Spiritual PlaceHindu temple

Bata Mangala Temple, Puri

Shrine of the goddess Mangala 7 km from Puri, where pilgrims customarily pray before going on to Jagannath

Photo: Aditya Mahar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

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01 — The story

Bata Mangala Temple, dedicated to the goddess Mangala, lies 7 km from the holy town of Puri in Odisha. Devotees heading for the Jagannath Temple hold it in reverence, and it is the custom to stop and pray here before continuing to Jagannath.

A legend explains the link. When Brahma first came into being, he was bewildered by the vast emptiness around him; Bata Mangala appeared and led him to Jagannath, and with his focus restored, Brahma went on with the work of creating the cosmos.

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02 — About

Coming soon

We’re still writing about Bata Mangala Temple, Puri: its history, what’s there and why it’s worth the trip.