Unseen Divinity: Devotional Worship of the Formless Kālī in Kashiyabari, Cooch Behar.

                                                                    Plate 1 

         Courtesy: https://images.app.goo.gl/MLZfBMDkkaun8yJ8A.


Author - Biswarup Chatterjee.

One of the most significant and interesting folk deity of Kashiabari village under Haldibari block, in the Cooch Behar district (26.38322 °N, 88.77159 °E) is Goddess Kālī, which is in a  formless state and a unique representation of the divine without a physical idol. On the western side adjacent to the Kashiabari market, there stands a century-old temple (plate 1) where this deity is worshipped. Several beliefs and prejudices are prevalent among the locals about the origin of this temple. Though the goddess is worshipped in a formless manner throughout the year, but during the festival of Dīpānwitā (the first day of Diwali) this ancient, south-facing brick temple which is presently in a dilapidated condition, becomes the sacred stage where the goddess Kali is ceremoniously invoked as a beautifully crafted clay idol.


The priest of this temple belongs to the local Rajbanshi community, who usually performs the rituals by following local traditions. The hereditary drummer (dhaki) for this ritual is Amulya Hazra. During the time of offerings of devotion, goats and pigeons are ritually sacrificed in front of the deity in accordance with the vows made by devotees. It is said that a royal guard of the Koch dynasty, named Suryaprasad, built this temple after being blessed with a child following a long period of childlessness. According to the prevalent tradition in every year, though the goddess is worshipped with an idol form during the time of Deepanwita, the crafted clay idol is immersed before sunrise on the night of the ritual and the tradition is still going on. 

                                                            Plate 2
Courtesy: https://images.app.goo.gl/vdQUeyacgP8VN4oB9


Moreover, the local villagers here worship the mythical form of goddess Dakṣiṇā Kālī ( a popular form of the Hindu goddess Kālī, usually shown with her right foot on Lord Śiva's chest and is known for being fierce, but she is also kind hearted and  a protector as well as a giver of gifts. In Shakta traditions (plate 2), especially in Bengal, she is a very important goddess. People often worship her as a household goddess throughout the year on every Saturday and Tuesday at the same empty altar, despite the absence of an idol.  The  priest here, performs the exorcisms and the healing rituals through incantations in front of this deity to get rid of various types of disease. "The Kālī Thakurani of Kashiabari village in the Haldibari block is an example of the Goddess Kālī, worshipped by the Rajbanshi community, where the mantras bear no trace of an imagined or visualized idol.


References 

Ahamad, Khan Chaudhary Amanatulla. Kochbiharer Itihas. Vol. 1, Kochbihar State Press, 1990. Reprint.

Das, Biswanath, editor. Cooch Beharer Samaj o Samskriti. Edited by Biswanath Das, Anima Prakashani, Dec. 2014. ISBN: 978-93-83123-15-5.




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