In the heart of the ancient city of Udaipur in Tripura, India, nestled atop a small hillock that resembles the hump of a tortoise (Kurma), lies the revered Tripura Sundari Temple. This holy shrine, better known as Matabari, is one of the most important Hindu temples in North-East India, second only to the famed Kamakhya Temple in Assam. It is here that devotees come to pay homage to Goddess Tripura Sundari, a manifestation of Shakti, the divine feminine energy.
The story of the Tripura Sundari Temple begins in the late 15th century with King Dhanya Manikya, the ruler of Tripura. One night, the king had a profound dream in which Goddess Tripura Sundari appeared before him. In this divine vision, the goddess commanded him to establish a temple dedicated to her on a hilltop near Udaipur, the capital of his kingdom. Moved by this celestial encounter, the king set out to fulfill the goddess’s wish.
Upon reaching the hillock, King Dhanya Manikya discovered a small shrine, dedicated to Lord Vishnu, already existed. Confused by the divine command and the existing temple, the king was in a dilemma. How could he build a temple for the goddess in a place already consecrated to another deity?
That night, the goddess appeared to him in a dream once more, revealing a profound truth—that Vishnu and Shakti were not separate but different forms of the same Supreme Being, Brahman. Enlightened by this realization, the king understood that the goddess wished for a temple that would embody the unity of the Vaishnava (followers of Vishnu) and Shakta (followers of Shakti) traditions. With renewed determination, he proceeded to build the temple in 1501 CE, establishing it as a sacred site where both Vishnu and Shakti were revered.
The temple’s main shrine is a simple yet elegant cubical structure, built in the Bengali Ek-ratna style, with a three-tiered roof and a finial. Inside the sanctum sanctorum, two idols of black stone stand side by side. The larger idol, standing five feet tall, represents Goddess Tripura Sundari, also known as Tripureshwari or Ṣoḍaśī. Next to her is a smaller, two-foot-tall idol known affectionately as Chhoto-Ma, or Little Mother, which depicts Goddess Chandi.
Legend has it that the kings of Tripura carried this smaller idol into battlefields and hunting expeditions, a symbol of divine protection and power. The dual presence of these idols reflects the complex and multifaceted nature of the goddess, revered in both her benevolent and fierce forms.
The Shakti Peetha
Tripura Sundari Temple is also celebrated as one of the 51 Shakti Peethas, sacred sites where it is believed that parts of the goddess Sati’s body fell to the earth. According to Hindu mythology, after the tragic death of Sati, her grieving husband, Lord Shiva, wandered the cosmos carrying her corpse. To alleviate his sorrow, Vishnu used his Sudarshana Chakra to dismember Sati’s body, and the places where her body parts fell became sanctified as Shakti Peethas. At Tripura Sundari Temple, it is believed that the right foot of Sati, including the big toe, fell, making it a powerful and holy place of worship.
Kalyan Sagar: The Sacred Pond
Adjacent to the temple lies Kalyan Sagar, a serene pond that spans over six acres, surrounded by hills that add to the temple’s picturesque setting. This sacred water body is home to rare Bostami turtles, considered extinct in the wild, which swim gracefully alongside various species of fish. Devotees feed these turtles with puffed rice and biscuits, believing them to be sacred due to the temple’s association with the tortoise-like hillock, symbolizing Lord Vishnu’s Kurma avatar.
In recent years, concerns over the ecosystem around Kalyan Sagar have arisen due to the construction of cement embankments, which have affected the turtles’ natural habitat. However, the temple committee and the local community have taken steps to preserve this sacred environment, ensuring that Kalyan Sagar remains a thriving habitat for these revered creatures.
Diwali at Tripura Sundari Temple
Every year, on the auspicious occasion of Diwali, the festival of lights, the temple grounds come alive with a grand Mela, or fair. Pilgrims from all over India flock to the temple to seek the goddess’s blessings, participating in rituals and offering prayers. The air is filled with the fragrance of incense and the vibrant colors of red hibiscus flowers offered to the goddess.
As the temple completes over 500 years of existence, the legend of Tripura Sundari Temple continues to inspire devotion and reverence among countless devotees. It is a symbol of divine grace and proof of the enduring power of faith, unity, and the sacred bond between the mortal and the divine.