Maa Charchika Temple, Banki, Cuttack District

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Maa Charchika Temple is one of the oldest shakti places located in Banki of Cuttack district, Odisha. It is one of Odisha’s most famous Shakti Shrines.

Maa Charchika is worshipped as Chamunda with the eight-armed goddess. She wears a garland of human skulls and sits atop a prostrate human body with her four right hands. She depicts khadga, shula, katari and varadamudra whereas in her four left hands with also severed head, blood-cup, “damru,” and a finger of the remaining hand saturated in blood.

Details of Maa Charchika Temple

Parashurama is said to have developed the Charchika. A wooden mandapa known as the “sunyavahini mandapa” can be found at the temple. This temple dates from the 9th to 10th centuries but was rebuilt in the 19th century. The mandapa’s ceiling is built of wood, while the pillars are made of stone. The mandpa’s hardwood ceiling is adorned with scenes from the Bhagavata Purana.