Dhakeshwari Temple of Dhaka: The Eternal Shakti of the City and Her Devotion
The enduring shrine of the goddess known as Dhakeshwari Temple in Dhaka, Bangladesh, stands as a powerful testament to faith, culture and continuity. The presiding deity, Dhakeshwari (literally “Goddess of Dhaka”), is regarded by devotees as the hidden, sacred mother, whose presence has guided the city and sheltered its Hindu community for more than eight centuries. Though small in physical stature—about one and a half feet tall—the deity’s spiritual magnitude and the temple’s role in the religious life of Bengal and beyond are immense. In this article we will trace the history of the temple, examine its current status, explore the worship, symbolism, importance and rare facts surrounding it, all within the context of Hindu belief, scripture and tradition.
Historical Background
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The name “Dhakeshwari” derives from the Bengali words Dhaka (the place) and Ishwari (the goddess, the divine mother). According to tradition, the goddess was discovered hidden in the forest, and thus she came to be known as the “Hidden Goddess”.
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One popular account attributes the founding of the temple to Ballal Sen, a king of the Sena dynasty in the 12th century CE, who is said to have had a divine vision of the goddess buried in the jungle, after which he consecrated her image and established the shrine.
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While the exact date and original construction cannot be confirmed with certainty (many later renovations have modified the temple's architecture), the temple’s origin in the 12th century is widely accepted by tradition.
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The city of Dhaka itself is believed by many to have derived its name from the goddess – the city being “Dhaka” and the goddess “Dhakeshwari”, making her the tutelary deity of the region.
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Over the centuries, the temple underwent numerous repairs, reconstructions and architectural changes; in particular due to political upheavals, changing regimes, communal tensions, and the ravages of war (notably the 1971 Liberation War) the temple complex suffered damage and loss of property.
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In modern times, the temple has been officially recognized by the government of Bangladesh as the “national temple” of the Hindu community in that country, highlighting its cultural and religious significance.
The Deity and the Temple — Current Status
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The principal murti (image) of the goddess at Dhakeshwari is traditionally described as about one and a half feet tall, golden‐complexioned, adorned with a silver halo (prabhamandala) behind her, and depicted standing (or seated) with her children and the demon whom she has vanquished. The iconography evokes the form of the warrior‐mother goddess (often associated with Durga) who protects and sustains.
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Some accounts mention that the “original” 800 + year‐old idol was moved to Kolkata (in West Bengal, India) following partition and communal disturbances, and that the idol now at Dhakeshwari is a replica or later image.
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The temple complex now stands in Old Dhaka, near Durga Charan Street in the Kumartuli neighbourhood. Its architecture shows layers of styles, with influences of Bengal temple architecture, later additions, and the remains of older structures.
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Today the temple remains active: daily worship is maintained, festival celebrations (especially for Navaratri/Durga Puja and Janmashtami) draw thousands of devotees, the temple grounds continue to function as a centre of Hindu cultural life in Dhaka.
Worship and Rituals
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In the Hindu tradition, the worship of the Divine Mother (Shakti) emphasises devotion (bhakti), surrender, and personal communion with the goddess-principle which sustains the cosmos. The goddess is not only a personal deity but also the cosmic energy (Shakti) that underlies creation. For example, the Bahvricha Upanishad states: “She (the Goddess) alone existed in the beginning… all beings are her creation… She is the supreme reality (Brahman).”
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The list of sacred shrines known as the Shakti (or Shakta) Pithas – places where parts of the goddess’s body or ornament fell when the goddess Sati’s corpse was carried by Shiva – is part of the religious geography of Shaktism. While the exact textual listing is varied, such shrines are regarded as highly powerful centres of the goddess’s presence. The Dhakeshwari Temple is often regarded by devotees as one of those sacred centres of the goddess in Bengal.
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At the temple, the daily puja includes the offering of food (bhog or bhog‐prasāda), lighting of lamps (especially in the morning and evening), recitation of mantras or devotional hymns, and the arati ceremony. During major festivals, processions, cultural events, music and communal meals accompany the worship.
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The festival of Durga Puja (Navaratri) is the most celebrated occasion at the temple: the goddess is revered as the warrior mother who slays evil and restores dharma; thousands of devotees gather, the temple is adorned with decorations, and the ritual immersion of the Goddess’s image marks the solemn conclusion. Also, the scene of the Janmashtami procession (celebrating the birth of Lord Krishna) begins from the temple in Dhaka.
