Charchika Temple
The temple of goddess Charchika is situated on a mountain at Banki town of Cuttack district, by the side of the river Mahanadi and associated with Lord Parashuram who had long meditation before goddess Charchika to get rid of the sin of matricide. The temple of goddess Charchika is situated on a mountain at Banki town of Cuttack district, by the side of the river Mahanadi and associated with Lord Parashuram who had long meditation before goddess Charchika to get rid of the sin of matricide. So the place is known as Parashuram pitha. A river named Renuka (the name of the mother of Parashuram) was flowing by the side of the mountain in the long past. One of the kings of Dhala dynasty had constructed this temple. Though the main temple is architecturally of no attraction, its front wooden pavilion preserves Orissan antique art and architecture in wooden carving. The thickets encircling the temple have been replaced by a small town.
The presiding deity fixed to the back wall of sanctum – sanctorum has withered and a replica is kept in the central niche of the outer Southern wall of the main shrine which may be well identified with a Chamunda standing on a dead body, fully undressed, with a garland of skull around her neck. Goddess Charchika with her eight hands displays sword, trident, snake, goad, garland of beads, boon, damaru (small double faced drum) and severed head etc. Goddess Charchika does not come under goddess of Vaishnavism. She is Chamunda, for which non-vegetarian food is offered daily. From iconographic and artistic point of view, she may be placed to Bhaumakara period of Orissa.
There are Pancha Mahadev and Sri Mangala inside the temple of Charchika. Pana Yatra, Jhamu Yatra, Durga Puja, Kumar Purnima, Basanti Puja and Dola Yatra are the important festivals where thousands of people swarm about. On eighth bright night of Durga Puja, a buffalo is offered to goddess Mangala. On Kumar Purnima, Charchika is dressed up in Kumari attire. Brahmin Sevakas were engaged in the worship of Goddess by the kings and landed property allotted to them to meet the expenses of the rituals, round the year.
