Shyamnagar Kalibari — Attraction in West Bengal

The Brahmamoyi Kali Bari in Shyamnagar, also known as Mulajore Kalibari, has a fascinating history tied to the illustrious Tagore family, though perhaps not in the way many might assume. The temple was established in 1809 on the bank of the Hooghly River. It was founded by Gopimohan Thakur, a scion of the Pathuriaghata branch of the Tagore family. It's important to note that this branch is a different line from that of Rabindranath Tagore's immediate family, though they share the same lineage. Gopimohan was the son of Darpanarayan Tagore, and his family was a prominent and wealthy landowning family in Kolkata. According to a local myth, the temple was built after a tragic incident. Gopimohan's daughter, Brahmamoyi, drowned in the Hooghly River, and her body was later found on the spot where the temple now stands. It is said that in a dream, the goddess instructed him to build a temple in her honor at that location. This story gives the temple its name, Brahmamoyi. The temple is a beautiful example of the traditional Nava Ratna (nine-pinnacled) style of architecture, a feature not commonly seen in many temples in West Bengal. It is also historically significant for being built before the more famous Dakshineswar Kali Temple. The temple's reputation for having a westward-facing deity is a point of local legend, with some saying the goddess turned her face to listen to the devotional songs of the revered saint Ramprasad Sen as he sailed on the river. Today, the Shyamnagar Brahmamoyi Kali Bari stands as a testament to the rich cultural and spiritual history of the region, attracting devotees and visitors who come to witness its architectural beauty and feel a connection to its legendary past. Photography...

"Bramhomoyee Kali Mandir" of Mulajor, Shyamnagar is historically famous place. The temple is with 12 Shiva temple along with a "Radha - Krishna's mandir. The neat and clean 206 year old 'Nabaratna' styled Kali Temple situate very near to Shyamnagar railway station and the main road of Barasat. Ichapur 'Gun and Cell Factory' is very near this temple. Every year on the Bengali month "Poush' an attractive village fair is famous in this 24Paragana of West Bengal. The ancestors of 'Kabiguru Rabindranath Thakur', "Kshitish Kushari" came from Jessore, Bangladesh. Latter they have recieved the title "Thakur" and they started writing there's title as Thakur. 'Bhattanaryan' was son of Kshitish Kushari. The next generation was 'Dinanth Kushari' and his son 'Panchanan Kushari' got the title "Thakur". 'Jairam Thakur' son of Dinanth had four sons among them was 'Darpanatayan' who consecrated this Mata Kali (Bramhomoyee Kali) temple bank of Mata Ganga on the year May, 1812 (Bengali 1219, 31st Baisakh). Rabindranath was grandson of 'Anadiram' the elder son of 'Jairam' latter they do not believe in idol worship and Prince Dwarkanath father of Rabindranath started to follow the path of 'Bramhoism'. Mata Kali pictures downloaded from net as the present owners do not allow to click photographs...

Relatives of Rabindranath Tagore had set up Mulajor Kalibari at Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas and it is unknown to many people. The temple beside Hooghly River is very eye soothing. One of the priests said the temple was constructed on 31 Baishakh in 1219 Bengali year around 200 years ago beside Hooghly River even before Dakhineswar Kali temple was set up by Rani Rashmoni Devi. Six priests are engaged for offering puja to goddess Kali and one of the temple priests said. "No dedicated book had been written on this temple and gradually history is fading away but we know relatives of Rabindranath Tagore constructed this temple".

Srijit Thakur is the surviving member of the Thakur family whose ancestors set up the temple, lives in Rajbari at Pathuriaghata Street near Natunbazar in Kolkata. According to the biographer of Rabindranath Tagore, Prabhat Kumar Mukhopadhyaya, the original surname of the Tagores was Kushari. They were Rarhi Brahmins and originally belonged to a village named Kush in the district named Burdwan in West Bengal. Rabindranath Tagore's ancestor Dinanath Kushari, the son of Bhatta Narayana was a native of...