Rani Rasmani, a wealthy widow of Kolkata was inspired by a divine vision to build a temple of Mother Kali on the bank of the Ganga. …. When Rasmani and her son-in-law were getting ready to start on a pilgrimage for Kasi, she had the vision of the Goddesses in a dream and instructed: “There is no need to go to Kasi. Install my stone image in a beautiful spot on the bank of the Ganges, and arrange for my daily worship and food offering. I shall manifest in the image and accept your worship daily.”

The temple was consecrated on 31st May 1855 on the Snana Yatra day. It was located in the northern suburb of Kolkata. The temple was situated amid trees and gardens in extensive grounds. There were also shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva and Radha Govinda.

Sri Ramakrishna stayed in Dakshineswar for many years. He had the vision of Divine Mother as ‘Sea of Luminous Consciousness’. God-intoxicated Sri Ramakrishna after this divine vision began his spiritual journey through other faiths, and creeds. He underwent Tantric practice under the tutorship of a woman teacher Bhairavi Brahmani. The Master practiced sixty four methods of tantra and attained perfection through all of them. He then practiced other methods of vaishnava tradition, such as Vatsalya bhava (the affectionate attitude towards God) and Madhura bhava (the lover’s attitude towards the beloved). In 1864 Sri Ramakrishna was initiated into Sannyasa by Totapuri, a Vedanta Monk, and attained nirvikalpa Samadhi, the highest non-dualistic experience, in only three days. He learnt different faiths and attained the culmination of all sadhanas. He learnt about the Christian scriptures and Christ, the saviour and had a vision of Jesus Christ. While practicing Sufi Islam under the guidance of Govinda Ray, he understood its essence. Sri Ramakrishna Practiced various religious faiths for long twelve years and realized that all paths lead to the same God.

Here in the Nahabat Holy Mother stayed for several years and served Sri Ramakrishna and his disciples. She stayed in this small room (less than 50 sq.ft. area) for thirteen years from 1872 to 1885. A memorable event in the life of Holy Mother Sarada Devi was the Shodasi Puja in which Sri Ramakrishna worshipped her as Divine Mother on the night of Phalaharini Kali puja.

During the evening service in the temple Sri Ramakrishna would climb to the roof of the building (Kuti badi) in the garden and writhing in anguish of heart cry at the top of his voice. In words : “Come, My boys! Oh, Where are you? I cannot bare to live without you”. In response to his call disciples started coming.