Jay Adi Shakti Maa Taratarini

 

Navaratra puja begins @ Tara Tarini shakti peeth, Berhampur, Odisha

Shodasa Puja commences at Tara Tarini shrine near Berhampur, Odisha

The famous Sodasha Puja at Tara Tarini Shakti Peeth near Berhampur in Odisha started from Mulastami i.e. on 04 October, 2015. This Puja will continue till Mahastami i.e. on 20th October, 2015. In major Shakti Peethas like Kamakshya, Daksinakali, Tara Tarini, Bimala, Chamundeswari and Maha Kali the Durga Puja is observed for 16 days, starting from Bhadrapada Krushna Paksha Ashtami to Ashvina Shukla Paksha Navami of the Hindu Calendar, also known as Shodasa Puja or  Shodasa Dinatmaka Upachara.

Noteworthy Tara Tarini is worshiped as the Breast Shrine (Sthana Peetha) and manifestations of Adi Shakti. The Tara Tarini Shakti Peetha is one of the oldest pilgrimage centers of the Mother Goddess and is one of four major ancient Tantra Peethas and Shakti Peethas in India.

Amidst chanting of hymns the Sodasha Puja also known as Devi Utthapana began at Tara Tarini shrine after 3.00 pm on Mulastami. 108 Sevakas of Tara Tarini Shakti Peeth brought 108 pots of water from the holy Rushikulya River flowing at the foothill of the shrine.  After rituals of Snana, Majana, Mangala Arati, Maha Arati, Chhandi Path and commencement of Chandi Yagna in the established tradition, the goddess gave darshan to her devotees in the Rajarajeswari Besha and the entire process continued till 12.30 pm next day.

As per the information from the shrine, the Chandi Patha and Chandi Yagna started on the first day of Sodasha Puja will continue till last day of Vijayadashami / Dussehra. Out of the 16 days, the Navratri Puja will start from October 13 and will culminate on October 21. Navaratri is the last nine days of Shodasa Puja and the Shakti is also worshiped by devotees in different pandals for a period of nine days.

According to the Vedic scriptures, Adi Shakti or Goddess Durgā is a symbol of power. She is worshipped in nine different forms and is therefore termed Nava-durgā. Each of the nine manifestation of Durgā are  worshipped with full devotion during Navarātri at Tara Tarini Adi Shakti Peeth. These nine forms of manifestation are Śhailaputrī, Brahmachāriṇī, Chandrakaṇṭā, Kuṣhmāṇḍā, Skandamātā, Kātyāyanī, Kālarātrī, Mahāgaurī and Siddhidātrī. It is believed that if worshipped ‘Nava Durgā’ with religious fervor during Navaratri, it bestows all spiritual fulfillment to a devotee.

The Sodasha Puja, Navratri and Vijayadashami are very important and major festivals in the religious calendar of this Shakti Peeth. During this entire 16 days period, the sanctum of Maa Tara Tarini remains open round the clock for Darshan of the devotees. Lakhs of devotees gathering to obtain darshan of Maa during Sodasha Puja.

Ram Prasad Tripathy

PRO, Tara Tarini Development Board, 

Berhampur, Odisha

Adhara Pana ceremony @ Maa Tara Tarini hill shrine, Berhampur, Odisha

Chaitra Yatra Third Tuesday at Maa Taratarini hill shrine, Odisha

Chaitra festival begins at Tara Tarini Adi Shakti Pitha, Berhampur, Odisha

Chaitra Parba/ Chaitra Mela/ Chaitra Yatra at Taratarini Hill Shrine

The 'Taratarini Mela' or Chaitra Mela at Taratarini shrine is one of the biggest fairs, take place during the month of Chaitra and particularly on each Tuesday of the month of Chaitra i.e. during March-April (according to the English calendar) at the holy Tara Tarini Hill Shrine. Lakhs of devotees come from every corner of world in order to have darshan of the Goddess Tara Tarini and perform their Manasika after fulfillment of their desires. Grand congregations take place on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th Tuesdays of this month. This Chaitra Parba/Chaitra Mela/ festival is the most important amongst the festivals, celebrated at the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine.

Significant features of the Chaitra festival are as follows;

• On Tuesday, the Shrine remains open for the Darshan of the deities from 1.00 AM (mid-night on Monday) till 11 PM (of Tuesday). During that period, Pahada (daytime rest) of the deities is confined to night-time only.
• Devotees in large numbers congregate at the top of the hill and the foothill from Monday night itself.
• 2nd & 3rd Tuesdays of the Chaitra are considered to be the most auspicious days to get Siddhi. Therefore large number of devotees (Around 5-7 lakhs) congregate during these days.
• Puja and offering by the devotees are offered to the Chalanti Pratima of deities placed at the Bije Peetha for the Bije Pratima in-front of the temple. However, Darshan of the deities in Garbha Griha (Sanctum of the main temple) is allowed.
• Special Khechidi Bhoga (Fried Rice of around 1,000 K.g of rice, Ghee, Cashew, dry fruits and other items) is supplied to the devotees from Monday mid-night till 6 PM of Tuesday evening non-stop.
• Thousands of devotees come to the shrine during the month of Chaitra and particularly on four Tuesdays to offer the first bunch of Hair of their newborn babies to the goddesses.
• About 20-30 lakh devotees and tourists visiting this holy shrine during this month.

Hair Offerings during Chaitra Mela

Devotees come to offer the first bunch of Hair of the newborn babies with the believe that Goddesses Tara Tarini will protect the newborns from all evils and ensure their well-being. On normal days the temple barber conducts the tonsuring of the children. Special arrangements for hair offering are made during the Chaitra Tuesday festivals. The temple administration arraigning all equipment necessary for tonsuring. Around 1000 barbers at the barber-shed on hill top and on the foot hill are engaged to help the hair offering of children and other devotees. Hair offering continues from the early morning till 6 PM of Chaitra Tuesdays.

Foundation laying ceremony for second phase work held at Tara Tarini hill shrine



Tara Tarini hill shrine, Berhampur, Ganjam, Orissa



Foundation laying ceremony for the Parswa mandiras and the second phase work on the Taratarini hill shrine was held on June 03. The Chairman TTDB and RDC southern division, Odisha Shri Lakshmi Narayan Nayak presided over the ceremony. With it, the second phase work of Taratarini hill shrine complex commenced.

After the ceremony, the Chairman reviewed the progress of various other developmental works of Taratarini hill shrine. The Pratistha Utsav of the newly built main temple complex of Taratarini hill shrine will be held in 2012. So, the Chairman instructed the officials to quickly complete the ongoing works like widen Ghat road to the hill shrine, ring road around the hill shrine, construction of facilities for the devotees on the hill shrine and instructed the forest department to plant more than 2 lakh trees of different varieties in and around the Hill shrine. On this occasion all the office bearers of the TTDB, the executive officer of Taratarini hill shrine, chief of technical committee TTDB and members of TTDB were present.