Mausi Maa Temple, Puri, Odisha
Mausi Maa Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Goddess Sakthi, located
in Puri, a famous pilgrimage town in the state of Odisha, India. It is a small temple
dedicated to Goddess Ardhashosini. The Temple is located at about 500 meters from Puri Bus
Stand, 1.5 Kms from Puri Jagannatha Temple and 1.5 Kms from Puri Railway
Station. Mausi
Maa Temple is situated almost on the midway of the grand road, at
Balagandi square. It is located on the right side of the Grand Road leading
from the Jagannath temple towards Gundicha temple.
Legends
Mausi Maa:
Ardhashosini is called
Mausima (the mother’s sister) of Lord Jagannath. Mausima is a combination of
two words, Mausi and Maa. In oriya language Mausi means Aunt and Maa means
Goddess. As per Jagannath mythology,
once Goddess Lakshmi Devi left Jagannath Temple, and thus
Jagannath
and Balabhadra become
poor and had to go out for begging. When Jagannath and Balabhadra were
out during that time, Subhadra Devi was staying with Mausi Maa
(Maternal Aunt).
Guardians of the Puri
Dham:
Mausi Maa is also termed
as Ardhashosini. It has been
mentioned in the Vaishnava Kanda of the Skanda
Purana that Goddess Ardhashosini drank half of
the sea water that flooded Puri and saved the abode of Shri Jagannath.
Goddess Ardhashosini with
Kapalamochana Shiva,
act as the guardians of the Puri Dham.
History
The Temple was built in 14th
century AD by Ganga Kings.
The
Temple
The temple is facing towards
south. The temple consists of a Rekha Vimana and a Pidha Jagamohana and a Nata
Mandapa of Kalingan order. The vimana is square on plan other two structures
are rectangular on plan. The vimana is Panchangabada in elevation and
Pancharatha on plan. The Natamandapa is triratha on plan and Panchangabada in
elevation. Udyota Simha are found in the gandi of central raha.
The doorjambs are carved with three
vertical band of puspa. There is a Gajalakshmi in lalitasana at the lalatabimba.
Dvarapalikas can be found at the base of door jamb. There is a Navagraha panel
in which Rahu is holding bow in his both hands with a large head crowned by
Jata mukuta; Ketu has a serpent tail with upraised hands in the architrave.
Festivals
Mausima Temple is closely
associated with the Car festival of Lord Jagannath. As per the rituals of Car
Festival, on the day of Bahuda Jatra (return car festival day), the chariots of
Balabhadra and Subhadra are pulled directly to the Singha Dwara (Lion’s Gate of
Jagannath Temple), whereas the chariot of Jagannath stops in front of Mausima
temple for a while. Here, Lord Jagannath accepts his favorite rice cake known
as ‘Poda Pitha’ from his aunt. Mahasaptami, Mahanavami and Chandipatha are also
observed in this temple.
Connectivity
For brief details, please refer below link;
Location
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