The present temple building was built in the 19th Century and is 200 years old. However, the temple’s reference has also been found in 15th Century composition of Mansar Bhasan and also in Kavi Chandi that was published during the 17th Century. There is another mention of the Kalighat Kali temple in Lalmohon Bidyanidhis's 'Sambanda Nirnoy".The original temple is said to have been a small hut structure which was later transformed as a proper temple commissioned by King Manasingha during early 16th century. It was under the patronage of Sabarna Roy Chowdhury’s family of Barisha that the present structure was completed in around 1809.
The question whether the temple belonged to antiquity has been answered with great description and factual proofs of presence of coinage belonging to the Gupta Empire. The most popular archer coins that became famous during the Gupta rule after Kumargupta I were found in Kalighat and hence the proof of temple being even in Gupta dynasty.
The Kalighat Kali Temple is being regarded as one of the most important Shakti Peeths out of 51 peeths that are spread across India, Bangladesh and Pakistan. The mythology behind the temple is related to Rudra Tandav of Shiva after he was enraged by self-immolation of his consort, Sati, after an altercation with her father on not being invited for a puja ceremony at her father’s place.It is said that Shiva carried Sati’s burnt body while performing Tandav and that’s when various parts of the Goddess’s body fell on earth. The right toe of Sati fell at Kalighat and that’s where the temple was built later and the presiding deity here is called Kalika, after whom, the city was named as Kolkata.Out of the many legends associated with the Kalighat Kali Temple, the most talked about is of the Brahmin named Atma Ram, who found a human toe shaped stone structure in the Bhagirathi River. It is believed that he was guided by a ray of light that appeared to be coming from the direction of the river.The Brahmin prayed to the piece of stone that evening and had a dream the same night wherein he was informed about Sati’s toe that had fallen in the river and that the stone piece he found was nothing else but Sati’s right toe. He was asked in his dreams to set up a temple and also search for a Swambhu Lingam of Nakuleshwar Bhairav, which he eventually did. Atma Ram later started worshipping both Swambhu Lingam and the toe shaped stone..
The Shakti here is thus Dakshina Kali (the benevolent Mother of the World) while the Bhairav being Nakulish or Nakuleshwar.It is believed that the right big toe of Sati (according to another opinion, four toes of right leg[5]) fell here at Kalighat. However, some Puranas also mention that the Mukha Khanda (face) of the Goddess fell here, got fossilized, and is stored and worshipped here.
The 51 Shakti Peethas are linked to the 51 alphabets in Sanskrit, each carrying the power to invoke one of the goddesses associated with them. These Alphabets are called Beeja Mantras or the seeds of the primordial sounds of creation. The Beeja Mantra for Dakshina Kali is Krīm.The mythological texts which include the Kalika Purana (Ashtashakti,) recognize the four major Shakti Peethas—Bimala where resides the Pada Khanda (feet) (the temple is inside the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha), Tara Tarini housing the Stana Khanda (Breasts), (near Brahmapur, Odisha), Kamakhya, Yoni khanda (Vulva) (near Guwahati, Assam) and Dakshina Kalika, Mukha khanda (in Kolkata, West Bengal) originated from the lifeless body of the goddess Sati.
Inside Kalighat Kali Temple Kolkata
Natmandir
Natmandir is a huge rectangular verandah built adjacent to the central temple building. The natmandir was commissioned by Zamindar Kashinath Roy in 1835. When one climbs on to the natmandir, he/she can very clearly see the face of the Goddess’s image. Renovations of the structure take place every now and then.
Jor Bangla
Jor Bangla is the platform or verandah of the main temple right outside the sanctum sanctorum. The rituals inside the Garbha Griha can be seen from this platform too, apart from natmandir.
Shoshti Tala
This is a rectangular altar about three feet high bearing a small cactus plant. Beneath the tree, on an altar three stones are placed side by side - left to right representing the goddesses Shashthi (Shoshti), Shitala and Mangal Chandi. This sacred spot is known as Shoshti Tala or Monosha Tala. This altar was constructed by Gobinda Das Mondal in 1880. The place of the altar is the Samadhi of Brahmananda Giri. Here all the priests are female. No daily worship or offering of Bhog (food offering) is done here. The goddesses here are considered as part of Kali.[citation needed]
Natmandir
A large rectangular covered platform called Natmandir has been erected adjacent to the main temple, from where the face of the image can be seen. This was originally built by Zamindar Kasinath Roy in 1835. It has been subsequently renovated often.
Jor Bangla
The temple's bathing ghat, 1947.The spacious verandah of the main temple facing the image is known as Jor Bangla. Rituals occurring inside the sanctum sanctorum are visible from the Natmandir through the Jor Bangla.
Harkath Tala
This is the spot adjacent to the Natmandir, southwards meant for Bali (sacrifice). There are two Sacrificial altars for animal sacrifices side by side. These are known as Hari-Kath.
Radha-Krishna Temple
This temple is known as Shyama-raya temple and is situated inside the temple at the west side of the main temple. In 1723, a settlement officer of Murshidabad district first erected a separate temple for Radha-Krishna. In 1843 a Zamindar called Udoy Narayan erected the present temple in the same spot. The Dolmancha was founded in 1858 by Madan Koley of Saha Nagar. There is a separate kitchen for preparation of vegetarian Bhog (food offering) for Radha-Krishna.
Kundupukur
Kalighat Temple Tank (Kundupukur)
This is the sacred tank situated in the south-east of the temple outside the boundary walls. Present area of the tank is approximately 10 cottahs. In the past it was bigger and called 'Kaku-Kunda'. The 'Sati-Anga' (the right toe of Sati) was discovered from this tank. It is believed that taking a dip in this small pond/ tank can bestow one with the boon of a child. The water from this tank is regarded as sacred as that of the Ganges. Pilgrims practice the holy dipping event called Snan Yatra.There had been futile efforts in the past of draining the water from the tank for cleaning, which creates a strong possibility of a subterranean link with the Adi Ganga.
Nakuleshwar Mahadev Temple
The Nakuleshwar Mahadev Temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the consort of Goddess Kali. This temple is situated on the opposite lane of the temple, right behind the police station. The name of the lane on which the temple is situated is known as Haldar Para lane. The temple has found reference in historical mentions of the yore.