17 lakh visitors throng Taratarini Hill Shrine during month of Chaitra

Report by Orissadiary correspondent; Berhampur: On the auspicious occasion of the fourth and last Tuesday of the holy month of Chaitra at the Taratarini Hill Shrine, near Berhampur city, Orissa, more than 2 lakh devotees visited the Hill Shrine from various parts of India and abroad for a Darshan of the Twin Goddesses.
It is believed that the month of Chaitra and the four Tuesdays of this month are famous for Shakti Puja in this Breast Shrine of Mata Sati. So, every year lakhs of devotees visit this shrine on these days. It is worth mentioning that this year during the holy month of Chaitra and particularly in the four famous Tuesdays around 12 lakh and on other days around 5 lakh devotees have visited the hill shrine. This year the number of visitors to the Shrine till the last Tuesday has surpassed the records of previous years with 17 lakh visitors so far.
It is noteworthy that the famous and the holiest Taratarini Hill Shrine is one of the oldest pilgrimage sites of mother goddess and amongst the 4 major ancient Shakti centers in India. Some of the great religious texts like the Shiva Purana, the Kalika Purana, the Devi Bhagabat (a contemporary text of the Mahabharata) 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.
This famous Hill Shrine is not only famous for its Shakti worship but also it is considered as a seat of Panch Devata Upashana or the worship of five types of believe in Hindu religion like the Vaishnava, the Saiva, the Sakta, the Ganapatya and the Soura. Different from other Shakti shrines, here Shakti is not the deity of fury but the deity of love and compassion. So, here devotees believe that not by giving offerings to the deity but with pure devotion and bhakti one can get the blessings of the mother goddesses.According to the traditions the main doors of the sanctum sanatorium of the temple were thrown open at midnight on Monday. According to the needs of the visitors and for hassle free Darshan, this time the Temple administration and the ‘Tara Tarini Development Board’ made wide ranging arrangements. The chairman of the Shrine Board and the Revenue Divisional Commissioner of South Orissa, other officials of the board and officials of the district administration were present to oversee the proceedings. The fair on the last Tuesday passed of peacefully and with this, the Chaitra festival of the hill shrine came to an end.

Source: www.orissadiary.com

5 lakh devotees throng Taratarini

Berhampur: 31/March/2009

More than 5 lakh devotees thronged to the Maa Taratarini hill shrine on the auspicious occasion of the Third Tuesday of the holy Chaitra Festival and Navaratra. On 31 March there was huge crowd of devotees at the Sthana Peetha of Mata Sati, near Berhampur city, Orissa.
Maa Taratarini Hill Shrine is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of Mother Goddess and is one amongst the four major ancient Shakti Pithas in India. The Mythological Texts recognize four major Shakti Peethas (centers) like Bimala, Tara Tarini (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.
All arrangements were in place, thanks to the initiative of the Taratarini Development Board (TTDB). Satybrat Sahu, Chairman of TTDB & RDC Southern Division and other officials are overseeing the arrangements.
The Temple administration and TTDB made wide ranging arrangements like security, transport, Prasad, drinking water, medical services for all the devotees. And arrangement of barbers for tonsure (Mundan)on this occasion has been in place.
The fair on the Third Tuesday has passed of peacefully.
It is believed that the month of Chaitra and the four Tuesdays of this month are auspicious for Shakti Puja in this Breast Shrine of Mata Sati. So, every year lakhs of devotees visit this shrine on these days.
But this year the number of devotes visited this holy Shrine till today has surpassed all the records of earlier years. Owing to the massive development works undertaken by the 'TTDB on the lines of ‘Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine’ and good arrangements for the convenience of devotees, around 15 lakh devotes have already visited this Shrine in this auspicious month.
A massive temple is being built up by Padma Bhusan Raghunath Mahapatra and soon it will be completed, said TTDB sources. Mr.Sahu, RDC is taking interest for early completion of the complex and once it is ready, this will attract huge number of devotees.

Above Five Lakh devotes visited the Taratarini Hill Shrine

TARATARINI DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Regd. No.: GJM No. - 7177-A – 676/2002-2003
Hillpatna, Berhampur – 5, (Ganjam), Orissa
(0680) 2215168, Website: http:/taratarini.nic.in
E-Mail: rdcbmp@ori.nic.in, hillshrine@hotmail.com

Press Release from Taratarini Hill Shrine, Berhampur, Orissa
On the auspicious occasion of the Third Tuesday of the holy Chaitra festival and Navaratra at the Taratarini Hill Shrine (the Sthana Peetha (Breast Shrine) of Mata Sati), near Berhampur city, Orissa, more than five lakh devotees thronged the Hill Shrine from various parts of India and abroad for a Darshan of the Twin Goddesses on March 31.
It is noteworthy that the famous and the holiest Taratarini Hill Shrine 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, Tara Tarini (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 and history 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 foothill of the Shrine has further enhanced the significance of the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine.
It is believed that the month of Chaitra and the four Tuesdays of this month are famous for Shakti Puja in this Breast Shrine of Mata Sati. So, every year lakhs of devotees visit this shrine on these days. But this year the number of devotes visited this holy Shrine till today has surpassed the records of earlier years. Owing to the massive development works undertaken by the 'Taratarini Development Board' in the line of ‘Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’ and good arrangements for the convenience of visitors, around 15 lakh devotes have already visited this Shrine in this month.
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 mundan on this occasion. The fair on the Third Tuesday passed of peacefully for which the Board would like to thank the Orissa state administration, district administration, Media, local people and volunteers and also appreciates the cooperation of the district police.
Thanks & Regards,
R.P.Tripathy
(Member Editorial Board, Kamal Sandesh, New Delhi)
In-Charge Media & Publicity
Tara Tarini Development Board (TTDB)
Berhampur, Orissa
E-Mail: rptripathy2000@gmail.com


