Secrets of Kalimath Shaktipeeth - Where Goddess Mahakali disappeared

There is some reason why Uttarakhand in called as Dev Bhoomi and when you set out to explore Uttarakhand, you will get answers at every turn. After exploring Narayan Koti temple, as we moved higher from Guptkashi on road to Kalimath, the offbeat route kept transforming from just excellent to mesmerizing with every turn. We had only ourselves for company and clicking pictures of the landscapes never was so enjoying. 

Approx. 13 km. from Guptkashi in the valleys of Kedarkhand is the divine Kalimath Mandir. Located on sacred river SARASWATI, which is locally called as Kali Ganga, the temple site radiated nature’s splendor and divine aura of grace. 

Crossing a bridge covered with flags and lined with number of bells, we got directed straight into the temple premises. 

Kalimath is respected as one of the 108 Shaktipeeth and religious significance is equivalent to revered temples of Kamakhya Devi and Jwalamukhi. In this temple instead of an idol, a Shri yantra on a silver plate over a Kund (pit) is worshipped. It is believed that after killing demon Raktbeej Goddess Kali left the Earth though this Kund. Idol is hidden inside the pit and is taken out for worship during Navratras at Ashtami and worship is carried out at midnight in presence of chief priests only. 

Along with Goddess Kali, Goddess Laxmi and Saraswati are also worshipped here forming a rare trinity of divine feminine energies at one space. Perhaps Hinduism is the only religion that worships of divinity for the female form where "power” and "energy" is embodiment as Goddess Shakti. It is very essential that we make our coming generations aware about our rich culture, traditions and legacy.

In the premises there is a temple dedicated to Sun God and Bhairav Nath. 

Let’s know more about this place: 

1) Goddess MahaKali had killed the fierce demon Raktbeej here who has got a boon that every drop of his blood spilled on ground will create another Raktbeej. As Goddess did not calm down after killing the demon, so Lord Shiva laid himself on the path of the Goddess. As soon as Goddess Mahakali set her foot on Shiva’s chest, she calmed down and thereafter due to embarrassment of setting foot on her husband got absorbed into the ground where the kund (pit) is existing and which is now a site of worship. Kalimath temple is another example of celestial feminine worshipped in her most primal and powerful forms.

2) All the Devs had prayed to Goddess at this place to end the terror unleashed by demons Shumbh-Nishumbh. 

3) Kalimath is the place where greatest poet "Kalidas" was blessed by the Goddess.

It took us around 45 minutes from Narayan Koti temple premises to reach Kalimath temple. What we realised that Kalimath is not just a temple, but a timeless realm where the space between the earthly and the divine feels remarkably thin. One of the reasons why Uttarakhand is Dev Bhoomi, land of the GODS. 

Keep exploring Folks…