Cuttack Chandi Temple

The Cuttack Chandi Temple is an ancient temple dedicated to the Goddess Chandi, the presiding deity of Cuttack, Orissa. The temple is located nearby the banks of the Mahanadi River. It is famous for the annual Durga Puja and Kali Puja festivals. The Durga Puja festivities are prominent in Maa Katak Chandi temple which takes place for 16 days stating from dark fortnight of Ashwina Krishna Ashtami till Ashwina shukla navami and Vijayadashami. The goddess popularly called as Maa Katak Chandi, sits and rules on the heart of the ancient city.She has four hands holding Paasha(noose),Ankusha(goad),gestures dispelling fear(Abhaya),and granting boon(Varada). She is worshiped as Bhuvaneshvari (the queen of universe) by Sevayatas belonging to Utkala Brahmins everyday. Maa Chandi is worshipped in various incarnations of Durga during the puja. In Cuttack, people strongly believe Maa Katak Chandi as ‘The Living Goddess’.

History of Cuttack Chandi Temple

The present piece of land, where the holy temple is located, was lying fallow before.

Late Sri Hansa Panda who was the priest of the then King of Kanika used to graze cattle`s and sheep`s in the land. One day tired of work Sri Panda was resting on a heap of dry mud present there. While taking rest, he experienced a strange unusual feeling within himself. On the same night, Goddess `Chandi` appeared in his dream and requested him to take her out of the land. Panda immediately reported the matter to the king. With the help of the king, Hansa Panda began dugging up the same piece of land. It is being said that around forty bullock carts of Red Sindoor came out while digging and then emerged The Deity of Maa Katak Chandi. Thus the temple of goddess Chandi was erected on the same land. The people of Cuttack strongly believe and revere Maa Katak Chandi as The Living Goddess.

After the death of Sri Hansa Panda, his only son Late Sri Lakhana Panda began worshipping the Goddess in the same process and procedure. He was blessed with four daughters, named Champa, Tulasi, Mali and Malati who also helped him in the temple work. Late Lakhana Panda always wished to have a son and thus prayed to the godess to fulfill his desires. It is said that Goddess Chandi had blessed him with a son named Sri Dayanidhi Panda. He also like his father followed the footprint of his predecessors. The temple came to lime light during Sri Dayanidhi Panda. Devotees began to throng the temple premises. Dayanidhi Panda later had six sons, who presently perform the rituals of the deity. They are namely Sri Narayan Panda, Sri Narahari Panda, Sri Somnath Panda, Sri Chakradhar Panda, Sri Loknath Panda and Sri Ratnakar Panda.

Present Status of the Land of the Deity:

Raja Sailendra Narayan Bhanjadeo of Kanika was declared as Heritary Trustee by High Court, while Dayanidhi Panda’s family vested as Heritary Sevak.
Again, the Honorable High Court gave the order to frame a scheme for the temple. Now the institution of Kataka Chandi is managed under the said scheme. The management board comprises reputed persons of the locality along with top government officials for the management of the holy institution. One Executive Officer has been appointed by the commissioner to look after the functions of the temple.