Thanthania Kalibari

Thanthania Kalibari is a historic Hindu temple located on Bidhan Sarani in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. It is dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, who is revered here in her form as Maa Siddheshwari. The temple is recognized as one of the oldest Kali temples in Kolkata and is a significant center for tantric worship.

History and Establishment

The temple's origins trace back to 1703 when it was first established by a tantrik named Uday Narayan Brahmachari on what was then a cremation ground. Brahmachari himself molded the initial clay image of the presiding deity. With limited resources, he constructed the temple with mud walls and a roof made of palm leaves, situated in the dense forests of the Gobindapur and Sutanuti villages, predating the formation of Calcutta. The temple gained its distinctive prefix name, 'Thanthania', from the 'than-than' sound of its bells that could be heard by passersby in the surrounding wilderness.

In 1806, the temple was significantly re-established by businessman Shankar Ghosh. He also commissioned an 'ath-chala' 'Pushpeswar Shiv Mandir' within the temple complex. Ghosh took on the responsibility for the daily worship of the deity, and to this day, his descendants, known as sevayets, continue to worship Maa Siddheswari and maintain the temple.

Religious Significance and Practices

Maa Kali is worshipped here as Maa Siddheshwari, depicted with a dark complexion and four hands, each holding symbolic objects. The idol is reconstructed annually and painted in red and black. Tuesdays and Saturdays are considered auspicious for visits.

As a Tantrik temple, Thanthania Kalibari strictly follows tantric rituals, including the continuation of animal sacrifice on all no moon nights and during Kali Puja. On various Amavasyas (new moon days), the deity is honored in different forms, such as Phalaharini in 'Phalaharini Puja' and Aadikali in 'Aadikali Puja'.

A unique aspect of Thanthania Kalibari is its practice of offering non-vegetarian prasad, a tradition reportedly initiated by Ramakrishna Paramahansa. While non-veg prasad is offered throughout the year, vegetarian prasad is served on specific occasions like 'Dipannwita Amavasya Kali Puja' and 'Phalaharini Amavasya Kali Puja'.

Association with Ramakrishna Paramahansa

Legends suggest that Ramakrishna Paramahansa, a renowned 19th-century mystic, resided near the temple during his visits to Gobindapur-Sutanuti. He was a frequent visitor to Thanthania Kalibari, where he would sing devotional hymns to Maa Siddheshwari. A significant saying attributed to him, "Shankarer hridoy majhe, Kali biraje" (Maa Kali resides within the heart of Shankar), is inscribed on the temple walls. During his stays, he is said to have preached to common people about the divine presence of Maa Siddheshwari within the temple.