A very ancient town in India, Dantewada had been the capital city of a glorious Kingdom in its golden past. This town was known as Tarlapal and Dantawali in pre-historical days, the mention of which can be found on the stone carvings found in the district.
The town is named after the goddess Danteshwari, the presiding deity of the Danteshwari Temple located in the town, 80 km from the Jagdalpur tehsil. The goddess is worshipped as an incarnation of Shakti and the temple is held to be one of the fifty-two sacred Shakti Peethas.
The temple is according to legends, the spot where the Daanth or Tooth of Sati fell, during the episode when all the Shakti shrines were created in the Satya Yuga.
History of Danteshwari Temple
The kings of the Chalukya Dynasty made Barsur their capital and ruled this region; with time, they transferred their throne to Dantewada. Along with Chalukya Kings their ancestral deity of Warangal also came and was established in a temple as Danteshwari near the confluence of the 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 the Naga Dynasty, who ruled this region earlier to Chalukyas. Chalukya Kings had the temple constructed during the fourteenth century.
This six-hundred-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.
The idol of Danteshwari Mai is chiseled out of black stone. The temple is divided into four parts such as Garbh Griha, Maha Mandap, Mukhya Mandap and Sabha Mandap. Garbha Griha and Maha Mandap were constructed with stone pieces. There is a Garuda Pillar in front of the entrance of the temple. The temple itself is located in a spacious courtyard surrounded by massive walls. The shikhara is adorned with sculptural finery.
Affectionately known as Maiji among her millions of devotees both tribal and non-tribal, Danteshwari has become a living Shakti Peeth in the form of deity, faith, and belief.
Every year during Dusshera thousands of tribals from surrounding villages and jungles gather here to pay homage to the goddess, when her idol is taken out of the ancient Danteshwari temple and then taken around the city in an elaborate procession. It is now a popular tourist attraction part of the ‘Bastar Dussehra’ festival. There is also a tradition of lighting Jyoti Kalashas during Navaratri here.
Source:
http://dantewada.nic.in/history_temple.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danteshwari_Temple
http://templeatindia.blogspot.in/2015/10/danteshwari-temple-dantewada.html