SSC
The presiding deity of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple in Kolkata is:
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Answer: Option A — Goddess Bhavatarini Kali
Detailed Solution
The presiding deity of the Dakshineswar Kali Temple is "Bhavatarini", a form of Goddess Kali, meaning "She who liberates her devotees from the ocean of worldly existence (bhava)".
About the Dakshineswar Kali Temple:
- It is located on the eastern bank of the Hooghly river, at Dakshineswar, near Kolkata, West Bengal.
- It was built by Rani Rashmoni, a wealthy and charitable widow of the Janbazar zamindar family, and a well-known social reformer.
- According to tradition, she had a dream in which Goddess Kali asked her to build a temple on the banks of the Ganga, instead of going on a pilgrimage to Varanasi.
Construction began in 1847 and the temple was completed in 1855. It was consecrated on 31 May 1855, on the day of "Snana Yatra".
It is built in the traditional Bengal "navaratna" (nine-spired) style, with a three-storey structure. The main temple is about 30 metres high.
In the sanctum, the idol of Bhavatarini Kali stands on the chest of a lying Shiva, on a silver thousand-petalled lotus.
The complex also has 12 identical Shiva temples ("Dwadasha Shiva temples") along the river, and a Radha-Krishna temple.
Association with Sri Ramakrishna:
Ramakrishna Paramahamsa (1836-1886) became the chief priest of the temple in 1856, after his elder brother Ramkumar, the first priest, died.
He lived and practised spiritual disciplines in the temple complex for about 30 years. His room is still preserved.
Swami Vivekananda (Narendranath Datta) first met Ramakrishna here in 1881.
Ramakrishna's wife, Sarada Devi ("Holy Mother"), also lived here, in the "Nahabat" (music tower).
Nearby places:
- Belur Math: the headquarters of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission (founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897), on the opposite (western) bank of the Hooghly.
- The Vivekananda Setu (Bally Bridge) and the Nivedita Setu cross the river near Dakshineswar.
Other Kali temples in West Bengal:
- Kalighat Kali Temple (Kolkata): a Shakti Peetha; the city's name is believed to come from "Kalikata".
- Tarapith (Birbhum district).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Goddess Durga is worshipped during Durga Puja, the biggest festival of Bengal.
- ✗Goddess Lakshmi is the goddess of wealth.
- ✗Goddess Saraswati is the goddess of learning.
Quick tip
Remember: Dakshineswar Kali Temple = Bhavatarini Kali (built by Rani Rashmoni, 1855; navaratna style; Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was its priest); Belur Math = opposite bank (Ramakrishna Mission, 1897); Kalighat = Shakti Peetha.
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This topic covers India's important monuments, temples, mosques, churches, gurudwaras and pilgrimage sites, who built them and when, their architectural styles, and India's UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Questions ask who built a monument, where it is located, or which dynasty or style it belongs to. For example, the Qutub Minar was begun by Qutbuddin Aibak, and the Sun Temple at Konark was built by the Eastern Ganga king Narasimhadeva I. Revise the UNESCO World Heritage Sites as a list, noting the most recent additions. Practise the monuments and religious places questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.