Firingi Kalibari — Attraction in Kolkata

Heritage structure. From Wikipedia:- Firingi Kalibari is a temple dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali located on B.B. Ganguly Street in Bowbazar locality of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The temple is said to be over 200 years old and is named after its association with Anthony Firingee (1786-1839), a European who converted to Hinduism and was a great devotee of Kali.One of the oldest Kali temples in Kolkata, Maa Kali is worshipped here in the form of "Maa Siddheshwari". Hundreds of devotees gather at the temple for worship on the occasions of Kali Puja, Kaushiki Amavasya and Phalaharini Amavasya.There are a number of legends and believes regarding the establishment of the temple. The most popular one is linked to the association of Anthony Firingee with the temple with. A European who converted to Hinduism after marrying a widowed Hindu lady and being influenced by the Hindu culture, the temple derived it's prefix "Firingi" from his name. From that, the deity of Maa Kali is also sometimes known as "Firingi Kali".

But the thing to be noted is, no historical proof of Anthoy Firingee being associated with the temple has been found. Historian Radharaman Mitra in his book "Kolkata Darpan" mentions that the association of Hensman Anthony with the temple is incorrect. Historians have mixed opinion regarding the establishment year of the temple. There is a date stone in the temple which mentions the temple was established in 905 AD, which means the temple is more than 525 years old. But many historians think it is not possible to construct a temple at that time because, there were no human settlements in this region during that time.

According to another story from the book of Sir Harry Evan Cotton, which most historians believe, the temple was established by Dom Srimanta as a Shiv Mandir, in a small house on a shmashana, located inside the dense forests of that region. Later he also started worshipping Maa Shitala. It was located close to the Bhagirathi river. Since the temple was established by a Dom, no priests went to the temple. Hence, Srimanta himself worshipped the deities.Behind the temple was Hensman Anthony's maternal uncle's house.[8] Sometimes he used to come to the temple while visiting his maternal uncle's house and sang hymns to the deities. One time he sang "Bhajan pujan jani ne maa, jatete firingi. Jadi daya kore kripa koro, hey Shiva Matangi." It is said that he did small renovations to the temple after getting swapnadesh from Maa Kali herself. Whether Srimanta himself established the Maa Kali's idol in the temple or it was established by Anthony is unclear. But according to some sources, it was built by Anthony after "swapnadesh" from Maa Kali. Many English and Portuguese people used to live in this region (Locally known as the "firingi sahebs"). They sometimes worshipped at the temple, hoping a bloom in their business. When they were affected with chickenpox, many of them were treated and cured by Srimanta. As a sign to express their gratitude, they offered puja at the temple and from that time, the temple could have received it's prefix "Firingi".

Over time, the temple came to the hands of a Bandopadhyay family of Kolkata. They have worshipped the deities and taken care of the temple since generations. According to the info given by present sevayets, the temple was received by their ancestors in 1880 AD. As Srimanta did not have any successor, he sold the temple to Shashibhusan Bandopadhyay for ₹60 rupees. Once upon a time, although animal sacrifices was performed, it is not...



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Firinghi Kalibari

Kolkata

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Firinghi Kalibari, Kolkata

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Anirban Majumder@contactanirban1

May 25, 2017 11:52 AM, 1611 Views

good temple,mental peace

Once we had firingi kalibari in Kolkata .It is a very famous temple of kalimata .A famous British Antony who is also known as firingi was the priest of this temple in college street bohubazar area .we went and viewed the old temple pinnacle amid bamboo and peepal trees .We saw the temple premises thronged by visitors .We saw that Maas deity is ornamented with gold jewellery .Black complexion and four hands dangling the head of a devil do not frighten rather infuse reverence and veneration for maa shakti , Kali is whose an incarnation only .We offered prasad to maa Kali .The priest was offering bhog and doing aarti to maa firingi Kali .We sat rather squatted on the balcony .We only got fascinated by her black beauty .We heard stentorian but nice incessant tone of bell ringing and drum beating in the temple .Ladies also did "Ulu" with their tongue .We enjoyed the visit .Please pay a visit .You must get mental satisfaction that would dispel your gloom as it did the same to all of us .

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Champak Majumder@maitreyeemajumder

Jun 28, 2017 04:22 PM, 1437 Views

Wow!!the sanctity of the place is mesmeriiizing

I visited this temple several times in Kolkata.But the deity of goddess kali is so peaceful and her eyes and hands that are showing blessings continuously makes me speechless when I stare at her face in this temple.The red coloured temple whenever I see,I feel overjoyed.I buy dala for puja along with flowers and mithai.I enter and always see a priest worshipping the deity of maa kali.The blackness of maa,her beautiful eyes and gold plated red tongue mesmerises me.I keep the dala and sit there speechless.The sanctity and serenity of the place is awesome.The aroma of incense sticks and flowers,hymns of priests(vaidik mantra) and stentorious sound of dhaak or drum takes me to a different genre.This goddess of Maa is attired with a nice saree unlike many other goddesses of kalima where they are undressed according to mythology.The bowbazar area of Kolkata is famous for this temple.Antony Firingi who changed his religion into hinduism was the worshipper of this temple.The temple premises is full of devotees.Once I had bhog or prasad.The taste of bhog is wonderful.The place is safe as it is very close to the police station.In terms of accessibility it is well accessible by buses and trams as well.If you go,you must find yourself in a...

In the heart of Kolkata lies a relic of ancient mystique, the Firingi Kali Mandir, a testament to the city's diverse spiritual tapestry. Dating back to 905 AD, this temple holds within its walls a saga of cultural amalgamation and devotion.

Nestled amidst the bustling lanes of Kolkata, the Firingi Kali Mandir stands as a silent observer of time. Established over 900 years ago, during an era preceding Kolkata's inception, the temple emerged from the wilderness.

Legend has it that in the 19th century, a scion of the Portuguese lineage, the poet Antonio Hensman, traversed to Chandannagar with ambitions of trade. It was here that fate intertwined his path with Saudamini, a widow dwelling in the vicinity. Intrigued by Hindu deities, Saudamini's allure towards the god kindled Antonio's curiosity, leading to his frequent visits to her abode.

Initially dedicated to Lord Shiva, the temple underwent a metamorphosis under Saudamini's guidance. He orchestrated the installation of Goddess Kali's idol, birthing the Firingi Kali Mandir. Here, devotees from all walks of life converge, transcending barriers of faith and ethnicity.

Initially depicted as Dakshinamukhi, a serene manifestation, Kali Ma's representation evolved over time. From humble earthen figurines to majestic concrete sculptures, the idol's transformation mirrored the temple's journey.

While the temple relinquished animal sacrifices in 2013, adhering to Vedic rituals, it embraces the resurgence of self-immolation practices during Kali Puja. Devotees flock to partake in these ancient customs, revitalising age-old traditions.

Open from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. daily, with slight delays on Saturdays and Tuesdays, the temple welcomes pilgrims with open arms. Accessible via the Central Metro Station, a mere minute's walk unveils the divine sanctuary of Firingi Kali.

The Firingi Kali Mandir stands not merely as a relic of antiquity but as a living testament to Kolkata's cultural ethos. Within its sacred precincts, history intertwines with devotion, transcending time and space and beckoning seekers from afar to embrace its mystical allure.

Source: Jiyo Bangla

The nearest Metro Station is Central Metro Station. The nearest Railway Station is Sealdah Railway Station. The Nearest Bus stop...