Goddess Tara Tarini is the ishta devata in Southern Odisha. The most popular Taratarini Temple is located around 30 km from Berhampur in Odisha. It is located atop Kumari hills (popularly known as Tara Tarini hill) on the banks of River Rushikulya near Purushottampur in Ganjam District.
One has to climb 999 steps to reach the small but beautiful and powerful Shakti shrine. There is also a motorable road to reach the top of the hill.
A 65 feet temple was built new without moving the centuries
old deities from their original position. The newly built temple consists of a
Mukhshala and Bhogmandap.
The main stone murtis in the temple were worshipped from 1st century BC.
The main stone murtis in the temple were worshipped from 1st century BC.
One has to climb 999 steps to reach the small but beautiful and powerful Shakti shrine. There is also a motorable road to reach the top of the hill.
Story Of Tara Tarini Mandir
Legend has it that the breast of Goddess Sati fell here after the infamous Daksha Yajna mentioned in Hindu Puranas.
The main murtis worshiped in the temple are carved out of two granite stones. They represent goddesses Tara and Tarini. The murtis are decorated with gold and silver ornaments.
Chalanti Pratimas, or two brass heads of the goddess, are also found in the sanctum sanctorum.
Sankranti (occurs on the 14th or 15th of a month) is very important here.
Sankranti (occurs on the 14th or 15th of a month) is very important here.
Tuesday is the auspicious date in a week.
Special pujas are observed on the Tuesdays in Chaitra month (March – April). The Chaitra Mela observed during the month is one of the biggest temple festivals in India. It attracts more than 800,000 devotees.
Other important dates in a year include Dola Purnima, Shravan Amavasya and Purnima, Bhadrapad Amavasya, Navratri and Diwali Amavasya.
During festivals, panchamruta is offered to the deity.