Vimala Temple - Recognition, Information & Temple timings

Amongst the holiest temples of Hindus, the Vimala temple is devoted to the Hindu Goddess located in the Jagannath Temple complex in Puri, Odisha. The Vimla temple which is also commonly known as Bimala Temple is a Shakti Peeth.

Vimala temple is considered as the Tantric Consort of Jagannath and the guards of Jagannath temple. Due to this, devotees show their love, trust, and respect to Goddess Vimala first and then worship the main Jagannath shrine. Goddess Vimala is appraised as a protector or guardian of Jagannath and defender of the temple complex. The food provided to Jagannath does not consecrate as Mahaprasad until or unless it is offered to Goddess Vimala.

During Durga Puja, the temple is glowingly decorated and celebrated with magnificent grandeur and pomp. This is the correct time to visit the temple so that you can see and enjoy the grand festival as well. Thousands of people throng together from various parts of the country and outside the country to see and be part of the grand spectacle every year. Puri can be easily approachable from every part of India by multiple transport options.

History

The innermost icon of Goddess Vimala is of the sixth century CE. The Great Yayati Keshari ruler of the Somvanshi Dynasty of South Kosala constructed this temple. The Yayati Keshari entitled to Yayati I (c. 922-955) and Yayati II (c. 1025-1040). The sculptures and all the background slab of the central icon are the reflection of the Somvanshi style, especially the parshva devatas (attendant deities).

Also Read: God Jhulelal Chaliha festival

Vimala Temple

The great saint and philosopher Adi Shankara (8th century) has shown great faith to have Govardhana Matha in Puri with Vimala as their presiding Goddess. According to the author of Jagannath ‘Starza,’ the Temple of Jagannath was previously a center of worship for the Trimurti of Brahma, Shiva, and Vishnu, along with their companions and three Central forms of the Hindu Goddess, which are Sarasvati, Lakshmi, and Parvati (in the form of Vimala). Slowly, Shiva centric Shaiva and Shri Vidya traditions crumbled, but rest continues, with the Vishnu Centric Vaishnavism becoming the only tradition. Tantric Panchakarma, which includes meat, liquor, parched grain, and ritual intercourse, were replaced with all vegetarian offerings and dancing of devadasis. King Narasimhadeva ( Ruler between 1623-47), culminated in meat offerings of Goddess; however, the tradition was later partly revitalized. Now, meat and fish offered occasionally to Goddess Vimala.

Also Read: Mashobra

Religious Significance

Identified with Parvati and Durga, the Vimala Temple is one of the most dedicated temples of the Hindu Goddess and considered as a Shakti Peeth. It shows the importance of the Shakti Cult in Odisha. Goddess Vimala is associated with Shiva’s companion, Lakshmi, and Vishnu. Tantric considers the Jagannath as Shiva-Bhairava rather than a form of Vishnu. The prime holy place of Jagannath Temple has two godheads:

• Balabhadra (elder brother of Krishna, who is identified with Shiva)
• Subhadra ( Krishna and Balabhadra’s younger sister)

The Tantric consort and protector Goddess of the Temple complex are Vimala. Goddess Vimala recognized the Goddess Katyayani, Goddess Bhairavi, Goddess Bhuvneshwari, Goddess Ekanamsha, Goddess Durga in varied rituals, and festivals. Goddess Vimala appears as Mahishasuramardini and Vijaylakshmi in New Delhi Konark Stele.

Worship

People take pleasure in Vimala Temple, which reflects that it is the most prominent temple of Goddesses. People visit here daily, occasionally, and praise the Lord mantras. The Goddess oriented festival of Durga Puja celebrates for sixteen days in the Hindu month Ashwin (October) and happily ends with Vijayadashami (Dussehra).

Architecture

The Vimala temple is located in the southwest corner of the inner enclosure of the Jagannath temple complex and on the western edge of the tower of Jagannath. It is precisely next to the sacred pond Rohini Kunda. The temple is built of sandstone and laterite faces east. Vimala temple constructed in the Deula style with four major components:

• Vimana (structure carrying the sanctum)
• Jagamohana (Congregation Hall)
• Nata-Mandapa (festivities hall) and
• Bhoga-Mandapa (offerings hall).

The Vimala (Bimala) Temple was reconstructed in 2005 and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India Bhubaneswar cycle.
Now it’s time to explore all components of Deula style.

Vimana

Vimana Temple is a tall building with a shape of sugarloaf also commonly known as Rekha Deula. It is 60 feet (18 m) in height and shape of 15 feet (4.6m) square. It angled on 2 feet (0.61m) platform and furnished with lotus and other flower sketches, designs, and scrollwork.

