AT A GLANCE
Why go?
Tucked into the bustling market heart of Balanga in Puri district, Lankeswari Temple is a beloved neighborhood shrine dedicated to the formidable goddess Maa Lankeswari — a deity whose roots in Odisha trace back to the Ramayana era and the ancient kingdoms of western Odisha. Though far from the river-temple of Sonepur that shares her name, this temple carries the same devotional energy and serves as a spiritual anchor for the local community.↗↗
Visitors consistently praise the temple's serene atmosphere and well-maintained grounds, a peaceful refuge amid the commerce of Balanga bazar. The priests are noted for their warm and attentive service, and the temple's long daily hours — from before dawn until late evening — make it accessible for both early risers and after-work devotees.↗↗
The Goddess of Lanka in Coastal Odisha
Lankeswari — literally 'Goddess of Lanka' — is one of Odisha's most widely venerated Shakti deities. According to tradition preserved in Odisha's scholarly and devotional literature, the Sonepur region of western Odisha was once identified as Paschima Lanka (Western Lanka) from the Ramayana, and Lankeswari was the presiding protectress of that realm. Over centuries, her worship spread across the state, carried by successive dynasties — the Chhindakanaga, the Ganga kings, and the Naga rulers — who regarded her as a war goddess conferring victory and protection.
