History

Kalkaji Mandir, also known as Kalkaji Temple, is a Hindu mandir or temple, dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Kali. This temple (mandir) is situated in the southern part of Delhi, India, in Kalkaji, a locality that has derived its name from the temple and is located opposite Nehru Place business centre. The temple is accessible by public transport on Kalkaji Mandir (Delhi Metro) and is near Nehru Place bus terminus and Okhla railway station. The general belief is that the image of the Goddess Kalka here is a self-manifested one, and that the shrine dates back to Satya Yuga when the Goddess Kalika had incarnated and killed the demon Raktabija along with other giant demons.

Kalka Mandir also known as Kalkaji mandir is a famous Hindu mandir, dedicated to Hindu Goddess Kali, located in the Delhi, India, near nehru place.
Kalka or Kalkaji Mandir is amongst the oldest and the most revered temples of India. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Kalka or Kali, an incarnation of Durga. It is also called Jayanti Peetha or Manokamna Siddha Peetha. “Manokamna” literally means desire, “Siddha” means fulfilment, and “peetha” means shrine. So, it is believed to be the holy shrine where one gets the blessings of Maa Kalika Devi (Goddess or Mother Kalika) for the fulfilment of one’s desires.

The temple complex is situated on the Delhi Metro between the Nehru Place bus terminus and business centre and Okhla railway station and industrial area, and is right beside the Bahá’í Lotus Temple. Close to the temple, on a hill in the east of Kailash neighbourhood and near the ISKCON temple, lies an Edict of Ashoka, dating from the 3rd century BC.

Devotees attend the Kalkaji temple throughout the year, but the culmination point of their prayers and celebration is during the festival of Navratri twice a year. This is a nine-day Hindu festival, in spring and autumn, during which a large fair is organised. Devotees gather and sing hymns and songs praising the Goddess Durga.
While Âthe Hindu scriptures have many references and legends regarding the birth and acts of the Goddess Kali, the legend which tells about the circumstances attending to the birth of Maa Kalika Devi at the Kalkaji Mandir is:

Millions of years ago, the gods who dwelt in the neighbourhood of the present temple were troubled by two giants and were compelled to prefer their complaint to Lord Brahma, ‘the god of all’. But Lord Brahma declined to interfere, and referred them to the Goddess Parvati. Out of the mouth of Maa Parvati sprung Kaushki Devi, who attacked the two giants and slaughtered them, but it so happened, that as their blood fell on the dry earth thousands of giants came into life, and the battle was maintained by Kaushki Devi against great odds. Maa Parvati took compassion on her offspring and out of the eyebrows of Kaushki Devi came maa Kali Devi, ‘whose lower lip rested on the hills below and the upper lip touched the sky above. She drank the blood of the slaughtered giants as it poured out of their wounds; and the goddess obtained a complete victory over their enemies. Maa Kali Devi then fixed her abode here, and she was worshipped as the chief divinity of the place.
It is believed that the Goddess Kalkaji, pleased with the prayers offered and rituals performed by the Gods on the advice of Lord Brahma, appeared on this mount, known as Surya Koota Parvata, and blessed them. Ever since, the Goddess has taken this holy place as her abode and has been fulfilling the wishes of her devotees. During the Mahabharata, Lord Krishna and the Pandavas are said to have worshipped this Goddess during the reign of Yudhisthir.