Description
Jay Mitra Kripamayee Kali Devi Temple is a temple dedicated to Goddess Kali, which is situated at Baranagar, in the state of West Bengal. Baranagar is located in the district North 24Parganas, on the river banks of Hooghly. The temple was built in the seventeenth century by Jayram Mitra and thus it is also called Jay Mitra Kalibari. It is a huge temple, nine-spired and has twelve shrines for Lord Shiva.
History
Kripamayee Kali Devi Temple was built in the town of Baranagar by Jay Mitra. This person was a famous landlord during the seventeenth century when places like Baranagar in West Bengal were populated by the Dutch traders. Jay Mitra was a devout follower of Goddess Kali and being a devotee he decided to establish this Kripamayee Kali Temple in 1848. The Dakshineshwar Kali Temple, another famous Kali Temple of West Bengal, was built much later than this one, in 1855. So this is even more ancient. Baranagar has a rich heritage that flourished during this time period.
Importance/Significance
The image of Goddess Kali that resides in the temple is called Kripamayee. The word 'Kripamayee' in Bengali translates to 'merciful'. This is a form or avatar or Goddess Kali. The word 'Kali' has its roots in Sanskrit. It comes from the word "kala". Kala means time. Goddess Kali represents the energy which moves time and space. She looks fierce with an almost naked body blue or black in color, tongue protruding out and with a garland of severed heads of demons around her neck. Here the idol is said to be merciful, perhaps towards her devotees. This is a well-known and famous temple among the Bengalees in West Bengal.
Facts/Mythology
It is said that Swami Vivekanada visited this temple. Even the great Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, the famous devotee of Goddess Kali too visited the temple several times. It is heard that he called the Kripamayee Kali Maa as “Mashi”. “Mashi” in Bengali translates to maternal aunt or more precisely mother's sister. This is an interesting fact regarding this temple.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
Most of the Kali temples in Bengal celebrate the various Kali Pujas that are celebrated among the Bengalees. Though there is one big yearly Kali puja festival in Bengal, there are several others too. Kali Puja Dipantwika is the main celebration in the honor of Goddess Kali and mostly coincides with Diwali. This is celebrated on Amavasya, or newmoon day in Bengali month known as Kartika. This is usually the month of November. This Kali Puja is celebrated in a grand way in West Bengal and many devotees stay awake all night to worship the goddess at midnight.Two other kinds of Kali puja celebrations are held too in Bengal. One is Phalaharini Kali Puja and other is Ratanti Kali Puja. Ratanti Kali Puja is celebrated on Amavasya in the month of Magha and Phalaharini Kali Puja on Amavasya in the month of Jyestha.
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