Ambika – Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir, also known as the Nava Kailash Temple, is one of the holiest places in the Purba Burdwan district of West Bengal. The place comprises a total of 108 Shiva temples encircling a courtyard.
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Many devotees from all around India visit the place all year round to offer Pujas to Lord Shiva. During Shivratri, a huge number of devotees from all over West Bengal visit this temple.
In this article you will get to know the following about the 108 Shiv Mandir located in Ambika-Kalna:
Let’s see each of these points in detail.
Location of Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir
| Address | Thakur Para, Kalna – 713409 |
Timings of Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir
The timings of the Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir are,
| Morning | 6 AM to 12 PM |
| Evening | 4 PM to 8 PM |
During Shivratri special arrangements are made for the devotees.
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How to Reach Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir
The way to the town of Kalna from Kolkata is easy to find.
By Car: If you want to go there by private car or bike you can reach there via Mogra Flyover or you can take the route below the flyover and reach Kalna – Katwa Road via Saptagram – Tribani.
By Train: Kalna is almost 80 km away from the city of Kolkata. You can also reach here by Horwah Katwa local train and get down at Ambika-Kalna station. You can then take a Toto (e-rikshaw) from the station to reach the temple.
History of Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir
It is said that Rani Bishnukumari, widow wife of Raja Tilakchand received divine dreams of constructing a temple of Lord Shiva in the area.
The temple was then built by Maharaja Tej Chandra Bahadur in 1809 AD to celebrate the transfer of power of the royal estate of Bishnupur.
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About Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir
The temples of the Nava Kailash or the 108 Shiv Mandir are conjoint, have more or less a domical architecture, and are built of Atchala bricks. The temples are built in such a way that they have a unique numerical combination.
The temples are built in two concentric circles centering a well, the outer arc having 74 temples and the inner circle having 34 temples.
108 is a spiritual number in Hindu mythology. The outer arc has alternate Shiva temples that have black and white Shiv linga respectively. The inner arc temples all have white Shiva linga.
In the remote past, the temples were taken care of by 12 priests and they used to worship the Shivalingas every day. The walls of temples have inscriptions of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
It is said that the white Shiva linga stands for the calm and quiet form of Shiva and the black Shiva linga is the ‘Rudra’ or the angry form of Lord Shiva.
Alternately, it is also believed that the white and black Shiva linga represents the outer world, the world we live in that is the world of sins, guilts, and sacrifices involving both good and bad deeds, and the inner white Shiva linga symbolizes pure inner thought of heart and lessening of pain, wrongdoings attained through prayers offered in the feet of Lord Shiva.
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The temple is well maintained by the authorities here. The place is colorful too with green lawns in the temple premise itself. The gardens have various vibrant colored flowers.
You can visit the temple during Maha Shivratri to experience a heavenly environment there and you will receive blessings of Devi Gauri and Lord Shiva too.
Other attractions near Ambika Kalna 108 Shiv Mandir
If you visit the 108 Shiv Mandir, you must also visit other places nearby like the Sarbamangala Mandir, Lalji Temple, and Kalna Rajbari Compound.
Other Religious Places To Visit In West Bengal
- ISKCON Radha Govinda Temple (Kolkata) – Timings, Address
- Ras Mancha (Bishnupur) – Timings, Ticket Price, History
- Lalji Temple (Bishnupur) – Timings, Ticket Price, History
- 5 Temples and Attractions To Visit In Belur Math (West Bengal)
- Belur Math (Howrah) West Bengal – Timings, History
- Ichhai Ghosher Deul (Gourangapur) – History, Architecture
