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In Odisha, India, Charchika Temple is one of the oldest Shakti shrines. It’s in the little town of Banki in the Cuttack district of Odisha. Chamunda, the eight-armed goddess, is the presiding deity, commonly known as Maa Charchika Devi. She wears a garland of human skulls and sits atop a prostrate human body. With her four right hands, she depicts Khadga, Shula, Katari, and Varadamudra, whereas, in her four left hands, she depicts a severed head, blood-cup, “damru,” and a finger of the remaining hand saturated in blood. This temple is located on top of Ruchika Parvata, a small mountain on the banks of the Renuka river in the small town of Banki in Odisha’s Cuttack district.

History :
The current temple was built in the nineteenth century. The enshrining god Maa Charchika, however, can be dated to the 9th – 10th century A.D., i.e. the Bhaumakara dynasty in Odisha, from an iconographic standpoint. Parashurama is thought to have built the Charchika idol. A pidha vimana, jagamohana, and a wooden mandapa called as “sunyavahini mandapa” of the poor Kalingan order can be found in the temple. The temple is made of stone, with a thick layer of lime plaster and a whitewash covering the entire surface. The mandapa’s ceiling is built of wood, while the pillars are made of stone. The mandapa’s ceiling is ornately carved and decorated. The mandap’s wooden ceiling is adorned with scenes from the Bhagavata Purana, with the interspersed decoration of animals and birds such as elephants, parrots, and peacocks, ducks; floral motifs, lotus medallions, scroll and jali works, makaramukha, Gaja-Vidalas, horse rider, mithuna, animal hunting, and maithuna images; and floral motifs, lotus medallions, On the north, west, and south sides of the parsvadevata niches, four-armed Chamunda, four-armed Mahisasuramardini Durga, and an eight-armed Chamunda are correspondingly enshrined.
The flood of 1982 resurrected the Renuka River. It is said that one devotee who worshipped Maa Charchika, after pleasing her, removed all of Maa Charchika’s decorations and built a mansion where the river now flows. Maa Charchika was so enraged by this that she created River Renuka to punish him and destroy his home. This temple is located in Banki’s heart. The temple receives the greatest visitors during Durga Puja, a Hindu holiday held in October when thousands of devotees flock to be blessed. Kumar Purnima, a Hindu festival held five days after Dusshera, is well-known in this region.

At Mathura, near the Yamuna River, there is another Maa Charchika Temple.

Bhadrakali Temple is in the Bhadrak district of Odisha, India, on the fringes of the revenue village Aharapada. The temple is located in the southwest of Bhadrak town, at a distance of 8 kilometers. According to popular belief, the town’s name was taken from the deity’s name.

Goddess :
The goddess is seated in a lotus pose on a lion in a black granite statue. Every day from 6:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and again from 3 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., the temple is open to visitors and devotees. According to the goddess’s nomenclature, it is believed that the goddess Kali is being adored in this Bhadrakali Pitha. However, because the goddess is perched on a lion, one school of thought believes she is Durga. According to mythology, a sage named Tapasa Rushi worshipped Bhadrakali inside a cave in the Meghasana hill of the Mayurbhanj region. After the sage’s death, one of his students, Bhadranatha, transported the goddess to Bhadrak’s Bhunyamahalla. The Dikshit’s relocated her to her current location to safeguard the deity from Kalapahad. Crowds assemble primarily around Vijaya Dashami and Deepavali to seek the blessings of the benevolent mother.

The Biraja Temple, also known as Birija Kshetra (Odia: ), is a medieval Hindu temple in Jajpur, Odisha, India, about 125 kilometers (78 miles) north of Bhubaneswar. The current temple dates from the 13th century. The temple gave Jajpur the nicknames “Viraja Kshetra” and “Biraja Peetha” after Devi Durga, who is worshipped as Viraja (Girija). The Durga idol has two hands (dwibhuja), one for spearing Mahishasura’s chest and the other for pulling his tail. One of her feet is on Mahishasura’s breast, while the other is on a lion. Like a water buffalo, Mahishasura is represented. Ganesha, a crescent moon, and a lingam are all depicted on the idol’s crown. The temple is huge and has multiple shrines dedicated to Shiva and other gods. It is known as the Viraja or Biraja kshetra, according to the Skanda Purana, and it cleanses pilgrims. Around one million Shiva lingams are said to exist in Jajpur.

In Tantra :

The hymn “Aadya Stotra” is dedicated to Shakti in the Brahmayamala Tantra. Vimala is the goddess of Puri in the hymn, while Viraja (Girija) is the goddess of the Utkala Kingdom, which later became Odisha.

Sati’s navel fell in the Utkala Kingdom, also known as “Viraja Kshetra,” according to the Tantra Chudamani. In his Ashtadasha Shakti Peetha Stuti, Adi Shankara refers to the deity as Girija. The Oddiyana Peetha (Devnagari:) is a Tantra pilgrimage site in eastern India near the Vaitarani River (an Oddiyana is an ornament worn by a woman around her navel).

Festivals and Rituals :

Sharadiya Durga Puja, which begins on the night of Krishna Paksha Ashtami, is the temple’s most important ritual. This begins on Ashwin Shukla Paksha Navami and concludes on Mahalaya. The Shodasha Dinatatmika Puja takes 16 days to complete. Simhadhwaja is the name of the Ratha (chariot festival), and its flag features a lion. An animal sacrifice, known as Bali Daanam, is done during the lunar change from Shukla Ashtami to Shukla Navami. Aparajita Puja is held during Navratri.

Nakshatra, Shravana, Prathamastami, Pana Sankranti, Raja Parva, and Navanna are some of the other festivals. The Brahmins of Jajpur worship Devi as Mahishasuramardini daily, according to Tantra and Agama traditions.

Transportation :
Cuttack and Jajpur Keonjhar Road are the closest railway stations. Regular buses to Jajpur town are available from there. In Orissa, mostly private buses run regularly. Cuttack railway station is connected by autos to Barabati bus stand, which is only 3 kilometers away. It takes 2 to 2+12 hours to get from Cuttack to Jajapur town by bus. Traveling by road from Jajpur road to Jajpur town will take more than an hour. Buses from Bhubaneswar are also available. Buses with the word “express” inscribed on them are faster than regular buses.

The temple of the goddess Bhagabati, the patron deity of the Indian town of Banapur in the state of Odisha, has gained notoriety as a religious center. Banapur was once the capital of the Sailodhvaba dynasty, which was responsible for the construction of Bhubaneswar’s early temples. The numerous Buddhist images uncovered at Banapur link the city to the Vajrayana Buddhist cult.
The Orissa High Court ordered the state government to ensure that no animal sacrifices are performed at the temple during Dussehra on October 5, 2010.