>GreenC bot at 17:02, 20 April 2021

2021-04-20T17:02:38Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2018}}
{{Infobox Hindu temple
| name = Charchika Temple
| image = Charchika chamunda.jpg
| image_alt =
| caption =
| map_type = 
| map_caption = Location in Odisha
| coordinates = {{coor|20.377257|85.527682}}

| country = [[India]]
| state = [[Odisha, India|Odisha]]
| district = [[Cuttack district|Cuttack]]
| location = [[Banki, Orissa|Banki]]
| elevation_m =
| deity = [[Charchika]] ([[Chamunda]])
| festivals =
| architecture =
| temple_quantity =
| monument_quantity =
| inscriptions =
| established =
| creator =
| website =
}}
'''Charchika Temple''' is one of the oldest [[Shakta]] places in [[Odisha, India]]. It is located in a small town of [[Banki, Odisha|Banki]] of [[Cuttack district]] in [[Odisha]]. The presiding deity is an eight-armed goddess [[Chamunda]], locally known as Maa Charchika Devi. She is seated on a prostrate human body and wearing a [[Mundamala|garland of human skulls]]. She displays ''khadga'', ''shula'', ''katari'' and ''varadamudra'' in her four right hands whereas the four left hands represent severed head, blood-cup, ‘’damru’’ and leaving a finger of the remaining hand soaked in blood. This [[temple]] is situated on top of a small hillock Ruchika Parvata on the banks of the Renuka river in the small town of [[Banki, Orissa|Banki]] in [[Cuttack]] district of [[Odisha]].<ref>{{cite web |url= http://fullodia.com/sites/info/651 |title=Info: Maa Charchika temple |work=fullodia.com |year=2012 |quote=charchika temple is situated on Ruchika hills on the banks of the Renuka river |access-date=12 October 2012}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Charchika temple.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Charchika devi, the eight armed goddess]]
The present temple was reconstructed in the 19th century. But the remarkable point is the enshrining deity Maa Charchika on iconographical point of view can be assigned to the 9th – 10th centuries A.D. i.e. [[Bhauma-Kara dynasty|Bhaumakara]] rule in Odisha. It is believed that the Charchika idol was created by [[Parashurama]]. The temple has a ''pidha vimana'', ''jagamohana'' and a wooden ''mandapa'' known as "sunyavahini mandapa" of impoverished '''Kalingan''' order. Stone is used for the construction of the temple and the entire surface is thickly lime plastered and white washed. The ceiling of the mandapa is made of wood whereas the pillars are in stone. The ceiling of the mandapa is profusely carved and painted. The wooden ceiling of the mandpa is relieved with episodes from Bhagavata Purana with intervening decoration of animals and birds like - elephant, duck, parrot, peacock, etc.; floral motifs, lotus medallions, scroll and jali works, animal hunting, horse rider, ''gaja-vidalas'', ''makaramukha'', ''mithuna'' and ''maithuna images''. Besides, the ''parsvadevata'' niches enshrine four-armed Chamunda, four-armed Mahisasuramardini Durga and an eight-armed Chamunda on the north, west and southern side respectively.<ref>[http://ignca.nic.in/asi_reports/orcuttuck041.pdf Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts]</ref>

The Renuka River was recreated by the flood of 1982. It is believed that one devotee who worshiped Maa Charchika, after pleasing her, took away all ornaments of Maa Charchika and build a house where this river is currently flowing. As Maa Charchika was furious with this, she created this River Renuka to punish him and to destroy his home. This temple is situated in the heart of Banki. The temple is most frequently visited at the time of [[Durga Puja]], a Hindu festival in the month of October, when thousands of devotees come to be blessed. [[Kumar Purnima]], a [[Hindu]] festival celebrated 5 days after [[Dusshera]], is very famous here.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tourism.oriyaonline.com/charchika.html |title=Orissa Tourism - Charchika Temple, Maa Charchika, Temples of Orissa | tourism.oriyaonline.com |work=tourism.oriyaonline.com |year=2012 |quote=Kumarpurnima a Hindu festival celebrated 5 days after Dusshera is very famous here |access-date=12 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602070106/http://tourism.oriyaonline.com/charchika.html |archive-date=2 June 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

One more Temple of Maa Charchika is at [[Mathura]], near the [[Yamuna river]].

<gallery>
File:Charchika temple4.jpg|
File:Charchika temple5.jpg|

</gallery>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071024132743/http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/22/stories/2007102252770300.htm No animal sacrifices made during puja]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20101217063226/http://ignca.nic.in/asp/all.asp?projectid=orctk0410001 images of the temple]

{{Shakti temples in Orissa}}

[[Category:Hindu temples in Cuttack]]
[[Category:Shakti temples]]

Charchika Temple - Revision history

>GreenC bot at 17:02, 20 April 2021