Beginning of Kali puja in Bengal
Kali puja in Bengal was started by Krishnananda Agambagish, who was one of the greatest sadhak of Tantra. He was the creator of Tantra Saar. During his period(1500 CE) Bengal was deeply involved in Vaishnavism. During that time he emphasized people to also recognize the caring, motherly side of God in order to attain the absolute bliss through a different path.
Before Krishnanda's arrival Ma Kali was worshiped through only Tantrik devices and Ghot(a special vessel for worship in Hinduism). Once, Krishnananda recieved his order from Ma Kali in his dream to construct her idol and spread the words of the motherhood nature of God. According to Krishnananda; when he asked Ma about how to worship her in her form, she replied that he would get his answers in the next morning. The next day when he went for a bath in the Ganges he saw Gope Bride putting Cowdung on the walls of her mudhouse, She had a dark coloured skin and her one leg was placed raised on the walls of the house and another on ground,her hair was untied. When she saw Krishnananda she Crossed her tongue with her teeth in the feeling of shame, As in medieval India women used to hide from shame when a man was around them. Krishnananda immediately thought of the previous nights dream. When he turned back, the women was gone. Krishnananda immediately recognized her as Ma kali. He later built her idol based on the characteristics he saw in that woman thus beginning the Kali puja formally as it is today. Kali puja was popularized in Bengal by King Krishnachandra of Nadia district in later times.
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