Shri Tara Tarini Temple – Purushottampur

 

Shri Tara Tarini Temple is located on Kumari hills near Purushottampur in Ganjam district of Odisha State.

It is one of Adi Shakti Peeta Temples

The goddesses Tara and Tarini are represented by two ancient stone statues with gold and silver ornaments. Two brass heads, known as their Chalanti Pratima or Living Image, are placed between them.

Maa Tara Tarini is worshipped as the Breast Shrine (Sthana Peetha) of Adi Shakti Sati Devi here. The temple is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of Mother goddesses and one of the four major Shakti Peethas and Tantra Peethas of India.

The four principal Shakti Peethas are mentioned in numerous religious scriptures, such as the Shiva Purana, Kalika Purana (the Asthashakti), the Devi Bhagavata, and Tantric literature like the Hevajra Tantra, Sthana-nirupana Tantra, and many others.

As per famous Puranas; Like the Kalika Purana says, (Vimala, Pada Khanda) inside the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, (Tara Tarini, Sthana Khanda), near Purushottampur, Odisha, (Kamakhya, Yoni Khanda) near Guwahati, Assam and (Dakshina Kalika Kalighat, Mukha Khanda) in Kolkata, West Bengal originated from the limbs of the Corpse of Mata Sati.

The temple is built using the Rekha style of architecture and it has to take 999 steps to reach the temple, which is atop Taratarini Hill or Purnagiri Hill. A 65-foot tall temple with Mukhshala and Bhogmandap has been built recently with bricks and stones. The holy river Rushikalyani, which is believed to be the elder sister of the river Ganga, flows at the foothills of the temple. The temple was built using the Rekha style of architecture and Goddess Taratarini was the principal deity of the rulers of the Kalinga kingdom.

Legend has it that Lord Shiva started performing Rudra Tandava, the dance of destruction, holding the half-burnt corpse of his beloved wife, Goddess Sati after her self-immolation. To stop this fierce dance, Lord Vishnu threw his Sudarshana chakra on the body of Sati, which then got dismembered and fell at different places.

It is known from the available sources that till the 17th century this place was out of the sight of the common man. But, according to a folk story, once Maa Tara Tarini appeared as two sisters in the house of Shri Basu Praharaj. He was a learned Brahmin of Kharida Vira Jagannathpur village in Ganjam District and one of the great devotees of the Mother Goddess but childless. After staying for some years one day the sisters disappeared suddenly from the house of Basu Praharaj. According to the account of the villagers, the sisters traveled up to the Tarini Parvat/Ratnagiri and disappeared there. Basu Praharaj searched these girls but did not find their tracings. His heart broke down with grief and pain. On that night he saw a dream where Tara and Tarini informed Basu Praharaj that they were not his daughters; they were the Adi Shakti, Tara, and Tarini. The goddesses ordered Basu to come out of the grief and said that the time had arrived and with full devotion renovate the temple on the hilltop of Tarini Parvat and establish the deities according to the Vedic tradition. After that divine direction, Basu discovered the tracings of the ancient presence of Adi Shakti Tara Tarini on the sacred hilltop and immediately took steps to reconstruct the temple and the shrine. Since that time for its magnetism and sanctity this Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati, became a center of faith and reverence for countless people, in search of peace, tranquility, guidance, and spiritual energy and its fame spread like wildfire to become one of the popular religious destinations for millions of devotees.

The most significant celebration in Odisha is the Chaitra Yatra, Chaitra Parba, and Chaitra Mela, which takes place at numerous Mother Goddess shrines.

Every Tuesday of the Hindu month of Chaitra, which falls between mid-March and mid-April (by the English calendar), is when it happens. Numerous thousands of devotees gather here to see Maa Tara Tarini and to conduct their Manasika after having their wishes granted.

Devotees come to offer the first bunch of hair of the newborn babies with the belief that goddess Tara Tarini will protect the newborns from all evils and ensure their well-being.

Also in each Sankrati (1st day of solar Hindu month), special pujas are done in the temple.

Timings

6.30 am to 12.30 pm

2.00 pm to 8.30 pm

5.05 am – Majana

6.30 am – Mangala Alati & Pahili Bhog

12.15 pm – Raja Bhog

12.35 pm – Pahada

5.15 pm – Evening Majana

6.15 pm – Sandhya Alati

9.45 pm – Bhog & Pahada

Majana is conducted twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening. Each Majana takes about one hour. The deities are initially cleaned by the Sevayat and then properly washed in the holy water of river Rushikulya specially brought for the purpose. Then sarees and other dress materials along with ornaments are put on the deities. Thereafter the bodies of the deities are laid with paste made from turmeric Sandalwood and various other materials. The deities are also decorated with flowers of different kinds, especially Mandar with incense sticks and Deepa. The deities are made ready for Mangala Alati.

