The Siddha Bhairavi Temple stands at Mantridi in Ganjam district, about 18 km from Berhampur. The presiding goddess is Bhairavi, whose crudely carved image shows one leg and four hands. According to local tradition the image was found by a farmer while ploughing, and it was enshrined in a new temple in 1937. The complex holds 108 sub-shrines, including a large shrine of Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra. Pilgrims come from across Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.
quick facts
- district
Ganjam
- best time to visit
Tuesdays and the monthly Sankranti days are the busiest and most auspicious times.
- dress code
Ethnic or traditional dress is customary.
know before you go
The Ganjam district tourism page notes that pilgrims arrive here every day from across Odisha and northern Andhra Pradesh.
do
- Check the day before travelling, as Tuesdays and Sankranti days are crowded
- Follow the guidance of the temple servitors
- Keep the temple premises clean
- Visit the sub-shrines in an orderly way
avoid
- Do not litter in the temple area
- Do not disturb worshippers during rituals
- Do not touch the image or the sanctum without permission
how to reach
The temple is about 18 km by road from Berhampur, on National Highway 16. Berhampur is the nearest railway station. The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar.
address: Mantridi, Rangeilunda, Ganjam district, Odisha 761008
history and significance
why it matters
The shrine is regarded as an important Shakti pitha of southern Odisha, according to the Ganjam district tourism page. Tuesdays and the Sankranti days of every month are considered especially auspicious by devotees.
Some devotees also believe that Bhairavi will accompany the Kalki avatar at the end of the Kali age. This is a popular belief, and the source consulted marks it as needing a citation.
history
According to local tradition, a farmer found the image of the goddess while ploughing a field at Mantridi. The image was later enshrined in a new temple, which is said to have been built in 1937.
Some websites give an eighth century date for the temple, but this is not supported by a reliable source and should be treated as unverified. The Odisha government's Ganjam page describes the shrine only as an important Shakti pitha and gives no history.
what to see
The image of Bhairavi is crudely carved, with one leg and four hands. The complex has 108 sub-shrines of deities from across India, including the twelve Jyotirlingas, Vaishno Devi, Venkateswara, Meenakshi and Badrinath, and a large shrine of Jagannath with Balabhadra and Subhadra.
rituals and festivals
- Worship on Tuesdays and on the Sankranti of each month, considered especially auspicious
nearby
- Budhi Thakurani Temple, Berhampur
other temples nearby1
questions visitors ask
Who is Siddha Bhairavi?
Siddha Bhairavi is the goddess worshipped at Mantridi, an important Shakti pitha. Her image is crudely carved, with one leg and four hands.
How far is the temple from Berhampur?
It is about 18 km by road from Berhampur, on National Highway 16.
Which days are considered auspicious?
Devotees consider Tuesdays and the Sankranti day of every month especially auspicious.
