The goddess Chandi, the patroness of Cuttack, Orissa, is worshipped at the historic Katak Chandi Temple. The Mahanadi River’s banks are not far from the temple. It is well-known for its yearly Durga Puja and Kali Puja celebrations. The Maa Katak Chandi temple hosts the famous Durga Puja celebrations, which span 16 days from Ashwina Krishna Ashtami’s dark fortnight to Ashwina Shukla Navami and Vijayadashami. The goddess Maa Katak Chandi, as she is well known, sits and rules over the ancient city. Her four hands are bearing a noose called Paasha, a goad called Ankusha, gestures that alleviate fear called Abhaya, and blessings called Varadha. Sevayatas who are Utkala Brahmins venerate her as Bhuvaneshvari Mahavidya, or the universe’s queen.
During the puja, Maa Chandi is worshipped as different Durga incarnations. People in Cuttack firmly regard Maa Katak Chandi as “The Living Goddess.”
The Deity was first worshipped by the late Sri Hansa Panda with the highest Niti, Nistha, and Sraddha. The texts pertaining to Goddess Chandika, also known as Bhuvaneshwari, describe her as having four hands that display the weapons and motions of Paasa, Ankusha, Abhaya, and Varada. Chanting the Bhuvaneswari Mantra, she is worshipped as Bhuvaneswari.
Following the footsteps of Late Sri Hansa Panda, Late Sri Lakshmana Panda, his lone son, began to worship the Goddess using the same rituals and practices. Champa, Tulasi, Mali, and Malati are his four daughters, with whom he is blessed. Additionally, those daughters assisted their late father, Sri Lakshmana Panda, with the Deity’s rites (Seva Puja). After pleading with Maa Chandi for a son for several days, the late Lakshmana Panda was granted a son by the name of Sri Dayanidhi Panda, who also followed in the footsteps of his ancestors. The temple gained prominence around the time of Sri Dayanidhi Panda. The number of followers rose during his reign. His six sons are currently engaging in deity rites, or seva puja. Specifically, They are Sri Narayan Panda, Sri Narahari Panda, Sri Somnath Panda, Sri Chakradhar Panda, Sri Loknath Panda and Sri Ratnakar Panda.
The aforementioned hereditary sevaks are currently carrying out the Seva Puja (Rituals) in the Temple with their fourteen sons. The names of the fourteen sons are Manoj, Trilochan, Susant, Biswaranjan, Ramachandra, Pramod, Ranjit, Bikram, Gopal, Sarat Kumar, Sukhadeva, and Bhagadeba. The establishment took place in 1946.
