Hangseshwari Temple

About Hangseshwari Temple

Located on the west bank of the Hooghly River in Bansberia, Hooghly District, West Bengal, Hangseshwari Temple stands as a remarkable example of tantric Hindu architecture. Founded in December 1799 by Raja Nrisinhadeb Roy Mahasay, who was inspired by a divine vision after studying Kundalini and chakras in Varanasi from 1792 to 1798, the temple's construction was interrupted by the founder's death in 1802. His widow, Rani Sankari, completed the work in 1814, spending five lakh rupees. The temple rises 27.5 meters with thirteen lotus-bud shaped towers constructed from Chunar stone and brick across a 2-acre complex. Its architectural design embodies tantric principles, with the five-story structure representing five main energy channels—Bajraksha, Ira, Chitrini, Pingala, and Sushumna—connected by narrow tunnels that mimic the nervous system. The sanctum houses a three-foot blue neem-wood idol of Hangseshwari in a yogic pose, holding a sword and demon's head with hands in Abhaya and Varada mudras, positioned on a lotus emerging from Shiva's navel. The temple complex also includes the adjacent Ananta Basudeba Temple, built in 1679, and serves as a significant pilgrimage site for Shakta devotees, attracting thousands during Kali Puja celebrations.

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