7. Bata-Mangala Temple (in Puri)

The temple of Bata-Mangala is exactly located 5 kms to the north east of the Jagannatha temple on the right side of the main road, which lies from Puri to Bhubaneswar. It is a small temple dedicated to goddess of auspicious locally called as Bata Mangala. Generally, pilgrims come to Puri and go from Puri after prayer to the goddess for the safe of their journey. The temple of Bata Mangala consists of two structures such as vimana and jagamohana. This temple is built in sand stones and bricks. It faces to west. Vimana.The vimana of the temple is a small pidha deula and its height is about 15 feet from the ground. 38 The base of the structure is square of 8 feet. The bada of the vimana is devoid of decorative ornamentations. There is no parsvadevata image found in the central niche of the bada. So the side deities of the temple are completely absent in central niches. The bada of the vimana is surmounted by the pyramidal superstructure. It consists of three pidhas and each pidha is decorated with tankus in all sides. The mastaka of the temple consists of beki, ghanta (bell shaped member) above which there is another beki, amalaka sila, khapuri, kalasa, ayudha (cakra) and dhvaja. The sanctum preserves goddess Mangala as the presiding deity of the temple. The four armed image of devi Mangala has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal of 2 feet high. Her right upper hand holds conch, the left upper hand possesses trident and the lower two hands display abhaya and varada mudra respectively. The slab of devi Mangala is about 2 feet in height and it is made of black-chlorite. The inner walls of the sanctum are completely plain. 267

The sanctum has one doorway towards the jagamohana. The doorjamb of the sanctum is surmounted by the makara headed arch. The navagrahas are carved on the architrave above the doorway lintel and they are all in yogasana posture with usual attributes in their hands. There is an image of Ganesa carved on the above the navagraha slab. The doorway of the sanctum is about 4 1/2 feet in height. The figures of Vyaghra mukhi and Simha mukhi are installed on the both sides of the doorway. They are acting as the dvarapalas of the temple. The frontside outer wall of the vimana is covered with marbles. The vimana is thickly plastered with lime mortar. Jagamohana or Mukhasala:The jagamohana of the temple is a flat roof deula and its height is about 12 feet. This structure is built in 1980's. The base of the jagamohana is square of 30 feet. The three side outer walls of the jagamohana are completely plain. Lion, the conventional mount of goddess Mangala is noticed in the floor of the jagamohana. The niches of the northern side inner wall of the jagamohana contain images of Dasamahavidya s. These images are made of black-chlorite and installed in a row as the side deities of goddess Mangala. They are such as Kali, Tara, Bhairavi, Bhubanesvari, Chhinna Masta, Sodasi, Dhumavati, Bagala, Matangi and Kamala. Kali: The four armed image of Kali stands on the prostrait body of Siva, who lies upon the single petalled lotus pedestal. She displays a pot of blood in right upper hand, varada mudra in right lower hand, khadga in left upper hand and cutting head in left lower hand. The backside head of the image is decorated with trefoil arch. Here devi is wearing a garland of beads in her body. Tara: - The four armed image of Tara has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. She holds khadga in left upper hand, flower in left lower hand, agni dhupa in right upper hand and the right lower hand is completely broken. Here devi is sitting on the carpet of tiger skin and she wears necklace in her neck. Bhairavi : - The four armed image of devi Bhairavi has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. She holds sankha in right upper hand, pasa amkusa in right lower hand, bow in left upper hand and arrow in left lower hand. She is carved in seated posture on the carpet of tiger skin. The backside head of devi is decorated with flower medallion. 268

Bhubanesvari: - The four armed image of devi Bhubanesvari has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. She displays trident in right upper hand, : varada mudra in left lower hand respectively. The background slab of the deity is carved with flower medallion. Chhinna Masta: - The two armed image of Chhinna Masta has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal, which is carved with a figure of jackle in it. She holds khadga in right hand and cutting head in left hand. Blood is being sprayed from her cutting neck portion (head less deity). Two female attendant figures are carved in standing on the both sides of devi (Chhinna Masta). Sodasi: The four armed image of Sodasi has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. She displays jataka (haroscope) in right upper hand, rosary in left upper hand, varada mudra in right lower hand and abhaya mudra in left lower hand respectively. The back side of the head of devi is also decorated with flower medallion. Dhumavati: - The two armed image of Dhumavati has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. Her right hand displays abhaya mudra while the left-hand holds a kula (winnowing fan). The pedestal of the devi is carved with two wheels. Bagala: The two armed image of Bagala has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. Her right hand displays pasa ankusa and the left hand has kept on the mouth of an asura. She is sitting on the body of an asura. The backside of the head of devi Bagala is decorated with a big flower medallion. Matangi:- The four armed image of Matangi has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. She displays abhaya mudra in right upper hand, varada mudra in right lower hand, jataka (haroscope) in left lower hand. She wears a garland of flowers in her body. Kamala: The four armed image of Kamala has been installed on the double petalled lotus pedestal. She holds padma in right upper hand as well as in left upper hand, the right lower hand displays abhaya mudra and the left lower hand exhibits varada mudra respectively. The backside of the head of devi is decorated with a flower medallion.. The western side inner wall of the jagomohana contains an image of Mahavira Hanumana. The image of Hanumana (Mahavira) is installed on the plain 269

pedestal. His right hand displays gada and the left hand holds a huge rock (Gandha Mardana parvata) The doorjambs of the jagomohana are completely undecorated and it is surmounted by the trefoil makara headed arch. Two lions are projected on the both sides of the gateway (doorway). The figure of Mahisamardini Durga is depicted on the top of the doorway (gateway). The frontside top wall of the jagamohana is decorated with images of different deities. i The top of the leftside wall of the jagamohana is decorated with Caturdha murtis such as Jagannatha, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarsana Cakra. They are all housed in the caitya shaped arch. There is a fine painting of goddess Laksmi depicted beneath the Caturdha murtis. A big conch is noticed in the left side of the Caturdha murtis. In the right side of the outer top wall of the jagamoghana is decorated with Dasamahavidya figures, which are also noticed in the inner wall of the jagamohana. They are housed in the caitya shaped arch and also depicted with paintings. They possess as usual attributes in their hands. Beneath these figures, there is a painting of Durga seated on lion. She holds trident, lotus flower sword, cakra etc. in her hands. Though the temple of goddess Mangala does not show any novelty in architecture but it occupies a prominent place in the cultural history of Orissa. According to mythological episode, once Brahma came to Sriksetra to construct the temple of Lord Visnu, at that time, he was diverted on his way and then goddess Mangala led him to the proper way to Sriksetra. After that Brahma installed devi Mangala in this place, hence this place came to be known as 'Bata Mangala. On the basis of the architentural features, the construction period of the present temple of Bata Mangala can be tentatively assigned to the 16th century AD.