Symbolism and Significance
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The goddess Dhakeshwari is an embodiment of the Divine Mother — she stands for protection, nurture, power against evil, and the sacred feminine energy (Shakti) that permeates the universe. In Hindu scripture for example the Bahvricha Upanishad emphasises: She is the Atman, She is Brahman; she is the very essence of all that exists.
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Her portrayal with an asura (demon) and her children (often understood to be Ganesh, Kartikeya, Lakshmi, Saraswati) symbolises the triumph of divine force over ignorance, the maintenance of cosmic balance, and auspiciousness.
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The fact that the temple and the goddess lend their name to the city underscores the idea that the divine is at the heart of civic identity: Dhaka does not merely have the temple, but the city is in a sense consecrated because of the goddess’s presence.
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The notion of the “hidden” goddess (as implied in the name: the deity was concealed or found in the forest) speaks to the theme in Hindu thought that the divine is ever present yet often unseen, requiring devotion and insight for its discovery.
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On a socio‐cultural level, the temple acts as a fulcrum of Hindu life in Bangladesh: it preserves the ritual traditions, the communal gatherings, the arts and languages associated with Bengali Hindu heritage.
Importance and Rare Facts
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The Dhakeshwari Temple is regarded as the national Hindu temple of Bangladesh: by government recognition and communal recognition, it has become symbolic not just of religious practice but of the heritage of Hindus in a predominantly Muslim country.
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The temple is counted among the historic Shakti centres in the Bengal region, thus forming part of the wider sacred geography of the Subcontinent.
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A rare fact: the original murti being only around one and a half feet tall emphasises that divine power is not measured by size; it is the depth of devotion that matters. Also, the silver halo behind the goddess connects the terrestrial worship with luminous transcendence.
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The vestiges of older architectural phases are still visible: for example, four smaller Shiva temples within the precincts are reported to date from the 16th century built by King Mansing (though some doubt remains).
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Historically, the temple has withstood periods of destruction (especially during the 1971 Liberation War when parts were damaged and misused) yet has been renewed, symbolising resilience of faith.
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The temple’s link with Kolkata (West Bengal, India) via the relocated original image (and the Tiwari family continuing the priestly tradition) demonstrates the cross‐border cultural ties of Bengali Hindus of both sides of the border.
Teaching and Reflection from Hindu Scriptures
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The Shakta Upanishads teach that the Divine Mother is both immanent and transcendent. The Bahvricha Upanishad asserts: “She alone existed in the beginning… She is the supreme reality.”
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The conceptual framework of Shakti means that the goddess is not only a deity to be worshipped but the dynamic energy of the cosmos: she is creation, preservation, transformation. This underpins the worship of Dhakeshwari as well: she is guardian of the city, mother of the people, vanquisher of fear.
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In the narrative of the Shakti Pithas, the goddess’s body parts falling on the earth indicates that the divine takes root in place and becomes accessible to human devotion. Though the exact list is debated — for example the text “Pīṭha Nirṇaya” is referenced — the spirit is that the sacred becomes localised and approachable.
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Hence, visiting a shrine like Dhakeshwari is not only cultural or historical: it is a spiritual act of aligning with cosmic energy, saying “I too live under the shelter of the Mother”.
Significance for Today and the Devotee
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For the devotee, coming to the temple means entering a space where time is layered: ancient tradition meets present worship, the city meets the divine, the individual meets the mother. One bows, offers, listens, and receives the prasāda.
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In the context of modern Bangladesh, with its complex religious and cultural tapestry, the temple stands as a place of continuity for Hindus, a public presence of tradition, and a meeting ground for faith and identity.
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The symbolism of Asura being vanquished, of the children of the goddess at her side, of the silver halo: all that invites the devotee to reflect—on inner demons, on divine support, on one’s own children and lineage, on the light behind form.
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For the pilgrim or visitor one may see not only the stone and paint of a shrine, but the living devotion—bells, lamps, flowers, chanting—that animate the temple. As one traveler put it, the atmosphere is calm and enriching, a respite from the din of the city.
Final Thoughts
In the heart of Dhaka stands a temple whose modest dimensions conceal a profound spiritual dimension. The goddess Dhakeshwari is more than a local deity: she is the embodiment of the divine mother whose power sustains the city, whose presence comforts the community, whose symbolism invites reflection on the cosmic order. The temple’s long history reminds us that faith can outlast empires, withstand turmoil, and nurture continuity. For the visitor, the devotee or the scholar, the Dhakeshwari Temple offers a window into the living tradition of Shakti worship, the resilience of Hindu culture in Bengal, and the timeless abiding of the divine in everyday life.
May the hidden goddess be seen, honoured, and cherished by all who enter her shrine.