Kalkaji Mandir, also known as Kalkaji Temple, is a Hindu mandir or temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali. This temple is situated in the southern part of Delhi, India, in Kalkaji, a locality that has derived its name from the temple and is located opposite Nehru Place business centre.
Shrine’s History
According to the Government records, the temple of Kalkaji is said to have a very ancient origin, but the oldest portions of the present building are believed to have been constructed not earlier than the 1764 AD by the Maratha rulers. In 1816 A.D. Mirza Raja Kidar Nath, the Peshkar of Akbar II is said to have made some additions to it. Over the last five to six decades, a considerable number of Dharamshala have been erected in the vicinity by the Hindu bankers and merchants of Delhi place. The said temple Kalkaji is built on the land of Shamlat Thok Brahmins and Thok Jogians who are the pujaries of temple Kalkaji and the pujaries perform Puja Sewa as per their monthly turn. The Thok Brahmins consists of Four Thullas namely Thulla Tansukh, Thulla Rambaksh, Thulla Bahadur & Thulla Jasram and the Thok Jogians are classified into Gharbari Jogi and Kanphada Jogi.
It is said that the persons of Thok Brahmins and Thok Jogians since were owning the said land, once upon a time very long back when were grazing their cows found that the cows were not giving milk after grazing and it was revealed that the cows delivered their milk on one Pindi which had some encryptions on it and at that time Goddess Kalika gave darshans to those people and asked them to reconstruct the temple as the said place was completely ruined due to neglect and then the Thok Brahmins and Thok Jogians started worshipping their and the Kanphada Jogi since was a person who renounced the world and was living a separate life was made to stay there for look after of the said place and he was also permitted to perform puja sewa and receive offerings for one month in every rotational monthly turn. From that time onwards the yogis of Nath Sampradaya have been serving the Goddess and are enthroned as Baba Sandhya Nath, Baba Sahaja Nath, Prithvi Nath, Rama Nath are remembered with great respect. They were renowned yogis of their time empowered with special spiritual powers and visions.
Legends Associated with This Shrine
While Âthe Hindu scriptures have multiple references and legends regarding the birth and acts of the Goddess Kali, the legend which tells about the circumstances attending to the birth of Maa Kalika Devi at the Kalkaji Mandir is as below: Millions of years ago, the gods who dwelt in the neighbourhood of the present temple were troubled by two giants and were compelled to prefer their complaint to Lord Brahma, ‘the god of all’.
But Lord Brahma declined to interfere and referred them to the Goddess Parvati. Out of the mouth of Maa Parvati sprung Kaushki Devi, who attacked the two giants and slaughtered them, but it so happened, that as their blood fell on the dry earth thousands of giants came into life, and the battle was maintained by Kaushki Devi against great odds. Maa Parvati took compassion on her offspring and out of the eyebrows of Kaushki Devi came maa Kali Devi, ‘whose lower lip rested on the hills below and the upper lip touched the sky above. She drank the blood of the slaughtered giants as it poured out of their wounds, and the goddess obtained a complete victory over their enemies. Maa Kali Devi then fixed her abode here, and she was worshipped as the chief divinity of the place. It is believed that the Goddess Kalkaji, pleased with the prayers offered and rituals performed by the Gods on the advice of Lord Brahma, appeared on this mount, known as Surya Koota Parvata, and blessed them.
Ever since the Goddess took this holy place as her abode and has been fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. During the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna and the Pandavas are said to have worshipped this Goddess during the reign of Yudhisthir.
Architectural Relevance of This Shrine
The temple complex, as it stands today, is constructed of brick masonry, finished with plaster (now with marbles) and is surrounded by a pyramidal tower. The Central Chamber which is 12-sided in plan diam. (24′ I.M.) with a doorway in each side is paved with marble and is surrounded by a verandah 8’9″ wide and containing 36 arched openings (shown as the exterior doorways in the Parikrama). This verandah encloses the Central Chamber from all sides.
About the middle of this arcade opposite the eastern doorway, there are two red sandstone tigers sitting on a marble pedestal on which the inscription engraved on the marble railings is repeated. The language of the inscriptions is Urdu and the characters on the railings as well as on the pedestals are nastaliq without any pretensions to antiq mvbm,cuity. Between the tigers, there is the stone image of Kali Devi with her name engraved on it in Hindi, and a trident of stone standing before it.
Shrine’s Map Location and How to Go There
By Rail
The nearest railway station to shiv kalkaji mandir is H Nizamuddin Railway Station which is 4 km away from Shiv Kalkaji Mandir.
By Air
The nearest airport to Shiv Kalkaji Mandir is Indira Gandhi Intl airport , new Delhi which is 15 km away from Shiv Kalkaji Mandi
Shrine Timings
All Days Timings: 6.00 am to 10.00 pm (best to visit during the morning and evening aarti Entry Fee: Free
Events Celebrated at This Shrine
Navratri
Extra Information About this Shrine
The major ritual consists of offering and bathing the idol with milk followed by an Aarti every morning (6 AM) and evening (7:30 PM). This, in turn, is followed by hymn recitation. Offerings can be purchased just before the entrance of the temple. Visitors should be alert in the area as the place is very crowded and there can be Pickpockets. The Puja archana and other rituals are performed turn by turn (Monthly Basis) by Pujaris consisting of more than 1000 Nai families who are the descendants of 4 main clans (Thule’s) of Brahmin pujaris and one clan of Jogis/Mahants. The atmosphere around the temple is airy and bright with lights which stay during the whole night. Devotees also try to meditate there and a tantric aarti is held in the evening.
