- Charchika Temple
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Charchika Temple Name Proper name: Charchika Temple Location Country: India State: Orissa Location: Banki Architecture and culture Primary deity: Charchika (Chamunda) Charchika Temple is one of the oldest Shakta places in Orissa. The presiding deity is an eight-armed goddess Chamunda, locally known as Maa Charchika Devi. She is seated on a prostrate human body and wearing a garland of human skulls. She displays khadga, shula, katari and varadamudra in her four right hands whereas the four left hands represent severed head, blood-cup, ‘’damru’’ and leaving a finger of the remaining hand soaked in blood. This temple is situated on the top a small hillock Ruchika Parbat on the bed of the Renuka river in the small town of Banki in Cuttack district of Orissa.
The present temple was built in the 19th century. But the remarkable point is the enshrining deity Maa Charchika on iconographical point of view can be assigned to the 9th – 10th centuries A.D. i.e. Bhaumakara rule in Orissa. It is believed that the Charchika idol was created by Parashurama. The temple has a pidha vimana, jagamohana and a wooden mandapa known as "sunyavahini mandapa" of impoverished Kalingan order. Stone is used for the construction of the temple and the entire surface is thickly lime plastered and white washed. The ceiling of the mandapa is made of wood whereas the pillars are in stone. The ceiling of the mandapa is profusely carved and painted. The wooden ceiling of the mandpa is relieved with episodes from Bhagabata Purana with intervening decoration of animals and birds like - elephant, duck, parrot, peacock, etc; floral motifs, lotus medallions, scroll and jali works, animal hunting, horse rider, gaja-vidalas, makaramukha,mithuna and maithuna images. Besides, the parsvadevata niches enshrine four-armed Chamunda, four-armed Mahisasuramardini Durga and an eight-armed Chamunda on the north, west and southern side respectively.[1]
The Renuka river was recreated by the flood of 1982. It's believed that one divotee who worshiped Maa Charchika after pleasing her took away all ornaments of Maa Charchika and build a house where River Renuka is currently flowing. As Maa Charchika was not happy so she created this River Renuka to punish him and to make him home less. This temple is situated in the heart of Banki. It's good to visit the temple at the time of Dasara, a Hindu festival in the month of October thousands of divotee used to come to get the blessing. Kumar Purnima a Hindu festival celebrated 5 days after Dusshera is very famous here.
One more Temple of Maa Charchika is at Mathura Near River Yamuna.
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Hindu temples in Orissa Ganesh Temples Surya Temples Vishnu Temples Alarnatha Mandira · Anantasaayi Vishnu Temple · Ananta Shayana · Anantashayana, Saranga · Ananta Vasudeva Temple · Baladevjew Temple · Chakra Narasimha Temple · Chhatia Batta · Dharakote Temple · Gundicha Temple · Jagannath Temple, Koraput · Jagannath Temple, Nayagarh · Jagannath Temple, Puri · Kshirachora Gopinatha Temple · Lakhmi Varaha Temple · Madhava Temple · · Narayana Gosain Temple,Singapur · Nilamadhav Temple · Odogaon Raghunath Temple · Patali Srikhetra · Ram Mandir, Janpath · Sakshigopal Temple · Marjara Nrusimha Temple · Yajna Nrisimha Temple · Yajna Varaha TempleShiva Temples Ajaikapada Bhairava Temple · Akhandalmani Temple · Annakoteshvara Temple · Bhuvaneshwar Temple, Boudh · Brahmeswara · Chandaneswar · Chateshwar Temple · Dhabaleswar · Gupteswar Cave · Godhaneswar temple · Indralath Temple · Kapilash Temple · Kedareswar Temple · Kosaleswara Temple · Ladoo Baba Temple · Lingaraj Temple · Lokanatha Temple · Mahendragiri, Orissa · Markandeshwar Temple · Mukteswar Temple · Murga Mahadeva Shrine · Panchalingeshwar · Parsurameswar Temple · Rajarani Temple · Rameshwar Deula · Simhanath Temple · Subarnameru Temple · The Leaning Temple of Huma · Yameshwar TempleShakti Temples Bhadrakali Temple, Aharapada · Bhagabati Temple, Banapur · Bhattarika Temple · Biraja Temple · Charchika Temple · Chausath Jogini Temple · Durga Temple, Baideshwar · Durga Temple, Motia · Ghanteshwari Temple · Kakatpur Mangala Temple · Kalijai · Kanaka Durga, Raulapalli · Katak Chandi Temple · Kichakeshwari Temple · Lankeswari Temple · Maa Tarini · Maa Taratarini Temple · Maa Ugra Tara · Maheshwari Temple · Mahishamardini Temple · Majhighariani Temple · Manikeshwari Temple · Marichi Thakurani · Mausimaa Temple · Metakani Temple · Narayani Temple · Ramachandi Temple · Ranipur-Jharial · Samaleswari Temple · Saptamatruka Temple · Sarala Temple · Siddha Bhairavi · Sureswari temple · Upper Bagh Devi Temple · Vaital Deula · Varahi Deula, ChaurasiOthers Brahma Temple, Bindusagar · Brahma Temple, Niali · Hanuman Vatika · Harihara Deula · Harishankar Temple · Joranda Gadhi · Sasisena TempleCategories:- Architectural styles
- Hindu temples in Cuttack
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