Kali Puja Pandal, Kalighat (Kolkata)

[ShivaFan]

Namaste

Actually this isn't a temple, it is a Pandal.

See a Kali Puja Pandal, a temporary pavilion made with bamboo frame and decorated as a chariot or other vehicle or stand, by the New Klan (Notun Sangha) at Kalighat in 2008. Look carefully and notice the thin bamboo rods used to construct the chariot. Fantastic! This Pandal cost about 200,000 rupees. There is a very nice Kali Murti shown as you walk into the Pandal. Many Pandals compete with each other. You will enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eodD0ufpcgw

Jai Kali Maa!

Om Namah Sivaya

[JayaRadhe]

Namaste!
How pretty! Is that Sri Sita-Ram above the doors?

[ShivaFan]

Namaste JR

You know, that is a great question, but there is no doubt in my mind the two figures (one of which is holding the reins of the horses and in charge of the "chariot") are not Sita Ram.

In fact, even though the one in the back seems female, and the blue Deva more to the front is male, I believe BOTH are male and they are in fact Krishna holding the reins of the chariot and that is Arjun behind Krishna ready to draw the arrow in the battle.

There is an interesting side note. Lord Shiva also road in a chariot to fight the demon of the three Cities, and Ganapati broke the axle of this chariot. Shiva thought, "oh, I did not give respect to Ganesha" (e.g. as in before any action), so that is why.

Some may think these two are Shiva and Parvati, perhaps related to this chariot event. But I think this is Krishna and Arjuna.

One other side note, and my wife reminded me. Not anyone can be a Pujari for Kali Ma. You have to be endowed to be one, special circumstances are involved, and once you ARE a Pujari of Mother Kali then you can never be a Pujari for any other Devas as your "primary" Devata. It does not mean you cannot worship or do a puja or homa and such, if some other Devata is involved, but Kali from that point onward must be your "primary" Devata because at that point you are a "tool" or a "specialist" if you will.

Om Namah Sivaya

[JayaRadhe]

Namaste JR

You know, that is a great question, but there is no doubt in my mind the two figures (one of which is holding the reins of the horses and in charge of the "chariot") are not Sita Ram.

In fact, even though the one in the back seems female, and the blue Deva more to the front is male, I believe BOTH are male and they are in fact Krishna holding the reins of the chariot and that is Arjun behind Krishna ready to draw the arrow in the battle.

Oh, okay! I couldn't tell from the glimpse I got of them! Regardless, it's a beautiful pandal!

There is an interesting side note. Lord Shiva also road in a chariot to fight the demon of the three Cities, and Ganapati broke the axle of this chariot. Shiva thought, "oh, I did not give respect to Ganesha" (e.g. as in before any action), so that is why.

I think I actually read that story in the Shiva Purana! I'd forgotten it! I'm fasting for Mangla Chandi on Tuesdays for the next few weeks, and the Devi Mahatmyam says that she was the form that Lord Shiva worshiped to obtain victory over the asuras of Tripura, so it's good to have that reminder of Ganesha's importance in Lord Shiva's victory as well!

Some may think these two are Shiva and Parvati, perhaps related to this chariot event. But I think this is Krishna and Arjuna.

One other side note, and my wife reminded me. Not anyone can be a Pujari for Kali Ma. You have to be endowed to be one, special circumstances are involved, and once you ARE a Pujari of Mother Kali then you can never be a Pujari for any other Devas as your "primary" Devata. It does not mean you cannot worship or do a puja or homa and such, if some other Devata is involved, but Kali from that point onward must be your "primary" Devata because at that point you are a "tool" or a "specialist" if you will.

Om Namah Sivaya

I never knew that! Does she get jealous (for lack of a better word, I know that the Mother is beyond all such emotions) when her pujaris worship other Devas/Devis, or is it just a sign of respect on the part of the pujari?

[ShivaFan]

Namaste JR

Oh, no Kali Maa never gets "jealous" in our "human terms". Actualy, this has more to do with the pujari. Kali Pujari is a very serious "business". The reason, so I am told, is Kali is very generous in giving Her blessings. How She does this can be very "electric" if you will. Some of the greatest saints of all time have had very special darshan with Her, so you can imagine the powers involved. So a Kali Pujari must be very "robotic" (I know that sounds stupid, and actually it is a very bad analogy - it is more to mean you do certain things as a "vessel of Kali"). So the Pujari needs to focus exactly, because She IS going to respond so the Pujari needs to be ready for the "electricity" if you will.

If there is a Temple of Kali, there needs to be a Pujari of Kali. A Pujari of Kali is not necessarily a "servant of Kali". Simply putting on tilak also does not mean your are a servant. You can be a servant of Ram, and a Pujari of Kali. You can be a servant of Kali, a Pujari of Ram. But only certain personalities have the "abilities" to "ride the wave", e.g. be the pujari of Kali. Because Her Murti was given forth most often by a Shakti formula and perhaps Tantrik. Kali may actually work upon the body of the pujari - not in a negative way, but it might be confusing for some. So there is a process used. So I have heard.

Om Namah Sivaya

[JayaRadhe]

Namaste JR

Oh, no Kali Maa never gets "jealous" in our "human terms". Actualy, this has more to do with the pujari. Kali Pujari is a very serious "business". The reason, so I am told, is Kali is very generous in giving Her blessings. How She does this can be very "electric" if you will. Some of the greatest saints of all time have had very special darshan with Her, so you can imagine the powers involved. So a Kali Pujari must be very "robotic" (I know that sounds stupid, and actually it is a very bad analogy - it is more to mean you do certain things as a "vessel of Kali"). So the Pujari needs to focus exactly, because She IS going to respond so the Pujari needs to be ready for the "electricity" if you will.

If there is a Temple of Kali, there needs to be a Pujari of Kali. A Pujari of Kali is not necessarily a "servant of Kali". Simply putting on tilak also does not mean your are a servant. You can be a servant of Ram, and a Pujari of Kali. You can be a servant of Kali, a Pujari of Ram. But only certain personalities have the "abilities" to "ride the wave", e.g. be the pujari of Kali. Because Her Murti was given forth most often by a Shakti formula and perhaps Tantrik. Kali may actually work upon the body of the pujari - not in a negative way, but it might be confusing for some. So there is a process used. So I have heard.

Om Namah Sivaya

Okay, this makes more sense to me.
At first I was somewhat confused, because my personal experiences with Kaali haven't ever been tempered by any sort of tension between my worship of Radha-Krishna and my worship of her. When you say that she works upon the body of the pujari, do you mean that she possesses them? I've heard of women in Northern India who hold all night kirtans to Devi in order to call her down into their midst so that she will give them advice and prophesy by entering the body of one of them and making them her "mouth-piece", if you will.