TARATARINI DEVELOPMENT BOARD
Regd. No.: GJM No. - 7177-A – 676/2002-2003
Hillpatna, Berhampur – 5, (Ganjam), Orissa
(0680) 2215168, Website: http:/taratarini.nic.in
E-Mail: rdcbmp@ori.nic.in, hillshrine@hotmail.com
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 6000 YEARS OLD HISTORY OF THE TARA TARINI HILL SHRINE (KALYANI DHAM)
According to the Mythological Puranas the origin of Maa Taratarini is directly attributed to Daksha Prajapati’s Jagna in Satya Yuga. The famous Shakta Peethas of Bimala, Tara-Tarini, Dakshina Kalika, and Kamakshi originated from the limbs of the divine Corpse of Devi Sati. Mythological sacred texts like the Shiva Purana, the Kalika Purana, the Devi Bhagabat (a contemporary text of the Mahabharata written by Shri Vyasa Dev around 6000 years ago) attest this fact.
It is known from the Mahabharata that before the commencement of the Mahabharata war Lord Srikrishna had advised Arjuna to offer prayer for victory at Shridevi kupa or Bhadrakali. Bhadrakali originated from the limbs of Sati like the other four major Shakti Peethas, which existed during the time of the Mahabharata or around 6000 years ago. This is the oldest data/information we get till date, regarding the existence of the Shrines originated from the limbs of the divine Corpse of Devi Sati.
According to available historical sources the fall of Kalingan Empire and its capital Sampa (Samapa) in the Kalinga war around 2300 years ago by Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, strengthened the grip of Buddhists in this part of India. The then Sampa was hardly 7 kms away from Taratarini Hill Shrine. So, some scholars believe that Taratarini might be the principal deity (Ista-Devi) of the mighty Kalinga Empire.
According to the texts of Mahayana Buddhists, in the initial days, the Buddhists didn’t believe in the worship of Goddesses or in Pratimapuja (Idol Worship). But, the ecclesiastical texts of Mahayana’s reveal that from 1st century AD after the fall of Kalinga, for the first time the Mahayana Buddhists accepted the worship of Mother Goddess ‘Tara’. So there is seldom any doubt that the Buddhists have learned the ‘Tara’ Puja concept from this Shrine. The Bouddha Tantrik texts, texts of Vajrajani sect and Hindu Tantrik texts also attest these facts. Scholars believe that in the primary days the Buddhists worshiped Taratarini, the principal seat of Tantrik sect in Hinduism at that time, as Bouddha Tara, and later on included ‘Tara’ as the Tantrik deity or spouse of bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara in their belief system. Gradually this ‘Tara’ worship spread to different parts of the world.
Besides the worship of Tara by the Buddhist Tantrikas, the 'Maritime History' of Kalinga also suggest the worship of Tara by the Sadhavas, merchants and sea-men before launching their sea voyage from the great sea ports like Dantapura (Gopalpur), Pallur near Chilika Lake, kalingapatna and river Rushikulya . It is important to mention, that all these major Sea ports of the ancient world were present very near to the Taratarini hill Shrine.

According to folk lore and folk stories, it is around 8th Century AD when Jagadguru Sankaracharya toured the whole country, that he discovered this Shrine. But, it did not exist in its present form. After long try he came to know that this ancient Shakti centre was under the control of Buddhist tantrikas. Then he released this Peetha from the control of Bouddha tantrikas and handed it over to Hindus.
It is known from the available sources that till 17th century this place was out of the sight of the common man. But, according to a folk story once Maa Taratarini 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 child less. After staying for some years one day both the sisters disappeared suddenly from the house of Basu Praharaj and according to the account of the villagers both the sisters traveled up to the Tarini Parvat/ Ratnagiri and disappeared there.
Basu Praharaj searched these two sisters but did not find their tracings. His heart broke down with grief and pain. On that night he saw a dream where the Goddesses Tara and Tarini informed Basu Praharaj that actually they were not his daughters; but they are the Adi Shakti, Goddesses Tara and Tarini. The Goddesses ordered Basu to come out of the grief and said that the time has arrived and with full devotion renovate the temple on the Hill Top of Tarini Parvat and establish the deities according to the Vedic tradition.
After that divine direction Basu discovered the tracings of ancient most presence of Goddesses Tara -Tarini on the sacred Hill Top 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 centre of faith and reverence for countless numbers of people, out in search of peace, tranquility, guidance and spiritual energy and its fame spread like wild fire to become one of the popular religious destinations for millions of devotees.
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