Tara Tarini Mandir is a Hindu temple of

Adi Shakti Mahadevi (, , IPA: / mɐɦɑd̪eʋiː/), also referred to as Adi Parashakti, and Mahamaya, is the supreme goddess in Hinduism. According to the goddess-centric sect Shaktism, all Hindu gods and goddesses are considered to be manifestations of t ...

at the Kumari hills on the bank of

Rushikulya river The Rushikulya River is one of the major rivers in Odisha and covers the entire catchment area in the districts of Kandhamal and Ganjam of Odisha. The Rushikulya originates about 1000 metres from the Rushimala Hills part of the Daringbadi hills o ...

near

Purushottampur Purusottampur (also spelt as Purushottampur) is a town and a Notified Area Council in Ganjam district in the Indian state of Odisha. Geography Purusottampur is located at . It has an average elevation of . Demographics According to the 2001 ...

Ganjam district Ganjam is a district in the Indian state of Odisha. Ganjam's total area is 8,206 km² (3,168 mi²). The district headquarters is Chhatrapur. Ganjam is divided into three sub-divisions: Chhatrapur, Berhampur, and Bhanjanagar. As of ...

Odisha Odisha (), formerly Orissa (List of renamed places in India, the official name until 2011), is a States and union territories of India, state located in East India, Eastern India. It is the List of states and union territories of India by ar ...

, around 28km from

Brahmapur Brahmapur may refer to the following places: * Brahmaloka, heavenly abode of the Hindu god Brahma * Brahmpur, Bihar, village in Bihar, India * Brahampur, Nepal, municipality ward in Dakneshwori, Nepal * Brahmapur, Odisha, city in Odisha, India * ...

city.

Description of temple

The main idols inside the

garbagriha A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or "sanctum sanctorum". The term ''garbhagriha'' (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words ''garbha'' for w ...

are two stone female faces adorned with gold and silver ornaments. Two brass heads representing their ''Chalanti Pratima'' are in between. There is also a small murti of the Buddha in the garbhagriha.

Legends

It is believed that the Shakti Pithas are the locations where the body parts of Maa Sati fell, after being cut by

Sudarshan chakra The Sudarshana Chakra (, ) is a divine discus, attributed to Vishnu in the Hindu scriptures. The Sudarshana Chakra is generally portrayed on the right rear hand of the four hands of Vishnu, who also holds the Panchajanya (conch), the Kaumodaki ...

of Lord

Vishnu Vishnu (; , , ), also known as Narayana and Hari, is one of the Hindu deities, principal deities of Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Vaishnavism, one of the major traditions within contemporary Hinduism, and the god of preservation ( ...

during the events of the

Daksha yajna Dakṣayajña is an important event in Hindu mythology that is narrated in various Hindu scriptures. It refers to a yajna (ritual-sacrifice) organised by Daksha, where his daughter, Sati, immolates herself. The wrath of the god Shiva, Sati's h ...

. It is said that Tara Tarini Mandir is located where Maa Sati's breasts fell. The temple is one of the four Adi Shakti Pithas: the others being the

Kamakhya Temple The Kamakhya Temple at Nilachal hills in Guwahati, Assam is one of the oldest and most revered centres of Tantra, Tantric practices, dedicated to the goddess Kamakhya. The temple is the center of the ''Kulachara Tantra Marga'' and the site o ...

where the

genitals A sex organ, also known as a reproductive organ, is a part of an organism that is involved in sexual reproduction. Sex organs constitute the primary sex characteristics of an organism. Sex organs are responsible for producing and transporting ...

fell, the

Vimala Temple The Vimala temple or Mãā Bimåḷā Deuḷå (Odia language , Odia - ମାଁ ବିମଳା ଦେଉଳ) is a Hindu temple dedicated to goddess Vimala or Bimala (ବିମଳା), located within the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Jagannath Temple ...

where the feet fell, and the

Kalighat Kali Temple Kalighat Kali Temple is a Hindu temple in Kalighat, Kolkata, West Bengal, India, dedicated to the Hindu goddess Kali, one of the 10 Mahavidyas in the Hindu tantric tradition and the supreme deity in the Kalikula worship tradition. The tem ...

where the toes of the right foot fell.

Festivals

Chaitra Jatra

Chaitra Jatra, also known as Tara Tarini Jatra takes place on the Tuesdays (or Maṅgaḷabāra) of the Hindu month of

Chaitra Chaitra () is a month of the Hindu calendar. In the standard Hindu calendar and India's national civil calendar, Chaitra is the first month of the year. It is the last month in the Bengali calendar, where it is called Choitro. Chaitra or Cha ...

. Devotees believe that getting their children tonsured is auspicious during this period. Hundreds of barbers are kept near the temple to aid the devotees. During this festivity, special Khechidi Bhoga is served to the deities which later sold to devotees for ₹7 per serving from Monday midnight till 6 PM Tuesday. Birds Eyeview Taratarini temple at night during Chaitra festival

Birds Eyeview Taratarini temple at night during Chaitra festival

Sankranti Mela

The Sankranti Mela is held on each

Sankranti Sankranti () refers to the transmigration of the sun from one zodiac to another in Indian astronomy. In ''Saurmana'' ''varsha'' (Hindu Solar year), there are twelve Sankrantis corresponding with twelve months of a year. The Sankrantis can be broa ...

, i.e every 1st day of the each Hindu month. This day is considered to be very auspicious for Tantra Sadhakas. The temple stays open from 5:30 AM to 10 PM for the

darshan Darshan, a Sanskrit word meaning "sight" or "viewing", may refer to: Ceremony and religion * Darshan (Indian religions), the auspicious sight of a divine image or holy person; also a school of Hindu philosophy * Darshan (Judaism), a Scriptural ...

of the deities. Offerings are not allowed inside the

garbhagriha A ''garbhagriha'' () is the innermost sanctuary of Hindu and Jain temples, often referred to as the "holy of holies" or " sanctum sanctorum". The term ''garbhagriha'' (literally, "womb chamber") comes from the Sanskrit words ''garbha'' for ...

during the festival, they are offered to the Bije Pratima which is kept on the special Bije Pithastal during the festival, located near the temple's gate. Special khechudi bhoga prepared and sold to devotees for ₹7 per packet by the temple trust. Special pujas are done in the mandir.

References

13
Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik seeks Tara Tarini blessings, dedicates revamped shrine, 19th May 2022, New Indian Express

External links

Tara Tarini Temple official websiteMaa Taratarini Temple

Taratarini sculptures
{{Shaktism Shakta pithas Hindu temples in Ganjam district Shakti temples