Tara Tarini

Maa Tara Tarini Hill Shrine is situated on the holy Tarini Parvat ( also known as Ratnagiri / Purnagiri), on the south bank of River Rushikulya at a distance of 30 km from Berhampur city in Odisha, India. Embedded in the hoary past, mentioned in the Puranas and the Tantras as the main seat of Sakti worship since times immemorial, the Tara Tarini Hill Shrine is an important pre-historic Sakti center. It is believed to be the Sthana Peetha or Breast shrine of Adi Sakti. This Hill Shrine is one of the oldest Shrines of Mother Goddess and is considered as one amongst the four major ancient Sakti centers of India, which draw their origin from the limbs of the Corpse of “Mata Sati” in Satya Yuga. The popular belief is that Breast of Goddess Sati fell here and hence it is revered as the Stana Peetha of Adi Shakti.
Adi Shakti Peethas
The great mythological texts including the Shiva Purana, the Kalika Purana (the Asthashakti), and the Devi Bhagavata all recognize the four major Shakti Peethas. Like (Bimala, Pada Khanda) inside the Jagannath Temple, Puri, Odisha, (Tara Tarini) Sthana Khanda (Breasts), near Berhampur, Odisha, (Kamakshi, Yoni khanda) near Guwahati, Assam and (Dakhina Kalika, Mukha khanda) in Kolkata, West Bengal originated from the limbs of the Corpse of Mata Sati. In a hymn, the Kalika Purana (Asthashakti) clearly says:

“Vimala Pada khandancha,
Stana khandancha Tarini (Tara Tarini),
Kamakhya Yoni khandancha,
Mukha khandancha Kalika (Kali)
Anga pratyanga sangena
Vishnu Chakra Kshate nacha……..”
The abode of Maa Tara Tarini
Adi Shakti Goddesses Tara Tarini have been regarded as the presiding deity (Ista-Devi) in many parts of India and in most of the households in Odisha. The historically famous Jaugada rock edict of Emperor Asoka and the pious river Rishikulya, which has been described in Rig Veda as ‘Gangayah Jyestha Bhagini’ (i.e. the elder sister of the Ganges), are also present near this holy shrine.

Since time immemorial, Adyashakti is being worshiped here as Devi Tara Tarini on the blue capped holy mountain of Tarini Parvat/Kumari hills/Ratnagiri/Purnagiri. At the hill top a beautiful stone temple is the abode of Maa. Two stones anthropomorphized by the addition of gold and silver ornaments and shaped to be seen as human faces are the main Shrine of this temple which represents the Goddesses Tara and Tarini. In between them are placed two fully celebrated and beautiful brass heads as their Chalanti Pratima or their Living Image. Worship at this important centre of Shakta cult has been continuing since time immemorial.

By Ram Prasad Tripathy