History, Importance, Timings, Festivals, Architecture, Social & Religious Activities, Interesting Facts, Best time to Visit and Travel Guide of Baba Kali Kamli Wale Ji Mandir, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India
Goddess Kali is an important manifestation of Adi Shakti, the feminine personification of the divine power of the Universe that is worshipped in Shaktism. She is believed to protect her devout from all evil sources and atrocities of life. Nobody can stand against her wrath, even the God of Gods, Lord Shiva. A temple dedicated to the great Goddess lies in the heart of Kurukshetra city. It attracts people from all over the city and far and wide. It is labelled as the most significant Kali temple in Kurukshetra pilgrimage. The temple is named after Baba Kali Kamli, the sage who pleased Goddess Kali to reside at the place. His real name is said to be Vishudhanand Ji, but since he commonly used to wrap around a black coloured blanket over him, he was known by this name. The temple is thus exemplary of what pure dedication to god can give to human life.
History and Popular Legend of Baba Kali Kamli Wale Ji Temple, Kurukshetra
Built in 1837, this temple is believed to be a 'sidha peetha', a place believed to fulfil the entire wishes one asks for on visiting it.
Historical legend associated with the temple claim that the same place was used by Baba Kali Kamli Wale Ji, who undertook an arduous penance to please Goddess Kali. Upon his success, the Goddess bestowed upon him a wish. Baba asked the goddess to reside at the place and bless the people with her presence.
She agreed to manifest at that place forever and secure its population from evil sources and vices.
The idol of Goddess Kali is an Ashtadhatu, a shrine composed of the combination of eight precious metals. These metals were brought by artists to Kurukshetra from the cultural hub of Modern India. It stays behind a glass door which is installed to prevent worshippers from touching the pure and pious idol of the goddess unnecessarily. It also ensures that they do not put their offerings near the idol instead of the designated area for the same.
The temple complex is huge, and decorated with sculptures and idols inspired from the Puranic tradition of Hinduism. It houses a serene landscape, enriched with beautiful decked up galleries leading to the main shrine. The structural design of the temple is eye – catching, which is well planned around a bustling residential area. Painted with red and beige colour palette all over the building, the main temple has four domes on all four corners of the main edifice. Two lions made from brass glorify the entrance pillars while the third marvellously stand above the entrance, in the centre.
A common feature of all temples dedicated to Goddess Kali is that they all depict the Goddess of Wrath in her aggressive form, the one meant to destroy the universe upon knowing any evil force is harming her children. However, the idol kept in Shree Kali Kamli Mandir depicts her in a calmer mood, one which is rarely observed anywhere in India. It is believed that Goddess Kali is like a mother to the place, who nourishes and feeds her children. Hundreds of devotees come here on a daily basis to pay reverence to the mother goddess.
This temple is known for its abundant positive energy. Even sitting inside for a couple of minutes can take a person to a relaxed state of meditation and retrospection.
How to Reach Kali Kamli Temple, Kurukhetra, Haryana, India
The temple is very near to Brahma Sarovar, and can be reached by road, rail and airway. Kurukshetra Railway junction serves as the nearest railway station to the temple. Kurukshetra being one of the major city and district of Haryana, India, thus it is very well connected with all major cities of India via road, rail and air network. Kurukshetra has major railway junction which connects all major cities of India via rail network. Nearest major airports from Kurukshetra are in Chandigarh and in Delhi at just 100 and 150 km respectively from where you can get flights to various cities like Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune etc. Kurukshetra is very well connected with all other cities of the country by roads through national highway or the state highway. Kurukshetra is located at 95 km from Chandigarh, 150 km from Delhi, 201 km from Shimla, 50 km from Ambala, 100 km from Panchkula.
