| Tara Tarini Mandir | |
| Map Type: | India Odisha#India |
| Coordinates: | 19.4897°N 84.8998°W |
| Location: | Kumari Hills, Purushottampur |
| District: | Ganjam |
| State: | Odisha |
| Country: | India |
| Deity: | Tara & Tarini |
| Festivals: | Chaitra Mela/Chaitra Parva/Chaitra Yatra, Holi, Dusshera, Navaratri, Dipawali, and Sankranti |
| Temple Quantity: | Five |
| Inscriptions: | Two- At the Foot Hill of the Shrine (Shiv Temple) |
| Creator: | Kalinga Emperors in Ancient Period, Basupraharaj in Medieval period in 17th century and Tara Tarini Development Board at present |
| Website: | http://taratarini.nic.in/ |
Tara Tarini Mandir is a Hindu temple of Adi Shakti at the Kumari hills on the bank of Rushikulya river[1] near Purushottampur in Ganjam district of Odisha, around 28km from Brahmapur city.
The main idols inside the garbagriha are two stone female faces adorned with gold and sliver ornaments. Two brass heads representing their Chalanti Pratima are in between. There is also a small murti of the Buddha in the garbhagriha.
It is believed that the Shakti Pithas are the locations where the body parts of Maa Sati fell, after being cut by Sudarshan chakra of Lord Vishnu during the events of the Daksha yajna.[2] It is said that Tara Tarini Mandir is located where Maa Sati's breasts fell.[3]
The temple is one of the four Adi Shakti Pithas: the others being the Kamakhya Temple where the genitals fell, the Vimala Temple where the feet fell, and the Kalighat Kali Temple where the toes of the right foot fell.[4]
Chaitra Jatra, also known as Tara Tarini Jatra takes place on the Tuesdays (or Maṅgaḷabāra) of the Hindu month of Chaitra. Devotees believe that getting their children tonsured is auspicious during this period.[5] Hundreds of barbers are kept near the temple to aid the devotees. During this festivity, special Khechidi Bhoga is served to the deities which later sold to devotees for ₹7 per serving from Monday midnight till 6 PM Tuesday.[6]
The Sankranti Mela is held on each Sankranti, i.e every 1st day of the each Hindu month. This day is considered to be very auspicious for Tantra Sadhakas. The temple stays open from 5:30 AM to 10 PM for the darshan of the deities. Offerings are not allowed inside the garbhagriha during the festival, they are offered to the Bije Pratima which is kept on the special Bije Pithastal during the festival, located near the temple's gate. Special khechudi bhoga prepared and sold to devotees for ₹7 per packet by the temple trust.[7]
Special pujas are done in the mandir.