Dakhineshwar Kali Temple
20 years after the establishment of Dakhineswar temple, Maa Annapurna temple was built at Chanak (Currently Barrakpore) Ganges eastern bank. When you see it for the first time, the picture of Dakhineshwar instantly comes to your mind. Annapurna temple is just like another Dakhineshwar. Maa Bhabatarini and Maa Annapurna both dwell in two similar temples. Both the temple are navratna temples. They were built by the same craftsmen. But looking carefully, you realize the workmanship of Annapurna temple is bit different from the Dakhineshwar temple. Unless you are aware of the details, you won’t identify the difference. The Dakhineshwar temple is around 100 feet in height while the Annapurna temple is slightly more than 100 feet. In both the temples, the idols, Maa Bhabatarini and Maa Annapurna, face southward. On the south side of both the temples is built a huge Naat Mandir. As was followed in Dakhineswar temple, the sacrifice practice at Annapurna temple was also done on the eastern side of the temple. This practice though has been stopped now in both the temples.
Shivshakti Annapurna Temple
The ‘bhog’ offered to both Bhabatirini Maa & Annapurna Maa in both temples is non-vegetarian (amishjukta). Like Dakhineswar even Annapurna temple has shiv temples on its western side, the only difference being that the Annapurna temple has six shiv temples while Dakhineswar has twelve. The names of the six shiv temples are Kallayneshwar, Kambeshwar, Kinnreshwar, Kedareshwar, Kaleshwar and Kapileshwar. A Radha-Krishna temple, as present in Dakhineshwar, is absent in the Annapurna temple. It is said that Jagadamba devi received orders in a dream that she should never think of being at the same position as or above her mother (Rani Rashmoni). Maybe that is the reason why only six shiv temples were constructed and no Radha Krishna temple was made. Currently though, a Radha Krishna idol has been consecrated in a room at the southern side of the temple. Like Dakhineshwar, this temple also has two Naubatkhana. But due to lack of maintenance it is in a dilapidated condition.
There are a few more very interesting similarities between the two temples. When the Dakhineshwar temple site was bought, it had the James Hasting Kutir. This house was utilized during the temple construction. We find a similar instance during the Annapurna temple construction. Mathur Babu’s eldest son had bought the Annapurna temple plot with the C. B. Stuart Kutir. Earlier, this was the office of Neel kar sahib but was called ‘Lal Kuthi’. This house was used to take care of all the activities of the Annapurna temple building. Today this building has been given on rent to the Fire Dept (the finance helps in the maintenance of the temple). The bank of the Ganges, Rani Rashmoni Ghat, where this temple stands, is beautifully constructed and again looks similar to the one at Dakhineswar. On the Dakhineswar temple ghat Chandni, Sri Sri Ramkrishna Paramhansa had hailed his Vedanta guru Totapuri. On the Rashmoni ghat of Annapurna temple he bathed with the Sikh soldiers.
Sri Shivshakti Annapurna Temple 