DETAILS OF MATABARI TEMPLE

Sub-Divisional Officer, Udaipur, South Tripura.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE

 IDOL

Maharaja Dhanya Manikya Bahadur of Tripura constructed this temple in the year 1501 A.D.(1423 Saka). Sorashi Kali Mata (Third Mahavidya) is made of reddish black stone (Kastik Pathar). One replica of Shri Shri Mata is also there in the Temple commonly called "CHHOTO MAA" which used to be carried by the Maharaja of Tripura in the battle field and during hunting (Mrigaya).

It is one of the public places of worship in the State of Tripura. All expenses of the Temple are borne by the Government of Tripura. District Magistrate & Collector, South Tripura District is the SEVAIT OF THE TEMPLE. On behalf of Sevait, the Sub-Divisional Officer, Udaipur manages the affairs of the temple through the Manager of Matarbari Temple. The average monthly expenditure on account of DAILY & NISHI PUJA amounts to Rs.56,000/-. Monthly Pranami collection is only about Rs.16,000/- on an average. One he goat is sacrificed everyday (except on Dashami Tithi) and for NISHI PUJA (New Moon Night) five he-goats, one buffalo, one egg and ginger are sacrificed, the cost of these being met by the State Government.

SIGNIFICANCE

This is one of the FIFTY ONE MAHA PITHASTHANS of India. Here the right foot of SATI MATA fell as a result of dissection of Sati's dead body by the SUDARSHAN CHAKRA of Lord Vishnu.

MAIN FESTIVAL

Before dawn (4 a.m.) the temple locks are opened and MANGAL ARATI is offered to the Divine Mother and thereafter, dry sweet (perah) is offered through Puja.
At 8 A.M. the Divine Mother is decorated with new cloth and various ornaments after her bath. These precious ornaments remain in custody of the Tehsilder of Matarbari Temple.
From 10.30 A.M. to 12 Noon, daily Puja is offered and after 12.30 P.M. various sacrifices (he-goat, buffalo, pigeon etc.) are made.
After "ANNA BHOG" (rice and different curries), the Divine Mother retires for half an hour (2 PM to 2.30 PM).
At 2.30 PM, the BHOG (un-eaten portion of deity's lunch) is taken out and distributed as "PRASAD" among the pilgrims who assemble. Temple doors are again opened at 3.30 PM for the pilgrims and visitors.
Around 7 PM "SANDHYARATI" is offered to the Divine Mother along with beat of drum and music for about an hour.
At 9.30 PM, the Divine Mother is offered "BAIKALIK" (supper) and She retires for the night at 10 PM after having "SAYANARATI". The priest-in-charge gives back all the ornaments from the deity to the Manager for safe custody.
The Pilgrims can offer their puja any time between "MANGAL ARATI" and "SAYANARATI" (10 PM) except during 2.00 pm to 3.30 pm. The pilgrims generally offer puja with locally made 'Perah' a sweet made of pure milk. They may also offer food (rice, curries etc.) prepared by the temple management to the deity. They can get "PRASAD" against coupon @ Rs.15/- being issued by the Manager on payment.

The Maharaja Dhannya Manikya had brought 2 priests from Kannauj for seva-puja of the deity- Sri Laxminarayan Pandey and Sri Gadadhar Pandey. Sri Laxminarayan Pandey belonged to Sandilya Gotra while Sri Gadadhar Pandey belonged to Batsaba Gotra. The two families brought in 1501 A.D. have now grown to 18 families (15 in Sandilya Bansa and 3 in Batsaba Bansa). These 18 families share among themselves the priest-ship of the temple. The 3 families of Batsaba Gotra get 182 days puja (91 days shared between 2 families and 91 days taken by the remaining one family), while the remaining 183 days puja in a year is performed by the 15 families of Sandilya Gotra. Of them, only one family gets 45 days puja, 8 families perform 46 days puja, 3 families perform 45 days puja and the remaining 3 families perform puja for the remaining 47 days in a year. These priests are not salaried employees of the government. They subsist only on the "DAKSHINA" (Puja offerings) given by the pilgrims. Offerings of ornaments/valuables may be entered in a Register specially maintained in the temple by the Manager and accountable as Government property.

HOLY TANK

Very close to the temple, there is a big tank commonly called "KALYAN SAGAR" which was excavated by Maharaja Kalyan Manikya. Various types of big fish and tortoise live in this tank and, much to their delight, the pilgrims can easily feed these creatures.