Mausi Maa Temple

The Mausi Maa temple is situated the mid-way of the Bada danda (Grand road) of Puri. It is a small temple dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.

As per Jagannath mythology, once Goddess Lakshmi Devi left Shri Mandira, and thus Jagannath and Balabhadra becomes poor and had to go out begging. When Jagannath and Balabhadra were out during that time, Subhadra Devi was staying at Mausi Maa (Maternal Aunt).

Mausi Maa is also termed as Ardhashini. It has been mentioned in the Vaisanava Kanda of the Skanda Purana that Goddess Ardhashini drank half of the sea water that flooded Puri and saved the abode of Shri Jagannath. Goddess Ardhashini with Kapalamochana Shiva, act as the guardians of the Samkha Kshetra.

During the return journey (Bahuda yatra) of Ratha yatra festival, the chariot of Shri Jagannath stops at Mausi Maa temple and the deity is offered the favourite Poda Pitha, a kind of baked cake meant for the poor.

External links