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Calcutta,
the premier metropolitan city of the state of Bengal, and the erstwhile capital
of British India has a very long tale about the Sakti cult. And even tile very
origin of its name rooted in the dim past affords a fascinating reading. It is
derived from Kalighat, where the celebrated shrine of Goddess Kali has been
lying since time immemorial. Another version attributes its derivation to
Kalkilaa. Yet, there is another Kalikartta, strangely making a hint that the
income of the village of that name was exclusively used for the worship of
Kali. It is one of the Sakti-Peethas enshrining the image of Kali in her
fiercest aspect. The icon is about 12 feet in height revealing garlands of human
skulls around her neck, with a hanging long, broad dripping tongue, made
dreadful by sharp white incisors and
long flowing unbraided hair, together with a horrifying dark-hued complexion.
The installation of this archamurti has a fascinating story.
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