Danteshwari Temple - Dantewada
Danteshwari Temple is located 80 km (50 miles) from Jagdalpur city, a famous temple of Maa Danteshwari, a local goddess worshipped as an incarnation of Shakti. The temple is believed to possess divine powers. Every year during Dusshera, thousands of tribal from surrounding villages and jungles gather here to pay homage to the goddess.

Situated in Dantewada, southwest of Jagdalpur, at the confluence of the sacred rivers Shankini and Dhankini, this 600 year-old temple is one of the ancient heritage sites of India and is a representation of the religio-socio-cultural history of the Bastar region. However, people of India know very little about this shrine today. The vast temple complex today is a standing monument to centuries of history and tradition. With its rich architectural, sculptural and festival traditions, Danteshewari Mai Temple serves as the most important devout center for the people of this region.

In ancient days when Bastar area was famous by the name of Chakrakot, present Dantewada region was known as Tarlapal. The kings of Chalukya Dynasty made Barsur their capital and ruled this region; in course of time they transferred their thrown to Dantewada. Along with Chalukya Kings their ancestral deity of Warangal also came and got established in a temple as Danteshwari near the confluence of Dankini and Shankini rivers and thus this place is called Dantewada.

It is believed that Danteshwari of Chalukya kings is the changed name of Manikeshwari of the kings of Naga Dynasty, who ruled this region earlier to Chalukyas. Chalukya Kings had the temple constructed during fourteenth century. 

According to a prevalent myth in connection with Danteshwari temple, It is believed that a tooth of Sati had fallen here, and that was how the Danteshwari Temple came into vogue. According to legends, Goddess Sati self-immolated Herself in the fire pit of the `yajna kund`, as she could not bear the insult done to her consort, Lord Shiva, by her father Daksha, during the yajna. Enraged by the death of his wife, Lord Shiva destroyed the yajna of Daksha and with the body of Sati balanced on his shoulders he created a `taandav` (complete pandemonium). Lord Vishnu witnessing such work along with other gods cut Sati`s body with his `Sudharshan Chakra` to pieces, and in this process freed Shiva from the grief caused by his wife`s death. Parts of the dead body of the Goddess lay scattered onto earth in 52 different places, which were consecrated as Shakti Pithas.

The Danteshwari Temple was built in the 14th century by the Chalukya Kings, in South Indian style of temple architecture. The idol of the Mother is chiseled in shiny black stone. The temple has four parts- Garbha Griha, Maha Mandap, Mukhya Mandap and Sabha Mandap. The Garbha Griha and Maha Mandap were constructed completely out of stone. There is a Garud Pillar in front of the entrance of the temple. The temple is located in a spacious courtyard surrounded by massive walls, with the shikhara (spine) adorned with meticulous finery.Resurrection of the present construction of temple was done before Independence of India. It is said that several statues were brought from Barsur and were established here. A Garud Pillar has been erected in front of entrance of the temple, which was brought from the temple of Barsur.

Chalukya rulers were the dedicated devotees of Danteshwari. Whenever they came from Bastar to obtain a glimpse of goddess, a village was offered to the name of goddess. The number of these villages, thus became as much as one hundred and forty four by 1909, it has become a Mukasha or Maphi Jagir (estate, received from a ruler as a gift or reward). Temple’s management was done by the Zia family and followers of this family have been performing the worship  hereditarily till today.

Affectionately known as Maiji among her millions of devotees  both tribal and non-tribal, Danteshwari has become a living Shakti Pith in the form of deity, faith and belief.