Utsav. Goats are being sacrificed on every Amavasya night. Local non-Bengali residents offer veg bhog to the goddess off & often. Idol of Shitala Mata made of white marble is there in the temple beside goddess Kali.

Below are the pictures of Poote Kali Temple and the idol of goddess Kali:


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

500 Year's Old Nimai Tirtha Ghat - Reminiscences Of Sri Chaitannya Deb

It says that Nimai Sri Chaitannya Deb once came to district Hooghly for the pilgrimage of Tarakeswar. So he bathed in river Ganga on the bathing ghat of Baidyabati. Then had started his journey to Tarakeswar on foot. It took about 12 hours to reach Tarakeswar. Later, the bathing ghat was named on him and now known to all as Nimai Tirtha Ghat. So, the ghat is about 500 year's old. Kabikankan Mukundaram mentioned this ghat in his mangal kabya, about 400 years ago. Raja Harishchandra of Seoraphuly constructed Nistarini Mandir and Bhadrakali Mandir in the year 1827 beside NimaiTirtha Ghat. then, lakhs of pilgrims take bath on river Ganga from this ghat and take holy water, visit Ma Nistarini and Debi Bhadrakali near, then use to go for Tarakeswar on foot to pour that Gangajal on the shiblinga of Baba Taraknath. The pilgrims use to go to Tarakeswar on the month of Shraban (July-August). Pic 1) The gate of Nimai Tirtha Ghat; Pic 2) The pilgrims are taking bath at the said gha...

Highest Jagadhatri Idol Of Chandannagar : Fatakgora

No other idol of Jagadhatri will compete in regard to height with the idol of Fatakgora (height: 31 feet). -- A. B.

Jorasanko Tagore Family : Genealogical Table

-- A. B.