Odisha Review ISSN 0970-8669

16. Interview with Sadananda Mohapatra, the priest 23. P.K. Das : Odisha Review, Temples of Nayagarh of Maa Charchika held on 10.9.04. District : An Overview, Vol. LX, No. 10, pp. 35 - 38, Bhubaneswar, May 2004. 17. H. Bhattacharya : Cultural Heritage of India, Calcutta, 1969, pp. 74 - 76. 24. Ibid., 18. A. K. Rath : Studies on Some Aspects of History 25. G.D. Pattanayak : Narasinghpur Itihas, and Culture of Odisha, Calcutta, 1987, p. 84. Bhubaneswar, 1943, p. 76. 19. Interview with Nilamani Mohapatra, the head 26. Ibid. priest of Bhattarika held on 15.9.2004. 20. N. N. Bhattacharya : Indian Mother Goddess, Calcutta, 1971, p. 78. 21. R. N. Nandi : Religious Institutions and Cults in the Deccan, Delhi, 1973, p. 76. 22. Interview with Gadadhar Mohapatra the priest of Pareswar Sahoo, Ph. D. Research Scholar, P.G. Dept. of the goddess, Maa Charchika on 10.10.2004. History, Utkal University, Vani Vihar, Bhubaneswar.

Goddess Durga : Divine Symbol of Power

Prabhudutt Dash

You represent the primordial energy of the Universe. You are the symbol of creation, You are the Goddess of power and motherhood. preservation and destruction. You are the very basis of the World. I bow to You O Goddess Durga, You are the symbol of courage and beauty. the bestower of happiness. O Mother ! You are beyond all explanation. I bow to You O Goddess Parvati, You are the object of worship of all. who ends all miseries. You are the remover of difficulties and I bow to You O Goddess Laxmi, bestower of peace, intellect, prosperity and bliss. Who grants wealth and prosperity. You are Karma,Mahamaya (the great illusion) I bow to You O Goddess Saraswati, and Moksha (enlightenment). Who provides knowledge and enlightenment. You are the End and You are the Beginning. May Mother Durga drive out the darkness You are the life force of the creation of the Universe. from our lives and lead us to the Truth. You are the Embodiment of sacrifice, purity, knowledge, salvation,truth and self-realization. Prabhudutt Dash, Plot No: 307, Haladipadia, Sarala You are the original manifested form of mother Nagar, Laxmisagar, Bhubaneswar- 751006, Email: Parvati or Adi-parashakti. [email protected]

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