Entering the Temple of Kali – The Pilgrim and Ma Kali

 The road to Dakshineswar finally comes to an end at the main gate of the temple. The gate is high and ornate, with an arched entrance. There are other ways of reaching the temple as well, including the approach from the Ganges. In the time of Sri Ramakrishna, many people came by boat because the roads were in poor condition.

After passing through the gate, the pilgrim encounters beggars sitting and chanting. A coin may be placed in a bowl, followed by a blessing. Beyond them, more shops and stalls can be found within the temple grounds.

There are also a few customs that a visitor is expected to observe. It is considered bad manners to approach a beggar with empty hands, and when something is purchased from a stall, the seller may give an additional coin. Shoes are not worn inside the temple. Some visitors leave them in their car or taxi, while others leave them with a person who looks after the shoes. Removing one's shoes is a sign of respect, and the same custom is followed in Indian temples.

Near the parking area, a shopkeeper offers water from the Ganges. Some of the water is poured into the pilgrim's hand. Hindus believe that the water of the Ganges is sacred and that drinking it or bathing in it can cleanse even the worst sins.

Sri Ramakrishna sometimes used humour when speaking about such matters. He told a story of an elephant that bathed in the Ganges and then returned to its old habits. In the same way, he said, a person may wash away his sins in the sacred water, only to have them return and sit upon him again.

After washing the hands and preparing for the visit, the pilgrim is ready to go before Ma Kali. The journey through the crowded streets, past the stalls and the people gathered around the temple, has brought him to the place where he can make his offering to the Goddess.

Source & Note

This article is based on Elizabeth U. Harding’s Kali: The Black Goddess of Dakshineswar (Nicolas-Hays, 1993). The material has been edited and adapted for this publication.