Bhattarika Temple Badamba

Bhattarika Temple to be found in sasanga village,baramba, Athgarh, Cuttack District, India is dedicated to the Hindu Goddess Maa Bhattarika worshipped as a demonstration of Shakti. The temple is situated on the banks of the River Mahanadi. As per Puranic tradition Parasuram facing certain defeat at the hands of Saharasjuna prayed to Durga who appeared on this spot to impart her divine power to the aid of Parashuram.

Shakta Pitha Bhattarika of Badamba in the district of Cuttack is one of the notable holy place of Orissa, India. This sacred pitha is associated with Devi Bhattarika. The river Mahanadi the longest river of Orissa flows in the side of the temple of the Bhattarika. The river is deep here. In the foot of the Ratnagiri hill temple of Bhattarika is located. River Mahanadi, Ratnagirihill, temple of Bhattarika, and famous places like Narayana, Nilamadhava, Vindhyavasini, Simhanath attract thousands of Pilgrims, devotees and tourists.Near mahakali temple in Dasharathi pur G.P (kharoda)holi place in baramba.

According to a popular legend this pitha is established by Parsuram and also he carved the image of goddess in the tip of his arrow. In this pitha Parsurama penanced to gain mercy of the deity to kill Bhattas or Kshetriyas. The Goddess became pleased with him and offered him the desired boom. So the Pitha is associated to the epic age. According to the Oriya Ramayan, Ram, Lakshmana and Sita on their way to Panchvati paid prayer to the Goddess Bhattarika. The Mankadagadia hill on the other side of Mahanadi where the foot mark of Ram, Lakshmana and Sita are worshipped is also quite significant.

Another local legend says that Krishna and Satyabhama visited Bhattarika and it was revealed to Arjun during his Agyantavasa. The Demon Gosimha kidnapped Satyabhama in disguise during that period. Arjun foughtbravely and killed Gosimha demon. After that Krishna,Satyabhama and Arjun prayed Goddess Bhattarika; the presiding deity of the Badamba royal family.

The term Bhattarika has different meaning. According to History and legend of Badambagada, Gajapati of Orissa ordered Hattakishor and Mallakishor the two brothers to establish two villages named Sankha and Mahuri. After that they became king in that place. Tribal chief of that area opposed these two brothers when they tried to construct Fort. A terrible battle was fought and finallytribal chief and his wife died in the battle. Before death the wife of the tribal chief advised king Hattakishore to worship the deity Bhattarika. Another name of the deity Bhattarika is Bruhatamba. The king named his state Bhuhadamba bearing the name of the Goddess. But latter it is known as Badamba.

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Devi Bhattarika seated in Lalitasana holding a lotus in one hand and the other hand in Varadamudra,Another image close to her is in Lalitasana with four hands Pasha, Ankusha, Bow and Arrow which is called Para Bhattarika. She is suryopasanatatpara. It is seen that the sun God is worshiped here. In the Jagamohan of the Bhattarika temple an image of sun god is kept. Another meaning of the Devi Bhattarika is "respectable lady." Devi Bhattarika associated with eight small images, five in padmasana and three in Lalitasana. The associated images are Prabha, Maya, Jaya, Sukshma, Visuddha, Suprabha and Abhaya. According to Buddhist "Yogachara" system the Devi is seated in the centre of Chakra associated with eight deties. The priest worships the goddess as Rajarajeswari, Mahamaya, Shodashi, Tripura Sundari, Para Bhattarika. Some research scholars opine that the place was linked with Buddhism.

At the time of Bhaumakara rule the particular place was associated with tantric Buddhism. The Somavamsis who were dead enemies of Buddhism might have converted the pitha into the Hindu fold. The tiny Buddhist image is now placed in the central niche. The present tara image appears to be a later insertion. The worshippers of the goddess Bhattarika are non-Brahmin, this brings about a folk character of the deity. In the daily ritual of the deity the cooked fish is offered. Devi Bhattarika is considered as the deity of navigation and the Fisherman community. The popular myths,legends, archaeological evidence prove that Bhattarika Pitha has been Shakta Pith.
Note- This blog is presented by my friend Sanjay from baramba, Athgarh, Cuttack.