Maa Vimala Temple – History, Timings, and Best Time To Visit
Do you know? It is believed that Maa Vimala is the guardian of the temple complex and one must offer prayers to her first before offering prayers to Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra. Even the foods offered to Jagannath do not get sanctified as Mahaprasad until it’s offered to Maa Vimala.
One can automatically feel the aura of Maa on the periphery of the temple, with the fragrant incense sticks and the flowers which are so beautifully woven into a garland to be offered to Maa surely giving a sense of devotion with the tint of peace.
One of the four Shakti Pithas in Odisha is the Vimala Temple situated inside Puri’s well-known Jagannath Temple. Goddess Vimala, who is also revered as Goddess Parvati or Goddess Durga, is the shrine’s presiding deity. Other names for this temple are Sri Vimala Shakti Pitha, Puri Shakti Pitha, and Sri Bimala Temple.
Madala Panji asserts that Yayati Keshari, a leader of the Somavanshi Dynasty, constructed the Vimala Temple in the sixth century. The Jagannath Temple’s record book, known as the Mandala Panji, has an account of all the occasions that included Lord Jagannath and the Jagannath Temple.
However, the Vimala Temple’s architectural design shows that it dates to the ninth century and was built during the Eastern Ganga Dynasty. As a result, it is determined that the shrine may have been constructed in the sixth century, destroyed in some way, and then rebuilt in the ninth century. The Archaeological Survey of India, Bhubaneswar Circle, repaired the temple in 2005.
According to the Hindu calendar, Durga Puja is the biggest festival observed in the temple during the month of Ashvin. On Vijayadashami (the final day of Dussehra), the Gajapati King of Puri worships the goddess as part of the festivities.
The food prepared for Lord Jagannath is offered to Goddess Vimala before it is served as Mahaprasad, which is an intriguing aspect of the temple. However, special non-vegetarian food is prepared and served to the goddess solely during Durga Puja.
Architecture Of Vimala Temple, Puri
The architecture of Vimala Temple is in the traditional Deula style. The temple is located in the southwest corner of the grounds of the Jagannath temple. Sandstone and laterite are used to construct the shrine. It is a temple that faces east and has four primary components: a vimana, a jagamohana, a nata mandira, and a bhoga mandapa. The main sanctuary is called Vimana, while the assembly hall is called Jagamohana, the festival hall is called Nata Mandira, and the offering hall is called Bhoga Mandapa.
Chlorite stone makes up the idol of the temple’s primary deity. The idol, which is seated on a fully opened lotus flower, has four hands. The first-hand holds a rosary known as Akshyamala; the second hand holds a snake known as Nagaphasa; the third hand holds a pot known as Amrit Kalasa; and the fourth hand is shown in a blessing attitude.
Things To Explore In And Around Vimala Temple in Puri
Tourists can visit all of the shrines on the property because the Vimala Temple is a part of the Jagannath Temple complex. The premises also include the well-known Jagannath Temple, Lakshmi Temple, Ganesh Temple, Surya Narayan Temple, Narasimha Temple, Satya Narayan Temple, Bhubaneswari Temple, and others.
Devotees can also browse the on-site Anand Bazaar. Mahaprasad is offered for sale there in an outdoor setting. 56 different types of dishes are included in the daily Mahaprasad offered to Lord Jagannath. Everything tastes great. The Mahaprasad is available for purchase by visitors, who can either eat it inside the temple or outside. There is a lovely garden outside the temple’s entrance gate where visitors can unwind. Outside the temple, there is a market where sellers offer food, Puja items, toys, bangles, lovely handcrafted things, paintings, etc.
Entry Timing into Vimala Temple
Every day from 5 am to 10 pm, it is open for devotees to pay their offerings and prayers.
How to Travel To Vimala Temple
Auto rickshaws, battery-operated rickshaws, municipal buses, and private taxis are easily accessible throughout the city, making it simple to go to the temple. The Vimala Temple is almost 3 Kilometers away from the Puri Railway Station and can be easily traveled in 11 minutes. The Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar is the closest airport to Puri.
It takes roughly 1 hour and 14 minutes to travel the approximately 60.2 Kilometers from the airport to the Vimala Temple. Visitors can take a private taxi from Bhubaneswar to get to the shrine, or they can take the rail or bus, which runs frequently between Bhubaneswar and Puri.
Things To Remember While Visiting Vimala Temple
- Food, electronics, and leather are prohibited inside the temple. A dedicated area outside the main gate has been set aside for visitors to store their stuff.
- There is nearby parking for visitors.
- The temple has basic amenities including drinking water, a wheelchair, and a sitting space.
- It is best to visit the temple dressed traditionally.
With unwavering faith, devotees swarm to the Vimala Temple in search of the Goddess’ blessings and consolation. Instilling a sense of continuity and cultural legacy, the sacred ceremonies and traditional practices carried out here link the current generation to the long-standing customs of their predecessors. A reminder of the continuing force of religion and the deeply ingrained spirituality that permeates every area of life in Puri may be seen in the temple’s calm ambiance and the worshipers’ unwavering commitment. As a result of the Vimala Temple’s holiness and peace, it is a beloved destination for pilgrims and spiritual searchers who take the goddess Vimala’s blessings with them as they proceed through life.