Goddess Bata Mangala, who showed path to Lord Brahma to Jagannath temple

There are various parts of the pathway that lead one from Batamangala to the Grand Temple. The land of Lord Jagannath thus starts from Batamangala. According to mythology, Goddess Bata Mangala had shown the path to Lord Brahma to have the Darshan of the Lord Jagannath.

Puri: The holy town Puri has been considered as a famous centre of Vaisnavism and it is also recognized as the root place of Shakti. There is a temple dedicated to Goddess Mangala on the gateway to Puri, which is also known as Bata Mangala temple.

This temple is located at a distance of 3 kilometres from Atharanala on the road leading from Puri to Bhubaneswar, on State Highway No.8.

In Odia language 'Bata' means 'Way', since Goddess Mangala is enshrined on the way to Shreekhetra, she is known as Bata Mangala. The temple is revered by devotees on the way to the nearby Jagannath Temple. It is customary that devotees pray in this temple before they proceed to the Jagannath Temple.

Considered from the significance of all mythological descriptions, Maa Mangala has been described as a Goddess symbolic of a proper pathfinder in life.

According to old mythological legends, Goddess Mangala is worshipped as a universal divine guide. She is also believed as the displayer of right and proper directions to all her devotees.

It is believed in some as per the mythological stories, the King Indradyumna, in order to consecrate Sri Jagannath temple, went to the abode of Lord Brahma in heaven and invited him to come down to the earth to perform the ritual. When King Indradyumna and Lord Brahma descended on the earth, they missed the way to the Puri. In that time, 'Maa' Bata Mangala guided them to their destination.

Thus, Batamangala Temple has got its own spiritual importance and the existence at the entry point of Puri is deemed as a displayer of the righteous path to the pilgrims bound for Puri. The deity it is believed bestows blessings on the devotees before they enter the grand temple. The devotee bound for the Grand Temple from Bhubaneswar stands for a while in front of Batamangala and offers sacred light-seeking her blessings.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Purna Chandra Panda, servitor of Batamangala temple said, "It is said that when Brahma first came into existence it was confused on seeing a great void all around him. When the King Indradyumna and Lord Brahma descended on the earth, they missed the way to the ‘Sri Kshetra’ ( Holy land of Puri) and 'Maa' Bata Mangala guided them to their destination. Thus did Brahma gain its focus and proceed with the task of cosmic creation."

"The devotees take shelter under the feet of Maa Bata Mangala to get relief from all impediments, pains and sorrows. The devotees and believers while on their way to Puri and back, stop near the temple of Goddess Bata Mangala and burn earthen lamps, offer flower garlands and worship the Goddess. The devotees also seek the blessing of the Mother Goddess by worshipping their new vehicles before her temple and putting holy vermillion on her body on the vehicles," he said.