MAUSIMAA TEMPLE / ARDHASHOSINI TEMPLE / ARDHASINI TEMPLE

Situated almost on the mid-way of the grand road, at Balagandi square, there is a small temple dedicated to Goddess Mausimaa. Mausima temple is located on the right side of the Grand Road leading from the Jagannath temple towards Gundicha temple. She is called Mausi Maa (the mother's sister) of Lord Jagannath. Mausimaa is a combination of two words, 'Mausi' and 'Maa'. In Odia language, 'Mausi' means 'Aunt' and 'Maa' means 'Mother'. The Mausi Maa Temple is a symbol of faith, devotion and relationship.

Legends

Goddess Mausi Maa is also known as 'Ardhashosini' or 'Ardhasini'. In local Odia language, 'Ardha' means half and 'Shosini' means someone who drank water. It is stated in the Vaisanava Knadha of Skanda Purana that Mausimaa drank half the sea water that once flooded Puri and saved the town. There for her name become Ardhashosini or Ardhasini and the temple is also called as Ardhashosini Temple or Ardhasini Temple. It is a belief among the local people that Goddess Ardhasini, together with Kapalamochana Shiva, act as the day and night guardians of Puri town.

As per another legend, many many years ago Puri grand road (Badadanda) was divided into two parts by Malini River. At that time, six chariots were being built during Car Festival. The three Deities were brought in three chariots up to the bank of the Malini river, then they were shifted to the boats and crossed the river. And then the three deities were being put on the other three chariots from where they were being taken to the Gundicha Temple. This took six to seven days. Due to the high water level in the river, the servitors faced problems while crossing the river. Lord Jagannath’s aunt, Ardhasani Devi, understood the hardships of the servitors and was sucking the Malani river. To express His gratitude, Lord Jagannath promised to halt at Her temple during his return journey on the Bahuda Yatra day and consume the Poda Pitha.

Legend has it when Bharat of the Ramayana accused his Mother Kaikeyi of forcing Lord Rama to go the forest, she felt guilty and cried. To pacify her, Lord Rama promised that in his next birth, he would visit her house and have Poda Pitha. Since then, the Mausi Maa temple is considered that of Kaikeyi who serves the sweet to Lord Jagannath.

As per Jagannath mythology, once Goddess Lakshmi (consort of Lord Jagannath) left Jagannath Temple, and thus Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra become poor and had to go out for begging. When Lord Jagannath and Lord Balabhadra were out during that time, Goddess Subhadra was staying with her Mausi Maa (Maternal Aunt).

Structure and Architecture

Mausima temple is facing towards south. The temple consisting of Vimana, Jagamohana and a Natamandapa of Kalingan order. The vimana is square on plan other two structures are rectangular on plan. The temple has a two-armed beautiful idol of the Goddess made of black stone. On both sides of the main Deity, there are Parswadevata (subsidairy Deities). In the Jagamohana of the temple, idols of deities such as Maha Lakshmi, Lord Narasimha, Radha-krishna, Panchamukhi Hanuman, Goddess Kali, Durga, Lord Ganesha and Navagraha are worshipped.

Festivals and Rituals

Mausima temple is closely associated with the Car FestivalCar festival of Lord Jagannath. As per the rituals of Car festival, on the day of Bahuda Yatra (return car festival day), Lord Jagannath along with his brother and sister stop the chariot near the temple of his aunt. There, according to the custom, Poda Pitha is offered to the Deities on behalf of the Mausi Maa temple. Here, Lord Jagannth accepts his favorite rice cake known as 'Poda Pitha' from his aunt. Poda Pitha is a popular sweet of Odisha made of rice, jaggery, coconut, camphor, cinnamon, cloves and lentils. Other festivals like Mahasaptami, Mahaastami, Mahanavami are also observed in Ardhasini temple.

On the Narasimha Chaturdashi day, the Goddess becomes 'Jalasayi' (merged in water) in a grand ceremony. This is done to keep the Goddess cool from the scorching heat of the Sun.