CONCEPT NOTE ON DEVELOPMENT OF TARA TARINI SHRINE  

The Tara Tarini temple shrine atop the Tara-Tarini Hill is perhaps the most famous shrine  in Southern Orissa . It is regarded as one of the Great Shakti Pithas in the entire State of Orissa . The Tara-Tarini Hill ,a part of the Kumari Hills on the blanks of Rushikulya river near Purushottampur, at a height of 708 fts is spread over 180 acres of land. It is situated at a distance of 30Kms towards north from Berhampur, the cultural and commercial epicenter of South Orissa . A small temple, reported to be of recent origin at the hilltop, is the abode for the goddesses Tara and Tarini, who reign supreme in the spiritual and cultural milieu of Southern Orissa.

 LEGEND  

                  There are no historical records available about the ancient Shakti Peetha. However, there are myriads of myths and legends associated with Tara-Tarini. One of legends of Puranic Tradition connects the shrine to Daksha Yagyan. It is believed that the famous Shakti-Peetha of Tara Tarini originated from the limbs of the coupes of Devi Parvati.

            Some other legends also associate Tara Tarini to their human forms as two beautiful girls and their foster father Basu Praharaj who organized Yagyan due to divine order and established the shrine. Historians put forth the theory of the tribal cult being transformed into Shakti cult through the process of Aryanisation. Some also point out the association of Tara, the primordial deity of the Mahayana Buddhist Pantheon and her transformation into Tara-Tarini.  

IMPOTRANCE

            Goddesses Tara-Tarini have been regarded as the presiding deity or Ista Devi in most of the families in Southern Orissa . Though devotees visit the Shakti Peetha throughout the year, special cultural yatras are organized on all the Tuesdays of Chaitra Month (March-April) every year. Approximately 5-6 lakhs pilgrims and tourists visit the shrine during the period. The hair of the newborns are offered at the hills similar to the practice found in Simhachalam and Tirupati. Animal sacrifice has been stopped by reformist movements during the early part of 20th Century. In the post independence era the shrine has gained prominence as a major tourist destination. 

            A devotee trader constructed 999 steps made of stone in the earlier part of 20th Century and the state government constructed a motor able road, and provided electricity and water supply to the shrine during the post independence period.  

NEW  INTIATIVES

            There is a felt need to develop Tara Tarini complex as a spiritual, cultural and tourist center of national eminence. The lavational advantage ( of green hill and river Rushikulya around it), the cultural fame of the shrine, the unflinching devotion of the people of Orissa ,and the tremendous potential for tourism make it a unique case deserving our unwavering heed. In order to achieve the primary objective of realizing its unique potential, it has been conceptualized that funds would be raised from public-private initiatives and development would be dome keeping in view the traditions and rich cultural heritage of the place. This is how the Tara Tarini Development Board was born.  

TARA TARINI DEVELOPMENT BOARD  

            Tara-Tarini development Board (herein after called TTDB) was constituted and registered under their Society Registration Act 1860. This Board consists of eminent citizens of Berhampur and nearby areas. The Revenue Divisional Commissioner (Southern Division) and District Magistrate, Ganjam happen to be the Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively. Its registered office is situated at Berhampur city in the district of Ganjam. The byelaw or the Board are enclosed at Annexure-1. The objectives of the Tara-Tarini Development Board are :

v     To under take various works for the improvement of Tara-TariniTemple complex with voluntary public private initiative.

v     To promote the complex and surrounding area as a spiritual, cultural and tourist center.

v     To take up welfare activities for people irrespective of caste, creed, class or religion.

The Board (TTDB) has open membership. So far the vast majority of the members have been successful in crafting a voluntary public-private initiative. In order to achieve the above objectives, the Board has taken upon itself the task of evolving a transparent system that will undertake the construction /renovation of the temple complex, strengthening of the g

reen belt around the Taratarini Hill, the installation of the ropeway with private initiative from the foothill to the top of the hill, construction of a multipurpose ‘kalyan man dap’, strengthening of the water- supply

System etc. Padma Bhusan Raghunath Mohapatra, the eminent sculptor and architect has been assigned with the work of the construction of an arched gate. The work has progressed very well. This will be a unique architectural piece. It is also conceptualized that the main temple will be around 65 feet tall, and will be built with stones adopting the traditional kalinga architecture. It will have a ‘Mukhasala’ and a’Bhoga Man dap’. This will be done without affecting/displacing the deities from the original position. In order to appraise, assess and monitor the work, a Special Technical Committee comprising seven engineers (some of them of are retired Superintendent Engineers) has been constituted. An agreement has already been signed for the construction of a ropeway at the shrine. The work will start shortly and will be entirely funded by the ropeway operator.

             The total project cost would be approximately four crores rupees. The Hon’ble Chief Minister has already provided thirty-five lakhs rupees. The board has devised a detailed programmed of transparent fund raising with public private initiative. Media publicity has been done to ensure transparency and voluntarism in the fund raising efforts. Donations to the Board have been exempted from income tax under section 80G of Income Tax Act of 1961. The Board has already received around seven lakhs by way of public donation. Accounts have been opened at State Bank of India, Berhampur Main Branch, Rusikulya Gramya Bank and Berhampur central cooperative Bank for collection of donations. A web site (htt:// taratarini.nic.in) has been operational to disseminate information about the project, the income and expenditure etc.

      In keeping with the stated objectives, TTDB has been organized free eye camps (along with free surgeries and lens) with the help of a missionary eye hospitals (ECOS, Berhampur) every month on the sankranti day. This has become extremely popular, and has been serving the poor and needy irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Similarly, the Board has been conducting free dental care camps and health camps on the Sankranti days every month.

 

     Conclusion: Although efforts are on to rope in funds/donations from willing donors, this grand project would still need the blessings of the Government of India and Government of Orissa. This will be a unique gesture to build upon our great heritage and to bring about Taratarini Complex as a center of cultural, spiritual and tourist eminence.