Do God reside in an abode infested with money hungry priests and temple authorities demanding and forcing money from the visiting devotees ?
Very bad experience during my visit to this temple today ( 22nd October) , in every chamber of this temple the priests will ask for money. The minimum entry fee is Rs 100/ which will give you a box of sweets. Price for flowers , garlands and Dhoop sticks are extra.
Chandaneswar Temple in Odisha is a revered religious site, drawing devotees seeking blessings from Lord Shiva. The temple's architecture showcases traditional Odia style, with intricate carvings and sculptures. The serene ambiance and tranquil surroundings add to the spiritual experience. The temple gains significant popularity during the annual Chandaneswar Yatra, attracting a vast number of pilgrims from various parts of the country. It is a must-visit destination for Shiva devotees, offering a unique blend of cultural heritage and divine worship in Odisha.
A religious place for the Hindus. An ancient temple present in Odisha. The temple of Hindu lord Shiva. Nice clean and quiet place. An ancient pond present here, famous for it's holy water. Worshipping of God is always occurring here. Some times mainly in July-August months the temple was over crowded by devotees. We visited the place in May and it was not at all crowded. You can enter this place for free. You can donate rupees at the temple as you wish. Wheel chair accessible entrance and parking present.
Chandaneswar Temple is a famous Shiva temple located in Chandaneswar, Baleswar district of Odisha, India. A huge annual fair on the Pana Sankranti (Odia Hindu solar New Year), the first day of the Odia calendar, is celebrated on the premises. Many Indian pilgrims visit the temple during this period.
Overall Experience: Disappointing and Disrespectful
I visited the temple on November 16, 2023, and was left with a deeply disheartening experience. The temple's sacredness was tarnished by the behavior of the priests, who exhibited greed, exploitation, and a disregard for the sanctity of the place.
The first red flag was the pujari's blatant chewing of paan, a habit that is considered unhygienic and disrespectful within the temple premises. This act displayed a lack of reverence for the holy atmosphere.
Furthermore, I was coerced into purchasing puja items from the temple's shop, even though I had brought my own. This blatant profiteering and insistence on temple-specific items felt like an attempt to manipulate devotees.
However, the most shocking aspect of my visit was the escalating demand for money from the pujari. He started with a request for 100 rupees, and with each successive demand, he raised the amount until I had handed over a total of 300 rupees. This exorbitant fee was unreasonably imposed and deeply uncomfortable.
Such behavior is a stark contradiction to the principles of spirituality and devotion. God does not reside in places where greed and materialism take precedence. A devotee's ability to worship should not be determined by their financial capacity.
In light of this appalling experience, I strongly urge the Odisha government to take immediate action against the priests involved. Their conduct has tarnished the reputation of the Temple and brought disrepute to the Hindu faith.
Strict regulations must be implemented to prevent such incidents from recurring. The sanctity of the temple must be upheld, and the rights of devotees must be protected.
I implore the government to address this issue with urgency and restore the true essence of this revered pilgrimage site.
Chandaneswar Temple is a famous Shiva temple located in Chandaneswar, Baleswar district of Odisha, India. It was built in typical Kalinga Architecture style of Old Odisha temples. Chandaneswar is famous for Chandaneswar temple of Lord Siva Every .
Beautifully designed hindu temple ...
But the place need to be more clean than the present condition to keep its glory for coming century...
Located in the border of West Bengal in Chandenswar , Baleswar district of Odisha. A Famous lord Shiva temple. . A huge annual fair in the Solar New Year pana sankranti, the first day of the Odia calendar, is celebrated on the premises. A large number of pilgrimages from all over the country visit the temple during this period.It is very colse to beach town Digha in WB and one can visit this place during Digha tour. Located within 7 km from Digha one can opt for small vehicle to visit this famous temple.
One thing I must add that during my visit in july 23 rd 2018, I found the temole premise in a very dirty condition. Also in the entrance of the gate some kind of donation is collected from outside visitors which is not a good sign from my opinion.
