Famous Temples in India

Religious Significance

In 1847, Rani Rashmoni decided to go on a trip to visit Kashi Annapurna. 25 boats filled with all the necessities required for the next 6 months were arranged. Rani decided to take the route through the Ganges. She started for the journey taking along with her many helping hands and close family and friends. When the boats were passing through Dakhineshwar, there came a storm. Rani’s entourage had to stop on the orders of Rani who asked them all to take shelter at Dakhineshwar itself. That very night, in a dream, Rani got her orders – “There is no need for you to visit Kashi. Find the right place on the banks of this river, Bhagirathi (Ganga), and consecrate an idol of mine. Make arrangements for regular puja and bhog. I’ll manifest myself in this idol and accept your daily puja.” And Rani Rashmoni established the temple which we all today know, the famous Dakhineshwar Kali temple. Mathur Babu who helped Rani Rashmoni in establishing the Dakhineswar Kali Temple, had a dormant desire. Since the visit to Kashi Annapurna could not be completed, he wanted to find a proper place to build a temple of Maa Annapurna and offer his prayers. Later, this dream of his was fulfilled by his wife Sree Jagadamba Devi. All arrangements to build this temple were done by Mathur Babu and Jagadamba Devi’s eldest son Dwarikanath Biswas. In those days, the total cost came to be about 3 lakhs. Unfortunately, Mathur Babu passed away before he could see the temple completed.

There is another very interesting historical incident connected to this temple. Atop the main gate of the temple is a statue of a lion. Popular belief is that the lion protects the temple from dangers and adversities. The local British government once put pressure on the temple authorities to remove the statue of the lion. They felt it was the symbol of British Empire, so the temple authorities had no right to use it. The legal route was taken by both sides. After many years of legal battle, the court passed the order “Art is art, let the art prevail”. And thus the lion still stands strong atop the main gate.