Puri Alamchandi Temple, Odisha

Address

Puri Alamchandi Temple, Odisha

Kumbharpada, Puri district,

Odisha 752002

Amman

Alamchandi

Introduction

Alamchandi Temple is one of the Shakta shrines of Puri and is located in the Kumbharapara area near Atharanala Bridge of the Puri. Skanda Purana has made a reference to Goddess Alamchandi residing in the northern side of the Jagannath Temple, Puri to protect the Ratnavedi. Devi Alamchandi is generally considered as one of the Asthashaktis who protect the Antarvedi on the Nairuta (southwest) corner of Srikshetra.

Puranic Significance

There is no authentic historical record regarding the approximate date of the temple of Devi Alam Chandi. Dr. B.K. Ratha has mentioned that the Alam Chandi temple was constructed in the sixteenth century A.D. On the basis of the architectural features, the construction period of the temple can be tentatively assigned to the 2nd half of the 16th century A.D. However, the Natamandapa of the temple is built in the twentieth century.

The temple of Alamchandi is connected with the Saptapuri puja of Lord Jagannatha temple. On the day of Saptapuri Amabasya, Saptapuri is sent to this temple from the Jagannatha temple for bhoga.