Bhadrakali Temple

Ganpatrav Dikshit Patvardhan built this temple in the year 1790. Originally known as Tiundha cross, this Bhadrakali temple has a shrine without a dome or a spire. A stone and brick wall surrounds the west-facing entrance. A large, open courtyard with a small garden, a well and a building are present to the south, inside the wall. The tiled-roofed building has a sabhamandap and a shrine. The sabhamandap measures 70 ft by 40 ft and is built about 3 ft higher than the courtyard. 9 idols, placed on a raised stone seat, are present at the east end of the hall. The central idol is flanked by four images about 2 ½ ft tall, while the central idol itself is less than a foot tall. Fifty Brahmans sit in the hall and read the saptashati (700 verses in honour of Devi), from the Markendeya Purana during Navaratra. While the puranas are read during the day, lectures are delivered at night. A hall meant for auspicious ceremonies is attached to the temple. If there is an outbreak of cholera, a large number of Brahmans recite verses from the saptashatito for 10 or 12 days, to appease the Devi. They also light a sacred fire, offer the finest incense, butter, rice, oil, flowers, wood from holy trees and sacred grass to the Devi. About 80 pounds of cooked rice is placed in a cart and turmeric, saffron and red powder are spread around it. Burning incense sticks and five torches are placed on the rice. The stems of plantain trees are fixed to each corner of the cart and a sheep is tied to one of the stems. A Mang woman, possessed by the cholera Goddess, declares the time till which the cholera spirit would stay. The Mang woman is then bathed in hot water, dressed in a green robe and blue bodice, vermilion is smeared on her forehead and tied to her lap are a coconut, a comb, a vermilion box, 5 betel nuts, 5 plantains, 5 guavas, 5 pieces of turmeric and a pound of wheat. The Mang woman walks backwards, facing the cart and is supported by 2 men. The cart is dragged to the point where the cholera first appeared, to a place where 4 roads meet and is emptied there. A feast is given to Brahmans two or three days after this. As an offering to the cholera spirit, milk, or a mixture of milk, curd and butter is poured around the city.