Gauranga Bari temple is a major attraction in
Katwa, in
Bardhaman District of
West Bengal. This temple is dedicated to
Lord Krishna, who is referred locally by the name Gauranga. It was constructed by Sri Dasa Gadadhara Thakura, in memory of his guru
Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, a revered saint of the medieval period. It is believed that the saint attained
‘Samadhi’ (liberation of the soul) at this place. The saint’s idol is placed alongside the deity and the idol of
Lord Balram. The idol of the deity is carved from the wood of tree called Nimba. It is said that the lord appeared in the sculptor’s dream and directed him to carve three images of the deity. While one idol is enshrined in this temple, the other two are found in the temple at Sri Khanda.
