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Sightseeing in Puri includes the Daksinakali Temple in Puri. Like all other temples in Orissa and India, this temple also has a legend associated with it. The Daksinakali temple in Puri is located on Balisahi. It is precisely in the southeastern side of the Lord Jagannath temple. According to a Puranic tradition, Puri is known as Sriksetra and the Daksinakali is none other than Lord Jagannath. The deity is enshrined in a newly found temple, which is situated at a slightly elevated platform. This modern temple faces the east. It consists of a vimana and a Jagamohana. One of the interesting things to note is that the deity here is perched on a corpse and she has four arms. The Daksinakali temple in Puri closely echoes Hindu religious connotations. The deity here is Goddess Kali as the name Daksinakali closely echoes another synonym of Kali. The goddess is depicted as drinking blood. Evidently, she is infuriated by evil and needs to put an end to it. This is shown in the latter part of the picture where she is seen holding a blood stained dagger and a severed head with both hands. In fact, this is a common picture of the deity that is goddess Kali, with the Hindus. It is a popular belief that Daksinakali of the Daksinakali temple in Puri is actually the guardian of the kitchen of the Jagannath temple. This is why this temple has an extremely important significance with respect to the religious associations. If you are a person who has a special liking for religious myths and Hindu mythology, then the Daksinakali temple in Puri is worth visiting. Moreover, the devotees, the chanting of the mantras and the aroma of incense sticks would transport you into an entirely different world of tranquil pleasure.
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