HANSESWARI TEMPLE

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.

Read More Here: http://tantriklaboratories.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/The-Microcosmic-Alchemical-Tantrik-Architecture-of-Hangseshwari-Temple-Our-Lady-of-the-Cosmic-Goose-TantrikLaboratories.com_.pdf

West Bengal Tourism: https://wbtourismgov.in/destination/place/HANSESWARI_TEMPLE