Kalka Mandir, New Delhi

Address

Metro Station, Near, Ma Anandmayee Marg, NSIC Estate,

Block 9, Kalkaji, New Delhi,

Delhi 110019

Amman

Kali

Introduction

Kalkaji Mandir is dedicated to the Goddess Kali. It is situated in the southern Delhi, in Kalkaji, India, a locality that has derived its name from the temple and is located opposite the Nehru Place and close to the Okhla railway station, Kalkaji Mandir metro station. Peoples believe that the image of the Goddess Kalka here is a self-manifested one.

Puranic Significance

Though the temple is thought to be much older, the oldest portions of the present building are believed to have been constructed not earlier than the 1764 AD by the Marathas, with additions in 1816 by Mirza Raja Kidar Nath, the Peshkar of Akbar II

According to a legend, Kalika Devi was born at the site where the temple is situated.

Millions of years ago, the gods who dwelt in the neighbourhood of the present temple were troubled by two giants and were compelled to prefer their complaint to Lord Brahma, ‘the god of all’. But Lord Brahma declined to interfere and referred them to the Goddess Parvati. Out of the mouth of Maa Parvati sprung Kaushki Devi, who attacked the two giants and slaughtered them, but it so happened, that as their blood fell on the dry earth thousands of giants came into life, and the battle was maintained by Kaushki Devi against great odds. Maa Parvati took compassion on her offspring and out of the eyebrows of Kaushki Devi came Maa Kali Devi, ‘whose lower lip rested on the hills below and the upper lip touched the sky above. She drank the blood of the slaughtered giants as it poured out of their wounds, and the goddess obtained a complete victory over their enemies. Maa Kali Devi then fixed her abode here, and she was worshipped as the chief divinity of the place.

It is believed that the Goddess Kalkaji, pleased with the prayers offered and rituals performed by the gods on the advice of Lord Brahma, appeared at the site of the temple and blessed them, and settled at the site. During the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna and the Pandavas are said to have worshipped Kali at this temple during the reign of Yudhisthira. The temple itself is believed to have been constructed by Thok Brahmins and Thok Jogians at the order of Kali.

It is also called Jayanti Peetha or Manokamna Siddha Peetha. ” Manokamna” literally means desire, ” Siddha” means fulfilment, and ” Peetha” means shrine. So, it is believed to be the holy shrine where one gets the blessings of Maa Kalika Devi (Goddess or Mother Kalika) for the fulfillment of one’s desires.

Special Features

The temple complex, as it stands today, is constructed of brick masonry, finished with plaster and marble, and is surrounded by a pyramidal tower. The central chamber which is 12-sided in the plan, 24 feet across, with a doorway in each side, is paved with marble and is surrounded by a verandah 8’9″ wide and contains 36 arched openings or exterior doorways. This verandah encloses the central chamber from all sides. In the middle of this arcade, opposite the eastern doorway, are two red sandstone tigers sitting on a marble pedestal. Both the pedestal, as well as the marble railings, contains Nastaʿlīq inscriptions of recent origin. Between the tigers, there is a stone image of Kali Devi with her name engraved in Hindi, and a trident of stone standing before it.

Festivals

The temple is visited by worshippers all year round, but the culmination point of their prayers and celebration is during the twice-yearly festival of Navratri, a nine-day Hindu festival, in spring and autumn, during which a large fair is organised. Devotees gather and sing hymns and songs praising the Goddess Durga. During these nine days, many tradesmen selling various handicrafts come to the temple to boost their business. Devotees stand outside in serpentine queues for their turn to get a glimpse of the goddess.