The Legend of Goddess Mangala is a popular Odia folklore that tells the story of the goddess Mangala, also known as Khudurukuni, who is revered as a powerful deity in the state of Odisha. The legend of Goddess Mangala is deeply rooted in the culture and tradition of Odisha and is widely celebrated during the annual festival of Durga Puja.
According to the legend, long ago, there was a prosperous kingdom ruled by a just and benevolent king named Indradyumna. One day, the king dreamt of a divine goddess who appeared before him in a vision and instructed him to build a temple in her honor. The goddess promised to take up residence in the temple and bless the kingdom with prosperity and good fortune.
The king, inspired by the vision, set out on a journey to find the location where the goddess wanted her temple to be built. He traveled far and wide, but he could not find the place. Disheartened and exhausted, the king fell asleep on the banks of a river.
In his sleep, the goddess appeared before him and revealed to him the location where her temple was to be built. The goddess also instructed the king to look for a tree that was located near the temple site. She told him that the tree would have a divine weapon hidden inside it, which would be needed to protect the kingdom from evil forces.
The king woke up from his sleep and immediately set out to the location revealed to him by the goddess. He found the tree, and with the help of his advisors, he retrieved the weapon from inside it. The weapon was a powerful spear, which the king named Mangala. The king then built the temple at the location revealed by the goddess and installed her idol inside it.
From that day onwards, the goddess Mangala became the patron deity of the kingdom, and the kingdom prospered under her blessings. The spear, which the king had retrieved from the tree, became a powerful symbol of the goddess’s protection, and it was carried by the king’s army into battle.
The legend of Goddess Mangala is a powerful reminder of the importance of devotion, faith, and determination. It highlights the power of a divine vision and the ability of a determined king to fulfill it. Today, the temple of Goddess Mangala, located in Kakatpur, Odisha, attracts thousands of devotees every year, who come to seek the blessings of the goddess and offer their prayers in her honor.
