The revered Jeshoreshwari Kali Temple is a Hindu place of worship dedicated to Goddess Kali situated in Bangladesh. It’s considered one of the 51 sacred Sati Peeths – sites where, during Lord Shiva’s Rudra Tandava dance with Goddess Sati on his shoulders, pieces from her body dropped and became eternally sanctified.
In Hindu mythology, it is told that when Lord Shiva’s father Daksha insulted him, Sati – his wife – cast herself into a sacrificial fire and perished. Filled with grief, Shiva transformed to become the wrathful Rudra and roamed across the world carrying Sati on his shoulders.
On her way, wherever the shredded body parts of Goddess Sati fell became sacred sites known as Shakti Peethas – 51 in total across South Asia. These holy places are incredibly venerated because they contain a part of the divine goddess herself; thus, each one is erected with a revered temple devoted to an embodiment of her.
As the legend goes, General Maharaja Pratapaditya noticed a ray of light emanating from some nearby bushes. Curiosity got the better of him, and upon further inspection he discovered it was coming from an oddly shaped stone in the shape of a human hand.
Pratapaditya constructed this temple to honor Goddess Kali, who was famously known as the “Goddess of Jessore” due to the city’s name in Bangladesh. Anari, a Brahmin credited with creating this hundred-door temple for Jeshoreshwari Peeth, is said to be responsible; however its precise date remains uncertain. Subsequently Laxman Sen and Pratapaditya modified it based on their requirements.
The stunning temple is situated in Ishwaripur, a small village located near Shyamnagar. It’s frequented by tourists from countries all around the region, and worships are conducted every Saturday and Tuesday afternoon. Before 1971 there was also an everyday ritual that has since been discontinued; however they do host an eventful Kali Puja annually which attracts both locals and visitors to its premises!
By Road
To make your way to the temple, you will start by travelling on a bus to Satkhira. From there, an auto-rickshaw or bus can help you reach your destination. To get to Satkhira however, going via road is the only option and requires crossing a river with a ferry.
