Architecture of Mangala Temple of Kakatpur in the Puri District of Odisha in India

Abstract

The Mangala temple of Kakatpur is monumental evidence to the popularity of Shaktism in the Prachi Valley of the state of Odisha. The temple of Goddess Mangala of Kakatpur is a famous Shakta shrine of the Puri district of Odisha in India. Goddess Mangala temple of Kakatpur is a good specimen of the Kalinga Syle temple architecture of Odisha in Eastern India. The vimana and jagamohana of the Mangala temple of Kakatpur represent the pidha type of Odishan temple architecture. The architecture of Goddess Mangala temple of Kakatpur is an important part of the Hindu temple art of Odisha. The vimana and jagamohana of Mangala temple were possibly built by the local Zamindar in the 19th century A.D. The natamandapa and bhogamandapa of the Mangala temple were constructed in later period. Goddess Mangala of the temple is not only popular in the Prachi Valley but it is also widely famous in the whole of Odisha in Eastern India. Among all the yatras / festivals of Devi Mangala, Jhamuyatra is very famous in the Kakatpur area of Puri district. Goddess Mangala attains great celebrity during the Navakalevara festival of Lord Jagannatha ‘Trinity’ of Puri Srimandira. The aim of this article is to focus on the artistic features, architectural pattern along with the religious significance of Mangala temple of Kakatpur in the Puri district of Odisha in India. Methodologically, both the primary and secondary sources have been used in this article by the author.