Astachandi Temple

Astachandi Temple – 31/50 Best places to visit in Puri (2022) | Visit in and Around Puri

Astachandi Temple is located at the entrance to the Puri town in Kumbharpada near to Atharanala bridge Puri. Astachandi Temple is also known as Alamchandi Temple by local people of Puri. While proceeding from Bhubaneswar to Puri, this temple is situated right side after Atharanala bridge Puri and leading to Hospital square.

Several Sakta temples are located inside and outside of Jagannath temple and Puri is consider as a center of Vaisnavism as well as a Sakti pitha. This temple is a Sakta temple dedicated to goddess Chandi. Presiding deity of Astachandi Temple is Goddess Alamchandi.

In Puri there are eight Chandis are worshiped. Alamchandi is one among them. The other seven Chandis are Vimala, Ramachandi, Harachandi, Baseli, Varahi, Dakshina Chandi and Jhadeswari.

Famous Rituals of these temple are Durga Puja, Satapuri Amabasya and Makar Sankranti. On the day of Makar Sankranti priests of Alamchandi temple carry traditional prasad to jagannath temple to offer Lord Jagannath.

This temple is closely associated with Navakalevara festival of Lord Sri Jagannath. During Navakalevara festival Daru of Lord Jagannath brought to Puri. Daru means wooden Logs which are brought into Puri in front of Alam Chandi temple. There is a tradition of agnyamala for Daru.

It is believed that Alamchandi is supreme goddess to santify the logs. So it is also believed that no harm will happen at the time of shaping the Daru to form the figures of the three deities during Navakalevara festival of Lord Jagannath Temple.