Cuttak Chandi Temple is an ancient temple located in the Indian state of Orisaa. The temple dedicated to Goddess Chandi is located to the south of the Barabati area. The temple is visited by hundreds of devotees. The image of the deity is older than the temple. As per the scriptures, Goddess Chandi has four hands, known as Pasa, Ankusha, Abhaya, Bara. She is worshipped as Bhubaneswari while chanting Bhubaneswari Mantra.
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.
Presently Raja Sailendra Narayan Bhanjadeo of Kanika was declared as the Trustee by High Court, while Dayanidhi Panda`s family vested as Hereditary Sevak.
