Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth is a well-known Adi Shaktipeeth on Kumari hills and Tarini Parvat near Purushottampur in the Ganjam district of Odisha. This hill is also known as Purnagiri or Ratnagiri which is about 28 kilometres from Brahmapur. Maa Tara Tarini is revered as Adi Shakti Sati Devi’s Breast Shrine (Sthana Peetha) here. The temple is one of the oldest Mother Goddess pilgrimage sites in India, as well as one of the four major Adi Shakti Peethas and Tantra Peethas.

The story behind Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth

The goddess of Dakshayani, Sati, Parvati, or Durga—Hinduism’s most important woman and most powerful deity—is referred to as Shakti. Durga Devi, Mahakali, and Gowri are the three main manifestations of Shakti, the power goddess. She is Adi Shakti’s avatar.

Sati was the Prajapati Daksha’s daughter, and she married Lord Shiva despite Her father’s wishes. Prajapati Daksha once put together a massive yagya, but he didn’t call his daughter and son-in-law. Sati was very saddened by Her father’s actions. When she got there, her father ignored the Sati and insulted her. She could not bear insult to his husband (Lord Shiva) and she jumped into the fire of Yagya and committed suicide. She passed away, but her body didn’t burn. Lord Shiva had taken His Virabhadra Rupa out of rage. Daksha’s head was cut off by him, but in the end, He forgave him by bringing him back to life.

Lord Shiva, devastated, had taken Sati’s body and wandered the universe. Finally, Lord Vishnu used His Chakra to break the Sati’s body into pieces. Each body part transformed into Shakti Pitha. The temple had emerged where the body part had fallen to the ground. In order to safeguard the Shakti Pitha, Lord Shiva created 51 Bhairava for each one.

The Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth, unlike others, was built by a Brahmin named Basu Praharaj, a great devotee of Ma Devi Shakti. This is in contrast to the common belief that temples are built by kings. In a dream, Goddess Shakti appeared to him and blessed him with twin daughters. Both daughters vanished after a long period of time, but Basu still cared for them and believed in the goddess. Ma appeared in Basu’s dream once more, instructing him to build a temple on Kumari, also known as Purnagiri Hills. Lord Krishna and Arjun prayed to Bhadrkali for strength here in the Mahabharata.

History of Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth

Prior to the start of the Mahabharata war, Lord Sri Krishna advised Arjuna to pray for victory at Shridevi Kupa, also known as Bhadrakali. Bhadrakali, like the other four major Adi Shakti Peethas, was formed from Sati’s limbs around 6000 years ago, around the time the Mahabharata was written. This is the earliest evidence we have of the existence of shrines made from the limbs of Devi Sati’s divine body.

The architecture of Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth

Tara and Tarini are represented by two ancient stone statues adorned in gold and silver. There are two exquisite brass heads sandwiched between them as their Chalanti Pratima. Taratarini temple is adorned with fiery sculptures and boasts brilliant craftsmanship and Kalinga engineering. Throughout the year, devotees of Ma Devi Shakti and Buddhists of the Mahayana sect, who practise tantra rituals similar to Hindus, visit this site. Taratarini temple is thus also known as Tantrik Peeth. Shakti and Ista Devi of the Ganjam region are represented by the twin goddesses Tara and Tarini.

Facts about Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth

• Normally temples were built by the king but the Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth was built by the Brahmin, named Basu Praharaj – a great devotee of Ma Devi Shakti.
• The Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth shrine is one of the most revered Shakti Peethas and Tantra Peethas, as well as a major pilgrimage site for the Shakta (Shaktism) sect of Hinduism.
• The four major Shakti Peethas are recognised in religious texts such as the Shiva Purana, the Kalika Purana (the Asthashakti), and the Devi Bhagavata, as well as Tantric texts such as Hevajra Tantra, Sthana-nirupana Tantra, and many more Tantras.
• This Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth is among the 4 Adi Shaktipeeth Temples which are considered as most powerful temples.
• Chaitra Yatra/Chaitra Parba/Chaitra Mela is the most important festival celebrated here.
• Lakhs of devotees come from every corner of India during this month to have the Darshan of Tara Tarini.
• The temple is situated at around 708 feet above ocean level and can be arrived at by motorable street or ropeway or climbing about 1000 steps.

Famous Festivals In Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth

• Durga Puja. (Winter) – Devotees celebrate Navaratri at this temple in the month of Ashwin (Sep-Oct).
• Navaratri. (Summer) – They celebrate other Navaratri in the fortnight of the Chaitra (March-April). Every nine days they worship Navadurga (nine Durgas).
• Diwali – Diwali is one of the most admired and auspicious festivals in the town.
• Mahashivratri– A grand fair is organized at the temple during the occasion of Maha Shivratri.

How to Reach Tara Tarini Adi Shaktipeeth

The Behrampur is very well connected with the major cities of the state.

By Air: The nearest Airport is in Bhubaneshwar at a distance of 174kms.

By Rail: The nearest Railway Station is Behrampur Railway Station at a distance of 32 km.

By Road: Taxi services are available from Behrampur to Tara Tarini. Regular bus services from Behrampur to Purushottampur, Polsara, Kavisuryanagar, Aska, Kodala etc. are available via Tara Tarini junction.