Lakhs of devotes throng the Taratarini Sthana Peetha

On the auspicious occasion of the Second Tuesday of the holy Chaitra festival at the Maa Taratarini Hill Shrine near Berhampur city, Orissa (a famous Shakti centre of South India and the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati), more than two lakh devotees thronged the Hill Shrine from various parts of India and abroad for a Darshan of the Twin Goddesses on March 24 2009.
It is noteworthy that the famous and the holiest Tara Tarini Hill Shrine (www.taratarini.blogspot.com), (http:/taratarini.nic.in) is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites of mother goddess and amongst the four major ancient Shakti centers in India. The Mythological Texts recognize four major Shakti peethas (centers), like Bimala, Taratarini (Orissa), Kamakshi (Assam) and Dakhina Kalika (West Bengal, Kolkata) among the 52 sacred Shakti Peethas, which originated from the limbs of the Corpse of Mata Sati in the Satya Yuga.
Rooted in the hoary past, mentioned in the Puranas, the Tantras and as the main seat of Tantric cult for thousand of years and center of Shakti worship since time immemorial, this Hill Shrine is believed to be the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine of Mata Sati) and an important prehistoric religious center which bears an uninterrupted history of not less than 6000 years.
This great Shakti centre has also been the confluence ground of plethora of ancient religions like the Vedic religion, the Brahminical religion, the Hinduism, the Buddhism, the Tantricism etc. Unquestionably, these facts from the Mythology demonstrate the historicity and importance of the Hill Shrine it occupied in the past. Further, the presence of the mythological pious river Rushikulya or Rushikalyani (Known as the elder sister of the Ganges in the Vedas) on the foot hill of the Shrine has further enhanced the significance of the Tara Tarini Dham.
It is believed that the month of Chaitra and the four Tuesdays of this month are famous for Shakti Puja. So, every year lakhs of devotees visit this shrine on these days.
The Temple administration and the Tara Tarini Development Board made wide ranging arrangements like security, transport, Prasad (food) for all devotes, drinking water, medical services and arrangement of barbers for mundane on this occasion.
The fair on the second Tuesday passed of peacefully for which the Board would like to thank the Orissa state administration, district administration, devotees, local people, volunteers and also appreciates the cooperation of the police and fire department.
It is also hoped that the fair on the coming Third Tuesday of Chaitra, which generally sees the biggest congregation would pass off peacefully and the Board is geared up to ensure a peaceful and hassle free Darshan of the Goddess for the devotees.

BY: R.P.Tripathy
In-Charge Media & Publicity
Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB)
Berhampur, Orissa