Marichi Temple

Marichi temple
ମାରିଚୀ ମନ୍ଦିର
Marichi temple; ମାରିଚୀ ମନ୍ଦିର
Religion
Affiliation	Hinduism
District	Baleswar
Deity	Marichi, Varahi, Buddha
Festivals	Durga Puja, Asokastami
Governing body	Marichi Puja Committee, Ajodhya
Location
Location	Ajodhya
State	Odisha
Country	India
Geographic coordinates	21°33′29.94″N 86°45′9.96″E / 21.5583167°N 86.7527667°E
Architecture
Type	Odishan Pidha vimana temple architecture
Completed	10-11th Century
Temple(s)	୫

Marichi Temple (Odia: ମାରିଚୀ ମନ୍ଦିର) is a Hindu and Buddhist temple located in Ajodhya, Baleswar, Odisha, India.

Location

This temple is situated 9 km north of Sajanagada. It is on the right side of the road leading from Nilagiri to Mayurbhanj in Baleswar district, Odisha.

Construction

The temple is a newly built pidha vimana style building like other temples of Odisha. The temple houses many tantric, Jain and Buddhist images dating back to the late 11th century. It is thought that the Somavamsi Keshari dynasty commissioned the statues. There are many old icons such as the Hindu goddess four-handed Varahi, the Buddha in bhumisparsa or earth touching mudra, a Jain tirthankara or spiritual teacher and the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara.

The central icon is worshiped as the Hindu goddess Durga and next to the image is the Mahayana goddess Marici. The Marici image is flanked by two goddesses. The Garbhagriha or inner sanctum houses three icons from the late 11th century. Durga Puja is a famous festival in this temple.^[1]