The wall's outside part has divided into five sections of Vimana from base to top:

• Pabhaga
• Talajanga
• Bandhana
• Upara Jangha and
• Baranda
• Pictures of Parshva devatas arranged in the central niches of the outside wall. These pictures are on three sides.
• Eight-armed Durga killing Mahishasura on south
• Six armed goddesses Chamunda placed on Shiva on the west and
• An empty niche on the north

The shape of alcoves furnished with scrollwork and kirtimukha motifs and two female garcons accompany each nook. The sacred door with a flight of stairs shows downwards to the Jaganmohan. The steel across the top of a door has the Gaja Lakshmi statuette in the center covered with celestial maidens who are commonly known as apsaras. The deities of the classical planets designed above the steel across the top of a door. Door Jambs of sanctum accessorized with scrollwork, images, floral designs, and growing plants. It surrounds the two gate-keepers sculptures.

Jagamohana

Pidha Deula, a square structured building with a pyramid-shaped roof, which is 35 feet (11m) in height along with 25 feet (7.6m) rectangular base. The Jagamohana, commonly known as Mukhasala stands on 2 feet (0.61m) high platform. Jagamohana is furnished with flowery designs and scrollwork, Similar to Vimana, Jagamohana outermost has been divided into five sections.

• Corners and intervening niches of the front section decorated with Khakhara Mundi. Niche holding loving couples and erotic scenes, Naga pilasters, scrollwork, jali work, and botanical motifs.
• Similarly to Vimana’s second section of the wall, which omits the goddesses, is the Talajangha.
• The third section of the wall contains three horizontal frames.
• Wall’s fourth part relates its match in Vimana.
• Seven horizontal moldings made on the topmost section of the wall and beautifully adorned with dancing ladies, affectionate couples, elephants, stag ( a male deer), and jali work. Decorative arch on southern and northern surfaces are imperial court and sikshadana views, with a balustraded window at every surface. There is no decoration or embellishment on the inner walls. The Jagamohana owns two doorways out of which the first doorway is going towards the sacred place, and the second doorway is going towards the Nata Mandapa (style and design to the former).

Nata Mandapa

Pidha Deula, height is 22 feet (6.7) and 35 feet (11m)in a rectangular shape and 18 feet (5.5m) in length. It is a later extension of the original temple. It consists of Vimana and Jagamohana. Four doorways of Nata Mandapa are on each side of the wall. Natamandapa’s inner walls furnished with Pattachitra design ancestral Odishan portraits, representing sixteen patterns of the Great Hindu Goddess, comprising of Mahavidyas.

Bhoga Mandapa

Pidha Deula, height is 20 feet (6.1 m), and 15 feet (4.6m) is square. It stands in 4 feet (1.2m) platform with no decoration on all five outer wall portions but coated with the tiny tower. Parvati and Shiva eight-armed dancing son Ganesha and 12 armed, six-headed standing son Kartikeya occupy corners on the western inner wall. Four doorways of Bhoga Mandapa are opening on one of each side. Two female gatekeepers protect each door.

Best time to Visit

Vimala Temple is the place where we can visit throughout the year. However, the best time to visit the temple is July to March except for April and June due to high summer. The Winter season is too good to enjoy the beach and temples as the weather is pleasant.

Other places to go around

Dwelling in the collection of Jagannath Temple in Puri, Goddess Vimala is as high, significant, and essential as the main goddess. Shaktism devotees honor a tantric manifestation of Goddess Vimala as a guardian of the temple and the God.

25 famous places near Vimala Temple

1. Sri Jagannath Puri Temple
2. Chilika Lake
3. Puri Beach
4. Narendra Tank
5. Lakshmi Temple
6. Raghurajpur Artist Village
7. Markandeswara Temple
8. Swargadwar Beach
9. Astaranga Beach
10. Gundicha Temple
11. Sudarshan Crafts Museum
12. Loknath Temple
13. Ganesh Temple
14. Sakshi Gopal Temple
15. Alarnatha Temple
16. Baliharachandi Beach
17. Daya River
18. Baleshwar Beach
19. Sonar Gauranga Mandir
20. Balighai Beach
21. Pipili
22. Mausima Temple
23. Golden Beach
24. Blue Splash Water Park
25. Pratyush Ocean world

How to reach

1. By Air

Nearest Airport from Vimala Temple is Bhubaneswar Airport, which is also known as Biju Patnaik International Airport. It is a primary international airport serving Bhubaneswar. It is 60km away from the temple.

2. By Rail

Arriving Puri by train - it is a terminus on the east coast railway having direct express and super fast train links with New Delhi (Purushottam Express), Mumbai, Kolkata (Puri Howrah Express), Okhla, Ahmedabad, and Tirupati. 44 k away from Puri, the station is almost 1km north of the town. Rickshaws are readily available there to get you to a hotel.

3. By Road

Arriving puri through road by any public transportation or personal. Buses stand near the excellent temple Gundicha, existing connections to Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, service every 10-15 minutes. Even the minibusses to Konark start every 20-30 mins from Jatiababa Chhak. Direct buses are also available from Kolkata and Visakhapatnam.