The Temple of Seven Mother Goddess
This Temple is situated on the embankment of a big similar Temple built at Dasasvamadha Ghat of Yajpur built in the tenth century by the Somavamsi Kings. Brahmi, Maheswari, Andri, Kaumari, Vaisnavi, Varahi and Camanda are known as the seven mother goddesses. Sometimes Narssimha replaces Vaisnavi, a female form of the Man-lion incarnation of Lord Vishnu. However, the shrine of the seven mother Goddesses at the pond Markanda proves very well that once upon a time Puri was a bonafide Sakta Pitha and Goddess Vimala was the presiding deity of this pitha. Therefore in the Matsya Purana it is clearly mentioned - “Gangayam Mangala nama Vimala Purusottame”. As such Puri has a special attraction not only for the Vaisnavs, but for the Saktas and Saivas too. The importance of the five Siva Temples, i.e., Panch Mahadevas goes without saying that Puri is all along an attractive spot for the Saivas of India. Being situated on the top of the religious triangle Bhubaneswar and Konark this sacred pitha conglomerates all sorts of religious sects in its own fold.
