Hingula Temple, also called Hingula Pitha, is a Shakti shrine at Gopal Prasad on the bank of the Simhada river in the former Talcher estate of Angul district. The goddess Hingula is worshipped as a living flame, and the sanctum is known for its sacred fire. She is tied by tradition to the old Talcher royal house and to the sacred kitchen fires of the Jagannath temple at Puri. The Hingula Yatra in Chaitra is the main festival.
quick facts
- district
Angul
- best time to visit
The Hingula Yatra in Chaitra, in March and April.
- dress code
Ethnic or traditional dress is customary.
know before you go
do
- Remove footwear before entering the temple precincts
- Follow the guidance of the priests, especially around the sacred fire
- Keep the river bank clean
avoid
- Do not litter in the precincts
- Do not touch the sacred flame
- Do not disturb worship in progress
how to reach
Gopal Prasad is about 30 km from Talcher and about 23 km from Angul by road, according to the Angul district page. Talcher, Talcher Road and Angul are the nearest railway stations, and Bhubaneswar the nearest airport. Confirm routes locally.
address: Gopal Prasad, near Talcher, Angul district, Odisha
history and significance
why it matters
Hingula is a fire goddess of Odisha, with an old tradition of worship in Talcher. She is invoked in the Jagannath temple tradition before the sacred kitchen fires are lit, according to a popular account.
According to an official tourism listing, both Hindus and Muslims worship at this holy place.
history
According to the Angul district account, the shrine lies in the west of the erstwhile Talcher estate, and the name is linked to a similar goddess Hingula or Hingulaksi worshipped elsewhere. A popular story ties the goddess to the Talcher royal house: when King Padmanabha Harichandana fought the ruling Nalas, the goddess is said to have advised him to sacrifice a fisherman. This is a legend, not recorded history.
The goddess Hingula is also mentioned in the 15th century Odia Mahabharata of Sarala Das. Another tradition holds that the goddess moved to Puri as the kitchen fire. No dated founding record was found.
what to see
The shrine stands on the bank of the Simhada, and the sanctum holds the sacred flame. No architectural survey was found, so no further description is given.
rituals and festivals
The Hingula Yatra is held around Bishnu Damanaka Chaturdasi in Chaitra, in March and April, and is regarded as the most significant festival of the district. An official listing gave nine days of observance for the 2023 Yatra.
The goddesses Kuteisuni and Karadei are also worshipped here. During festivals, including Dasahara, a movable image of the goddess, called the Alam, is carried in procession.
nearby
- Simhada river bank
- Talcher town
questions visitors ask
Who is Hingula?
A fire goddess of Odisha worshipped as a sacred flame, tied by tradition to the old Talcher royal house.
Where is the shrine?
At Gopal Prasad on the Simhada river, about 30 km by road from Talcher and 23 km from Angul.
When is the Hingula Yatra?
In Chaitra, in March and April, for nine days.
