The Mausi Maa temple is situated at the mid-way of the Bada danda (Grand road) of Puri. It is a small temple dedicated to Goddess Ardhashini.
As per Jagannath mythology, once Goddess Lakshmi Devi left Shri Mandira, and thus Jagannath and Balabhadra become poor and had to go out for begging. When Jagannath and Balabhadra were out during that time, Subhadra Devi was staying with Mausi Maa (Maternal Aunt).
Mausi Maa is also termed as Ardhashosini. It has been mentioned in the Vaisanava Kanda of the Skanda Purana that Goddess Ardhashosini drank half of the sea water that flooded Puri and saved the abode of Shri Jagannath. Goddess Ardhashosini with Kapalamochana Shiva, act as the guardians of the Shree Kshetra.
During the return journey (Bahuda yatra) of Ratha yatra festival, the chariot of Shri Jagannath stops at Mausi Maa temple and the deity is offered with their favourite Poda Pitha, a kind of baked cake made in lentils and rice .
Mausi Maa Temple is dedicated to Maa Ardhasini, therefore also called as Ardhasini Temple. Devotees believed that Devi Ardhasini together with Kapalamochana Shiva, act as the guardians of Puri. Mausima temple is located on the right side of the Grand Road from the Jagannath temple to Gundicha temple. Mausima means Mausi and Maa, In Odia/Hindi language Mausi means Aunt and Maa means mother/Goodess.
Mahasaptami, Mahanavami, Makar Sankranti, Vasant Panchami, Shivaratri, Holi, Ram Navami, Akshay Trutiya, Rukmani Vivah, Jagannath Rathyatra, Vaman Jayanti, Guru Purnima, Raksha Bandhan, Randhan Chatth, Janmashtami, Ganeshotsav|Ganesh Chaturthi, Navratri, Vijya Dashmi, valmiki jayanti Sharad Poonam, Diwali, Tulsi Vivah.