Mangala Alati, Sandhy Alati, and Pahili Bhog are performed simultaneously,  Khechodi is the main item in the Pahili Bhog along with Fruits and dry sweets.

During this time, items such as  Khechodi, Dal, Curry, Khata, and different Sweets are offered to the Goddess. The Bhoga is made available to the public after offering to the deities.

It is observed twice daily, once during the day time i.e. from 12.35 P.M. to 2.15 P.M. and again from 9.45 P.M. to 5 A.M. This is the best time for the deities.

But on special occasions like Sankranti, Chaitra Parba, etc. the temple remains open till midnight,  only night pahada is observed during these occasions.

The following festivals are observed in Tara Tarini Temple as per the calendar given below.

 

1.   The Sankranti Mela:  Every month on Sankranti day.

 

      This festival is observed on each Sankranti day of the Hindu month. This day is considered to be very auspicious for Tantra Sadhakas. The important features of the festival are as follows:

 

(a)  The temple opens for Darshan of the deities from 5:30 AM till 10:00 PM without Pahada during the day.

 

(b)   Bije Pratima (Chalnti Pratima) of the deities are put on the special Bije Pithastal located near the temple gate.

 

(c)   Puja and offerings to the deities are offered to the Bije Pratima as no offerings are allowed inside the Garbha Griha during this occasion. However, the devotees can have the darshan of the deities in the Garbha Griha.

 

(d)   Magha Snana, Chandipatha, and Homa are the special activities conducted in the Grabha Griha and the side pedestal of the Garbha Griha by the temple Purohit.

 

(e)   Special Khechudi Bhoga is supplied to the devotees on receipt of Rs. 7/- (seven) per packet. This Bhoga is prepared and sold by the Temple Trust.

 

2.    Dola Purnima ( Phalguna Purnima ) during February / March.

 

3.  Chaitra Parba:  On each Tuesday of the month of chaitra during    March/April as per the Calendar.

 

     This festival is the most important of the festivals, celebrated at the Tara Tarini Pitha. It is observed during each Tuesday of the month of Chaitra. Significant features of the festival are as follows;

 

(a)    The temple remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 5 AM till 11 PM. Pahada of the deities is confined to night-time only.

 

(b)   Devotees in large numbers congregate at the up-hill and downhill temple complex from Monday night.

 

(c)    The 2nd & 3rd Tuesday of the Chaitra are considered to be the most auspicious days. Therefore large number of devotees congregate during these days.

 

(d)   Puja and offerings by the devotees are offered to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Pitha for the Bije Pratima. However, Darshan of the deities in Garbha Griha is allowed.

 

(e)    Special arrangements for hair offering is made. 250 barbers at the top hill and 500 barbers at the downhill at the barber shed are engaged to help their hair offering their children and other devotees. Hair offering continues from midnight on Monday till 6 PM on Tuesday.

 

(f)     Special Khechudi Bhoga is supplied to the devotees on receipt of Rs. 7/- per packet from Monday midnight till 6 PM of Tuesday evening non-stop.

 

4.  Basantika Parba:     During the month chaitra i.e. March / April.

 

5.  Chitalagi Amabasya i.e. Srabana Amabasya  during July / August.

 

6.  Gamha Purnima (Shrabana  Purnima ) during July /August.

 

7.  Saptapuri Amabasya during the month of Bhadraba during August.

 

8.  Saradiya Parba on the month of Ashwina Mulastami  to Dushara  during September / October .

 

9.  Dipabali or  Shyamakali Puja: on      Kartika Amabasya during Oct /Nov.

 

ACCOMMODATION

 

YATRI NIVAS near Simha Dwara managed by the Tara Tarini Trust.

PANTHASALA(Hotel Nirupama) at the foothill of Tara Tarini Temple has 3 bedrooms and one Dormitory managed by the Orissa Tourism Department for booking contact Tourist Officer, Ganjam Berhampur. Phone No 0680-2210980.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS are also available at Berhampur and Gopalpur-on-Sea.

How to reach the Temple

22 km from Jaganathpur Junction

174 km from Bhubaneswar

240 km from Vishakapatnam