The Goddess Kalika Temple of Patan in Gujarat has a history of more than 1,000 years and is an important shrine of Goddess Kali in India.
The origins of the temple can be traced to the reign of the
illustrious Solanki ruler of Patan, the mighty, invincible warrior and
celebrated Gurjar King Siddharaj Jaisinh (A.D. 1094–1143). Anhilpur Patan then
enjoyed the status, prestige, fame, and glorious prominence of being the
original capital of Gujarat for a full 668 years, from Vikram Samvat 802 to
1470.
Goddess Kalika Temple of Patan – History and Story
According to the Dayashraya of the renowned
Jain monk Hemachandracharya, who was also an adviser to King Siddharaj at that
time, Siddharaj wished to travel to Ujjain to worship his beloved deity,
Goddess Kalika, who was enshrined there. However, since Ujjain was under the
control of the ruler of Malwa, Siddharaj marched towards Malwa with his army.
He conquered the fort of Dharanagari and captured Yashovarma, the king of
Malwa.
After worshipping Goddess Kalika, Siddharaj performed
intense devotion and fervently pleaded with Her to come to Patan. The Goddess,
pleased with his devotion, said, “I am Gadhkalika; I need a fort.”
Siddharaj therefore built two forts in Patan, and the
Goddess manifested Herself from within one of these forts in Her complete
facial form. She is still enshrined here today.
The expression “complete facial form” is used deliberately by devotees.
At Pavagadh, Goddess Kalika is visible only up to the eyes; at Kalighat in
Kolkata, She is visible only up to the nose; and at Ujjain, Gadhkalika is seen
in an incomplete facial form. Only in Patan, it is believed, can devotees have
the darshan of Goddess Kalika in Her complete facial form anywhere in India.
This extremely ancient temple, traditionally attributed to
Siddharaj Jaisinh, was established in 1123 CE. The Goddess, worshipped as the
presiding deity of Patan, is currently served by the eighth generation of the
same family of priests.
Festivals
The festivals of Chaitri Navratri, Asho Navratri, and Diwali
are celebrated here with great grandeur. Fairs are held, and throughout the
year, different communities of Patan organize homa, havana, and religious
celebrations on their respective designated dates. The Sandhi Puja performed on
Durga Ashtami during the month of Asho and the Kali Puja performed on Kali
Chaudas are especially significant here.
Other Deities in the Temple
Another distinctive feature of this temple is that, in close
proximity to Goddess Kalika, the eighteen-armed Goddess Bhadrakali is also
enshrined.
According to the detailed description of the Goddess from
head to toe in verses 10, 11, and 12 of the Vaikritika Rahasya of
the Chandi Path, this deity is Goddess Mahalakshmi. Her radiant
face, with its transcendental smile, appears extraordinarily luminous.
Beside Her is Goddess Kshemankari, who is said to have
manifested Herself in the year 1433. This Goddess is believed to have travelled
from Patan to Bhinmal and is worshipped throughout Rajasthan today as Khimaj
Mata.
Beside Her is Mahishasuramardini, one of the nine forms of
the Navadurga.
In the Saraswati Purana, composed during the reign of Siddharaj and attributed to Keshav Madhav Vyas, it is stated that this is a supreme sacred pilgrimage site, where Adya Mahalakshmi, Mahakali, and other divine forms of the Goddess reside.