Banki Muhana Ramachandi Temple
This temple is a typical legendry
temple which is a synonyim of Tantrick Rituals.It is situated just behind the
'Cholera Hospital' of Puri town.From Red Cross road(from Badasankha leading to
Puri Railway Station),there is a diversion to 'Sarbodaya Nagar' while just
enetring the lane close to the border of the said hospital the temple is
visible.It is 40 feet high from the ground.The name Rama Chandi implies
'RAMAADHARITA CHANDI' or the Goddess worshipped by Lord Rama Chandra.In the
eastern zone of the country there are many temples designated as Rama Chandi
temple.This indicates the path vide which Lord Ramachandra has travelled.During
13th century the king 'Vanu Dev ii' who constructed the 'Atharnala bridge'
dumped river 'Malini' vide the ten miracles of Rajguru and he installed the
famous 'Sadbhuja' statue of Goddess Ramachandi which represents 'Sakti'.The
river Malini was previously separating the BADADANDA,so that two sets of
chariots were prepared during Car Festival.The temple was designated 50 to 70
years back as 'BADI THAKURANI' which means the tourists on foot who expired of
cholera were burnt or thrown here.The meeting of river Malini with the sea is
known as 'MUHANA'.
The Gajapati King of Puri holds a
great seminar on 'Tantra' every year at this spot which was dense forest area
used as cremation ground.The King used to hold 'NAVAKALEVAR' of this Goddess at
long intervals,the last being 130 years back.During Durga puja for 16 days
consequetively there occurs the esteemed puja,varities of dressing,Chandi
patha,Homa and other vedic customs.Through out the year,there is a great influx
of piligrims and selected intelligentia to the spot which is the 'TANTRA
KHETRA' oldest of Puri town.It is not owned or managed by the government.
Within few years the temple complex
has improved in the Nata Mandapa(20" x 9") there is a nice sculpture of
Ganesh,one statue of lion,the famous ten Mahavidya statues and Nabagrha
statues.It is conjoint with a small kitchen and behind the temple there is
small pond and flower garden.the 'Sandhya Alati' is the most sea sight for
all.the Goddess is 'PARAMA BAISHNABI'.Only on the Mahastami day of
Dashara,brunt fish is offered during midnight.The environment of the temple is
too beautiful as well as perinneal.
Siddha Mahavir Temple
This
is a famous spot where the epithet of Lord Hanuman is being worshipped.The
standing image of the Lord Hanuman is about 5-6 feet high.The surface is very
enjoyable due to the location of the lotus tank. More on Siddha Mahavir Temple
Siddha Hanuman Temple
At a distance of about half a
mile(804.672 metres),to the west of Gundicha temple,dedicated to Siddha
Hanuman.Some scholars say that the image installed inside this temple is that
of 'Angada'.It is also believed that Santh Tulasidas,the author of Rama
Charitamanasa,used to stay in the premises of this temple.
Dariamahavir Temple
Towards
the northern end of the town on the beach is the temple of Dariamahavir,which
is a small temple dedicated to Hanuman.He is also known as Bedi Hanuman.This
temple is connected with Pana Sankranti ritual of the Jagannath temple.
Gundicha Temple
Next
to the Great Jagannath temple,the most important sanctuary of Jagannath is the
Gundicha temple,the abode to which Jagannath,Balabhadra and Subhadra are driven
each on his or her wooden car once in a year,during the car festival.Except for
these few days,it is unoccupled,but there is a small establishment of servents
by whom it is regularly maintained.It is situated at the other end of the great
highway(Badadanda).The distance between the gates of Jagannath temple and the
Gundicha temple is exactly 2,688.0696 metres(8,327 feet).
Tradition says that Gundicha was the
queen of the King Indradyumna,the legendary founder of the 1st great Jagannath
temple.It is because of the deep devotion of the queen Gundicha,Lord Jagannath
prefers to pay a visit to her house for nine days during the month of
Asadha(June or July).
The temple is sorrounded by a wall
and stands in the middle of a garden.The height of the wall is 20 feet and
width is 5 feet.The length of the temple is 430 feet.The height of this temple
is 75 feet.The temple consists of four parts connected with kitchen rooms by a
narrow passage.All the four structures(Vimana,Jagamohana,Natamandapa and
Bhogamandapa)bear the taces of several plasterings.There is a plain raised
seat,4 feet high and 19 feet long,mada of chlorite and this is called the
'Ratnavedi',the throne on which the images are placed when brought to the
temple.
This temple has two gates.the western
gate is the main gate and the eastern side gate is called Nakachana gate.Lord
Jagannath is entered to this temple through the.