Kolkata, Nov. 6 -- The Agameshwari Kali Puja in Nadia's Nabadwip, regarded as one of the oldest recorded Kali Puja celebrations in Bengal, continues to preserve the legacy of Krishnananda Agamavagisha, a renowned Tantra scholar of the 16th/17th century. He is credited with establishing a standard visual form of Goddess Kali that could be worshipped by ordinary householders.
Agamavagisha, believed to have been born in Nabadwip, is said to have first worshipped Dakshina Kali there. The puja, held at the Agameshwari Para temple for nearly 500 years, remains among the most revered Kali Puja celebrations in the state.
The Goddess is worshipped in her Dakshina Kali form. Interestingly, despite the presence of a Panchamundi Asana, a sacred seat made of five skulls, the rituals strictly follow Vaishnavite traditions. Neither animal sacrifice nor the use of Karana Sudha is permitted. As the idol is enormous, it is installed outside the main temple every year on Kali Puja day for the annual worship.
Agamavagisha is also credited with composing the Brihat Tantrasara, a compilation drawing on the essence of around 170 texts.
Purabi Sanyal, a descendant of Agamavagisha, said: "The puja is performed here following Vaishnav tradition. A small statue of Laddu Gopal is situated on the right side of Panchamundi Asana and Vishnu's Shaligram Shilas remain on the left."
Legend has it that Agamavagisha once prayed to the Divine Mother to reveal her physical form so that he could create an idol for worship. In a dream, she instructed him to model the idol on the first woman he saw after waking up the following morning.
Purnananda Dasji Maharaj, Mahamandaleshwar of Nirvani Akhara at Sri Sri Balaji temple in Nabadwip, said Shakta traditions had a strong influence on Nabadwip before the advent of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, whom Agamavagisha predated.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.