Contents
Kripamayee Kali Temple is also referred to as Joy Mitra Kalibari and is a famous Hindu temple which is situated on the eastern banks of River Hoogly.
| District | North 24 Parganas |
| Deity | Kali |
| Location | Baranagar, West Bengal |
| Type | Bengali architecture |
| Creator | Jai Narayan Mitter |
| Completed | 1848 |
The presiding deity of this temple of West Bengal is a form of Kali called “Kripamayee” the one who is merciful. It is another famous Kali temple in West Bengal and it was built in the year 1848 by a famous zamindar Jayaram who was a dedicated devotee of goddess Kali.
It is a colossal nabaratna (nine-spired) temple with twelve shrines dedicated to Shiva, Kali’s consort.
Of the twelve Shiva temples; six are on each side and they had a fresh coat of paint like the main temple. The twelve Shiva temples are dedicated to Pashupatinath; Biswanath; Baidyanath; Chandranath; Amarnath; Bhubaneswar; Adinath; Taraknath; Somnath; Kedarnath; Umananda and Rameswar. All the twelve aatchala Shiv mandirs are on a raised platform and a flight of stairs is there to reach there.
Architecture
Traditional Bengali architecture mostly uses brick and wood, often reflecting the styles of the wood, bamboo and thatch styles of local vernacular architecture for houses. Decorative carved or moulded plaques of terracotta (the same material as the brick) are a special feature. The brick is extremely durable and disused ancient buildings were often used as a convenient source of materials by local people, often being stripped to their foundations over the centuries.
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 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.
Legend / Local stories
It is said that Swami Vivekananda 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 ‘Mashi’. Mashi in Bengali translates to a maternal aunt or more precisely mother’s sister. This is an interesting fact regarding this temple.
Festivals
A large number of people assemble here on the day of Deepavali and fireworks are lit. Instead of anna bhog luchi bhog is offered to the Goddess.
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.
Photo Gallery
How to Reach:
–
Address
Joy Mitra Kripamoyee Kalibari,
Hindu Temple in Kolkata
Kamar Para Lane, Barada Basak Street, Kolkata,
West Bengal
Contact Details
Recent Posts
ओ सांवरे तूने ही मुझको संभाला – Lyrics & Meaning
ओ सांवरे तूने ही मुझको संभाला – A Prayer to Shyam Origin & Spiritual Essence Why This Bhajan Resonates Devotees chant this when overwhelmed by life’s storms—the refrain ‘तूने ही मुझको संभाला’ is the soul’s sigh of relief: “You…
कथा ये है महाराज मेरे की – Lyrics & Meaning
कथा ये है महाराज मेरे की छत्रपति संभाजी महाराज – A Prayer to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Origin & Spiritual Essence Why This Bhajan Resonates Devotees chant this when their spirit feels tested—its powerful refrain “महाराज मेरे” is a soul’s…
Rigveda Samhita Yathartha Anuvada (ऋग्वेद संहिता यथार्थ अनुवाद) – Complete Set with Anvayartha & Hindi/English Translation
The Rigveda is the oldest surviving scripture of humanity and the foundational text of Sanātana Dharma. For serious students, scholars, UPSC aspirants studying ancient Indian history, Sanskrit learners, and spiritual seekers, a precise and grammatically structured translation is indispensable.…
आना भी अकेला है जाना भी अकेला है – Lyrics & Meaning | BharatTemples
आना भी अकेला है जाना भी अकेला है – A Prayer to the Divine Witness Origin & Spiritual Essence Why This Bhajan Resonates Devotees turn to this bhajan in moments of deep reflection—when life’s attachments begin to ache. The…
माता शेरावाली के द्वार जो भी जाता है – Lyrics & Meaning
माता शेरावाली के द्वार जो भी जाता है – A Prayer to Maa Sherawali Origin & Spiritual Essence Why This Bhajan Resonates Devotees turn to this bhajan in times of fear or uncertainty—its promise that no one leaves Maa’s…
मार लेना सपणी उबार लेणा भवरा – Lyrics & Meaning
मार लेना सपणी उबार लेणा भवरा – A Prayer to the Divine Beloved Origin & Spiritual Essence Why This Bhajan Resonates Devotees chant this in moments of deep vulnerability—its cry of “मार लेना सपणी, उबार लेणा भवरा” is the…
हमें श्याम सुंदर भरोसा तुम्हारा – Lyrics & Meaning
हमें श्याम सुंदर भरोसा तुम्हारा – A Prayer to Shyam Sundar Origin & Spiritual Essence Why This Bhajan Resonates Devotees chant this when feeling alone—its refrain ‘de do sahara’ is the soul’s cry for divine support. Lyrics in Hindi…
Mere Satguru Ne Di Thi Davai Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning
Mere Satguru Ne Di Thi Davai: Invoking the Guru’s Liberating Wisdom This soul-stirring bhajan venerates the Satguru (True Spiritual Master) as the divine physician who dispenses the only remedy for life’s deepest sufferings. Composed by Sant Karmaveer Tufani, it…
Janm Diyo Thari Maa Dukh Dekhiyo Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning
जन्म दियो थारी माँ दुख देखियो (Maa’s Grief Upon Birthing You) This soul-stirring Chetavani Bhajan (admonitory hymn) is addressed to the Divine Mother (Maa) – a call for repentance when children forget their filial duties in the dark age…
Bhadi Sabha Mein Thane Manaun Lyrics in Hindi & Meaning
Bhadi Sabha Mein Thane Manaun: Invoking the Spear-Wielding Mother Mata Bhawani (श्री ज्वाला भवानी), the fiery manifestation of Shakti worshipped as the Protector of Dharma in Her Dhaulagarh sanctum. Origin & Spiritual Essence Composed in Rajasthani folk tradition by…