Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple is a famous Hindu temple in Bangladesh, dedicated to the goddess Kali. The temple is located in Ishwaripur, a village in Shyamnagar upazilla of Satkhira. The name “Jeshoreshwari” means “Goddess of Jeshore”.
Shrine’s History
Once the capital of Raja Bikramaditya and Maharaja Pratapaditya was at Dhumghat. Later it was transferred to Ishwaripur. It was the capital city from 1590-1610. The first Catholic Church of Bengal was built in Ishwaripur in 1599. The Portuguese soldiers of Pratapaditya initiated the building process of the church. After the fall of Pratapaditya the area surrounding Iswaripur emerged as forest and people started going away from the area. The Mughal Foujders and the Jamiders also retreated from the area. Then there was no worship in the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple. Eventually, the area was used by local robbers as hiding place.
The robbers worshiped the goddess Kali at that time. After some hundred years, somehow people from other villages came and worshiped the goddess. As the days past, there was a village situated surrounding the Temple. This village was known as Jessoreshwaripur, now known as Ishwaripur. It is believed to have created by a brahman named Anari. He created a 100-door temple for the Jeshoreshwari Peeth. But the timeline is not to be known. Later it has been renovated by Lakshman Sen and Pratapaditya in their reigning periods.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
The mythology of Daksha Yaga and Sati’s self-immolation is the story behind the origin of Shakti Peethas. Shakti Peethas divine places or holy abode of the Mother Goddess(Parashakti). These shrines are believed to be sanctified with the presence of Shakti due to the falling of body parts of the corpse of Sati Devi, when Lord Shiva carried it and wandered throughout Aryavartha in sorrow. There are 51 Shakti Peeth located all around South Asia. Each temple has shrines for Shakti and Kalabhairava,
The Shakti of this shrine is addressed as Jeshoreshwari and Bhairava as Chanda. Jeshoreshwari is regarded as one of the 51 Peeth of Sati; according to the belief, it is where the various parts of Sati’s body are said to have fallen, in the course of Shiva’s Rudra Tandava. Jeshoreshwari represents the site where the palm of Sati fell. Legend says that the General of Maharaja Pratapaditya discovered a luminant ray of light coming from the bushes, and came upon a piece of stone carved in the form of a human palm. Later, Pratapaditya started worshiping Kali, building the Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple. As to be the “Goddess of Jessore”, it was named after Jessore
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
A large rectangular covered platform called Natmondir has been erected adjacent to the main temple, from where the face of goddess can be seen. This was renovated by Laxman Sen in the late 13th century, but the builders are not known. After 1971, it crumbled. Now only the pillars can be seen
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Road
Iswaripur in Khulna (region) is a town located in Bangladesh – about 128 mi (or 205 km) South-West of Dhaka, the country’s capital.
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
The temple is visited by pilgrims from all over, irrespective of sectarian differences. Worship is done by the priest every Saturday and Tuesday at noon time. But before 1971, there was daily routine of worship. Every year on the day of Kali puja, the present Caretakers of the temple conduct a ceremony. There is also a Mela taking place around the temple compound