Tripura
Sundari Temple, Udaipur, Tripura
Tripura
Sundari Temple is a Hindu Temple dedicated to the Goddess
Shakthi located in Udaipur
City in Gomati District in the Indian state of Tripura.
The Temple is locally known as Tripureshwari Temple / Matabari. The temple is built on a
small hillock which is convex shaped, almost like a hump of tortoise (thus also
referred as Kurmapitha). The temple was constructed on the top location of the
tortoise shaped hillock. The temple is considered as one of the 51 Shakthi
Peethas. Being
one of the 51 Shakti Peethas of Hindu Mythology,
this temple is one of the holiest sites for devotees of the Shakti sect of
Hinduism.
Legends
For brief details, please refer below link;
History
King
Dhanya Manikya, ruled over Tripura in the
closing years of the 15th century, built this Temple in 1501 AD. It
was renovated by King Rama Manikya in 1681 A D, when it was damaged by lightning
and again by King Radha Kishore Manikya during the 19th Century. Udaipur
was attacked and conquered by the Mughals in 1618 A.D. Udaipur was under their
control for 3 years.
Arakan
forces had once demolished the crown of the Tripura Sundari Temple which was
again rebuilt by Kalyan Manikya. This invasion might have happened during the
reign of Amar Manikya. It is based on the fact that Udaipur was once invaded
and conquered by the Arakan with the help of the Portuguese in 1584 A.D.
The
Tripura Sundari Temple is presently run by the State Govt. as per the condition
of Tripura Merger Agreement. The District Magistrate & Collector
of Gomati District is by virtue of Chair holds the post of ‘Sevait’ of the
temple. The DM & Collector, Gomati District is Member-Secretary and
look after the entire management of the temple.
The Temple
For brief details, please refer below link;
Poojas
The
Temple is opened before 04.00 AM and Mangal Arati is performed to Goddess. Dry
sweet (perah) is offered. The Goddess is decorated with new cloths and
ornaments after her ritual bath at 08.00 AM. The daily pooja is offered from
10.30 AM to 12.00 Noon. Various sacrifices like goat, buffalo, pigeon, hen,
etc. are made after 12.30 P.M. Sacrifice is also offered daily except Dashami
Tithi as per custom. Anna Bhog is performed at 02.00 PM. Goddess retires
for half an hour from 02.00 PM to 02.30 PM.
The
lunch offered to deity during Bhog is distributed as prasad to pilgrims at
02.30 PM. The Temple doors will be opened at 03.30 PM for pilgrims. Sandhya
Arati is performed at 07.00 PM. Baikalik (Supper) is offered to Goddess at
09.30 PM. Sayana Arati is performed at 10.00 PM. The Pilgrims can offer their
puja any time between Mangal Arati and Sayana Arati except during 2.00 pm to
3.30 pm.
Festivals
Every
year on Diwali, a famous Mela takes place near the Tripura Sundari Temple which
is visited by more than two lakhs pilgrims. Durga Puja and Kali Puja are among
the other most celebrated festivals here.
Religious Significance
For brief details, please refer below link;
Priests
King Dhanya
Manikya had brought 2 priests namely, Sri Lakshminarayan Pandey and Sri
Gadadhar Pandey from Kannauj for performing Poojas for Goddess Tripura Sundari.
Sri Lakshminarayan Pandey belonged to Sandilya Gotra while Sri Gadadhar Pandey
belonged to Batsaba Gotra. The two families brought in 1501 A.D have now grown
to 18 families (15 in Sandilya Bansa and 3 in Batsaba Bansa). These 18 families
share among themselves the priest hood of the temple.
The 3
families of Batsaba Gotra get 182 days puja (91 days shared between 2 families
and 91 days taken by the remaining one family), while the remaining 183 days
puja in a year is performed by the 15 families of Sandilya Gotra. Of them, only
one family gets 45 days puja, 8 families perform 46 days puja, 3 families
perform 45 days puja and the remaining 3 families perform puja for the
remaining 47 days in a year. These priests are not paid by the Government. They
survive by the Pooja offerings given by the pilgrims.
Contact
Tripura
Sundari Temple,
Udaipur,
Gomati District,
Tripura
– 799 013
Mobile: +91 96128 64252
Connectivity
The
Temple is located at about 2.5 Kms from Udaipur Railway Station, 4 Kms from Rajarbagh
Bus Stand, 53 Kms from Nagerjala Bus stand, 55 Kms from Agartala and 64 Kms
from Agartala Airport. The Temple is well linked to this place by road. NH 44
connects the state with many north eastern states by road. Buses from Nagerjala
Bus stand, Agartala are found throughout the day to Tripura Sundari Temple,
Train from Agartala runs twice to Udaipur a day except Sunday.
Location
