Maa Tara Tarini temple

Odisha, Ganjam, Bhubaneswar

Along the river Rushikulya, known for religious and cultural significance, atop a small hillock is the shrine dedicated to the twin Goddess Tara and Tarini. The Tara Tarini temple is believed to be the spot where the breast of Sati devi fell. It is one of the four Adi Shakthi peetha and Tantra Peetha. It is believed that Tara-Tarini was the principal deity of the Kalinga empire. The name Tara, an important deity of Mahayana Buddhist sect, suggests Buddhist influence on the shrine. Some scholars say that Buddhists, who in the initial days did not worship any idol of Goddess, learned the concept of Tara puja from this shrine. They worshipped the deity as 'Boudha Tara' which later developed as the worship of Tara, the Tantrik deity in their beliefs. It is said that merchants and seamen, prayed to the Goddess Tara and Tarini before their voyage. The folk tales of the locals describe the shrine was re-constructed by a devotee of Goddess, Basu Praharaj in the 17th century.

Legend

Mythology believes the Tara Tarini temple as one of the Shaktipeethas. When Lord Shiva's wrath at the death of his wife Sati manifested as the Tandava which would destroy the Universe, Lord Vishnu's Sudarshan chakra cut her corpse into pieces which scattered around the subcontinent. It is believed that the Goddess' breasts fell where the temple of Tara Tarini stands today.The folk tale regarding the temple says that, Tara and Tarini appeared as two sisters in the house of Shri Basu Praharaj, a great devotee of the Goddess but child less. After staying for some years, the sisters disappeared suddenly from the house. One night, in the dream of a heartbroken Basu Praharaj, they appeared, told him that they were Shakthi and asked him to built a temple on the hilltop. Basu discovered the presence of the deities on the hilltop and constructed a temple for them.

This temple is part of famous Shaktipeethas.

Architecture

The temple of Tara Tarini is built on top of a small hillock. The gate way of the temple is colourful and adorned with vibrant sculptures. The shrine has been constructed in the tradition 'rekha' style of Oriya architecture. The temple is embellished with sculptured panels . Two stones decked with ornaments and shaped as faces in the main shrine represents Tara and Tarini. Two brass heads are enshrined between them.

Darsan Info

Temple opens from 5:00 AM till 12:30 PM and from 2:15 PM till 9:45 PM.Tuesdays of Chaitra masa is auspicious for the worship of the Devi.

Darsan Dresscode

Devotees are advised to wear clean and conservative attire

Famous Festival

April - Chaitra yatra/Chaitra mela(Mar/April)

October - Navrathri

Culture

Brahampur is the oldest city of Ganjam district and a trading centre for Southern Odisha. Brahmapur is well known for its exquisitely designed silk saris, handloom cloth and jewellery.