Mangala Temple, Kakatpur

The Maa Mangala Temple located in Kakatpur, Odisha is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Goddess Mangala, a form of Goddess Durga. The temple dates back to the 15th century. Let us know about Maa Mangala and how it is connected to the Jagannath Temple.

Table of Contents

1. Where is the Maa Mangala Temple located?
2. History of Mangala Temple
3. Architecture of Mangala Temple
4. How is Mangala Temple related to Puri Jagannath?
5. Time to visit Mangala Temple
6. Offerings offered to Maa Mangala
7. Festivals and Rituals

Where is the Maa Mangala Temple located?

The Maa Mangala Temple is located in Kakatpur, Odisha on the east coast of India. Kakatpur is located about 21 km from Konark in Puri district of Odisha.
History of Mangala Temple
The Maa Mangala Temple located in Kakatpur, Odisha has a rich legend associated with its history and origin. According to local folklore, Goddess Mangala hid herself under the waters of the Prachi River. One day, a boatman was unable to cross the river in full spate when Maa Mangala appeared in his dream and asked him to retrieve her from the middle of the river and install her in Mangalpur village. The boatman dived into the water and brought back the idol of the goddess and built the temple. Later, the boatman saw a black crow diving into the river at the exact spot from where the idol of the goddess was recovered, but the crow never came out. In the local Odia language, "crow" means "kaka" and "detained" means "attaka." Thus, the village is known as "Kakatpur" and the goddess is named Kakatapur Mangala. The temple is believed to have been built in the 15th century by Panchanan Mitra (Roychudamoni) in 1548 AD. It is a major pilgrimage site for devotees of the Shakti cult and is known for its architectural beauty and spiritual significance.

Architecture of Mangala Temple

The architecture of the Mangala temple reflects the traditional Orissan style of architecture, characterised by its tall shikhara and intricately carved stone carvings. The temple is built in typical Kalinga style, symbolising the ancient heritage of Kalinga. The architecture of the temple is a typical example of the Utkaliya Peedha Vimana style, with carvings of Goddess Mangala in typical Orissan style, with Khilana and Prabha in her seat. The temple has a bed made of solid stone, on which Goddess Mangala is said to rest after touring the entire universe every day. The bed appears worn, as if it has been in use for centuries.

How is Mangala Temple related to Puri Jagannath?

The Maa Mangala Temple at Kakatpur in Odisha has significant connections with the Puri Jagannath Temple. The Mangala Temple is related to Puri Jagannath because of the following reasons.

Divine Guidance for Nabakalebar: During the Nabakalebar festival, when the wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra are replaced, the priests of the Puri Jagannath temple seek divine guidance from Goddess Mangala at Kakatpur. It is believed that the Goddess comes to them in their dreams and tells them the location of the three sacred Daru Brahma trees from which the new idols are made.

Ritual Practices: During the Nabakalebar ritual, the rituals of Lord Jagannath are performed at the temple of Maa Mangala at Kakatpur. The servitors of the Lord Jagannath temple visit Kakatpur to seek blessings from Goddess Mangala so that they can locate the sacred neem trees from which the idols of the deities are made.

Dream Guidance: The priests of the Puri Jagannath temple lie down in the temple of Maa Mangala and wait for divine instructions from the Goddess. It is believed that the Goddess comes to them in their dreams and tells them where the trees can be located.

Historical Significance: The association between Maa Mangala and Puri Jagannath dates back to ancient times. The Goddess is considered a living goddess who bestows benevolence and blessings to the needy, and her guidance is crucial for the successful completion of the Nabakalebara rituals.

Time to visit Mangala Temple

Morning: 9:30 am to 1:30 pm
Evening: 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm
On special occasions or festivals, the timings may vary from the regular schedule. The temple is open to devotees from 5 am to 10 pm daily, and there is no entry fee to enter the premises. The temple authorities may charge a nominal fee to perform special pujas and rituals.

Offerings to Maa Mangala

Mahaprasad is offered to Goddess Mangala after the holy bath in the morning at the Maa Mangala Temple in Kakatpur, Odisha. It is an important part of the temple rituals, especially during the Nabakalebara rituals of Lord Jagannath.

Festivals and Rituals

Jhamu Yatra

Jhamu Yatra is the most popular festival of Goddess Mangala, which falls on the first Tuesday of the month of Vaisakha (April-May) every year. On this occasion, devotees collect water from the Prachi River and pray to get the blessings of the Goddess. They then walk on the surface of a long channel filled with burning fire, carrying an earthen pot filled with water on their shoulders. Due to their faith in Goddess Mangala and her blessings, the devotees remain safe and secure while performing this risky custom. Thousands of devotees visit Kakatpur every year to celebrate Jhamu festival.

Nabakalebara
Maa Mangala Temple has a close connection with the Puri Jagannath Temple during the Nabakalebar festival, when new wooden idols of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra are replaced.
According to tradition, priests of the Puri Jagannath temple visit Kakatpur to pray to Goddess Mangala for help in locating the sacred wood,from which new idols are made. The priests offer the items brought for the Banajaga Yatra to the goddess, and she tells them the location of the sacred trees in dreams. This tradition has been performed without any change for years, which shows the power and blessings of Goddess Mangala.