Description
Kalyaneshwari Devi Temple is one of the ancient temples which is located in Asansol, in the district of Burdwan, West Bengal. Situated along the banks of the river Barkara, It is situated at a distance of about 5 kilometers from the downstream of Maihon Dam in Damodar Valley. Well connected by roads and highways, the nearest railway station is in Burdwan and the nearest airport lies in Kolkatta. The temple is known for its religious importance. Enraptured in a scenic beauty the temple stands as an epitome of grandeur and magnificence.
History
The history of Kalyaneshwari Devi Temple is a very beautiful one. There are many versions of the same. Some historians believe that this temple is built on some body parts of Goddess Parvati when her body was cut to pieces by Lord Vishnu's Chakra. The pious body parts were recreated in the form of temple which is worshiped in all devotion. A meteor like stellar was transformed in the shape of a mound and the spot where it fell is exactly the spot of the temple. It is believed that a faithful priest used to worship this temple regularly with all his devotion. He would perform his rituals and offer payers and bhogs to the Goddess. He maintained a strict regime and a fixed time for offering bhogs. However, one day he realized that the bhog was not ready and hence he had to leave in the middle of the rituals to get the desired bhog to be offered to the Goddess, while asking his daughter to stay in the temple. However, when he returned back, he found her dead as she had been taken as a sacrifice by the Goddess. Perhaps it was the missing bhog which led the Goddess to have the child. The priest was very upset and started asking her what he had done wrong to get this result. The Goddess became guilty and then granted life back to the child. Seeing the devotion of the priest, the Goddess also promised to shower her blessings on all childless couples if they worshipped her with full dedication. Since, then the temple has been of significant importance. It is also believed that the original temple was built by Maharaja Hari Gupt which was later on renovated in the present form by King of Panchkota , approximately five centuries ago
Importance/Significance
Kalyaneshwari Devi Temple in Asansol is considered as a very pious place. The Goddess is believed to be all powerful who can grant blessings to childless couples who worship her with great dedication and devotion.The unique feature of the temple is its architecture which is in the form of mound which contains the idol of the all almighty Goddess. The simplicity of the temple is the main attraction. The mound is considered to be the GarbaGrih and hence is covered with a red cloth.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
The famous Navatri and Kali Puja are observed here with great grandeur. The temple has a seprate allocated area for Marriages and mundane ceremony. The temple is also considered to be a pious place for worshipping just after marriages.