I visited this beautiful, alchemical,
castle-like temple in the Hoogly District of Bengal, India a few years back.
The story, legend, the folklore and architecture related to the temple is
fascinating. A King named Raja Nrisingha Deb Roy Mahasay’s dream made this
temple a reality.
The Hanseshwari Temple situated at Bansberia
near Kolkata is called the abode of “Our Lady of the Cosmic Goose” by scholars
aware of the alchemical significance. This name combines alchemically with the
Black Virgin in the Western Tradition, as well as the alchemical immortals of
diverse traditions. This temple is a true example of “Tantrik Satchakrabhed"
or the “sat-chakra-bhed or piercing of the chakra nerve plexuses.” This is
sacred Tantrik architecture expressing the microcosm in the temple's structure,
which is symbolic of the Human Body.
The temple has 13 lotus petaled, conical
sikharas (spires) and has five stories representing the five parts of our Human
body: Bajraksha, Ira, Chitrini, Pingala and Sushumna.
According to the folklore, the King was a deep
student of kundalini yoga and six chakra, and the Goddess Hanseswari came to
him in a dream. Hanseswari is worshipped as a form of Maa Kali as Rani Hanseswari was the mother of Raja Nrisingha Deb
Roy, Kali is worshipped as Maa Hanseswari.
King Nrisinhadeb Roy Mahasay, who
erected several other temples, unfortunately died mid-construction in 1802,
with his wife finishing this project in 1814. He was an avid Tantrik
practitioner and spent the last years of his life devoted to Tantra. This
temple is dedicated to these principles expressed in the sacred Tantrik
architecture and symbolism and in the sanctum are the supreme two deities Lord
Shiva and goddess Shakti. The Shakti is named as “Hanseswari” and an image of
white “Lord Shiva” is found to be lying on six triangular marbles. The idol of
goddess Shakti is in blue color and carved in wood derived from “Neem tree.”
The idol of Lord Shiva is made in white marble. This is beautiful alchemical
symbolism of the different polarities reconciled, inverted and reflecting the
core aspect of its opposite.
West Bengal Tourism: https://wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/HANSESWARI_TEMPLE
