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| Kendrapara Baladev Jew Temple |
xxxxx “It is said that after the
death of Baladeva, his dead body was transformed into a stone image which was
worshipped by Devatas at
the door of Patalapuri, which is identified with Lalitagiri in Dwarpa
Yuga. The area extending from the Bay of Bengal in the east, the Lalitagiri and
Assia mountain range in the north-west, River Baitarani in the north and River
Mahanadi in the south are called part of Patalapuri (nether
world) in the Puranic literature. When Kali Yuga appeared and Buddha Dharma
(Buddhism) spread over the area, theDevatas kept the image of Balabhadra in
disguise, hidden underwater in the River Madhusagar, which is now called the
River Gobari. After Gopal Siddha das discovered the image of Balabhadra near
Siddha Sarovar, he worshipped him at Kendrapara. “ xxxxx
xxxxx” Kandarasura, a
demon king and a destroyer of yajnas, was ruling over the area surrounding Lalitagiri
and the Assian mountain ranges. Tulasi Kshetra Mahatmya reveals that he lived near
Lalitagiri-Alatigiri, and was terrifying the local people. Lord Balarama
defeated him in a fight, as a result of which he left the place and went to
Kapilash Mountain near Dhenkanal, where he lived in disguise in the nearby mountain
ranges, as he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. Lord Baladeva thoroughly
searched every nook and corner of the hill and lastly ploughed the hill with
his plough (hala), as a result of which one perennial spring
emerged from the hill. This is now called Langal Siar Jharana (spring of the plough). After persuading him
from Kapilash, Lord Baladeva killed the wicked demon Kandarasura in a fight and
threw his scattered body all over the nearby places.”
It is very interesting to note that the present place names
surrounding Kendrapara are known according to the names of the fallen body
parts of the demon king. Asureswar is derived from the fallen cut head (Asura
Sira) of the demon, Balagandi is derived from the fallen gandi (trunk) of the demon (i.e. Kandara padi), Kamar Khandi is
derived from his fallenkamar (waist),
and Navi Khanda Lahakhanda is derived from the fallen navi (Naval) of the demon. Besides these
places, Lord Baladeva founded some Siva' temples over the other fallen parts of
the demon, like Swapneswar Siva temple at Kantia, Lankeswar Siva temple at
Gualisingh, and Biuleswar Siva temple at Kajala, where demon's body parts like
feet, neck and part of the waist respectively were fallen. The demon's body (gandi)
is buried at Balagandi, which is Kendrapara proper.
Some research scholars
have the opinion that Kandarasura, who lived near Chandikhol, was not a demon
but an ardent Buddha arhat (follower of Buddhism) and a tantric,
and that he was a leader of an aboriginal race like the Kondha (Kondharasura).
According to his name, the place name 'Kandharapara' or 'Kendraparah' has been
derived. But other scholars think differently, that the name 'Kendraparah' is
derived from the word 'Kendra' (a kind of musical instrument made of
from the gourd) and 'para' means pada, or hamlet of a village.[19] This
instrument is played by some sects of people called Natha Jogi (Yogi), who makes his livelihood by
playing Kendara and by moving from door to door
for alms. “ xxxxx
xxxxx “Kandharasura, the destroyer of Yajnas was finally killed by
Lord Balabhadra. His head was cut five times, but again appeared, which
indicates the Pancha-skandha of Buddhism, i.e.,Rupa, Bedana,
Sangya, Sanskar and Bijyan. This legend describes
the culture of Buddhism. It is a conflict between Buddhism and Brahmanism.
At last the Brahmanism (Tulasi)
won the battle. Lord Baladeva married Tulasi, the daughter of Kandarasura on
the 12th day of the bright-fortnight of the month of Magha. This Magha Sukla Dwadasi day is observed as Tulasi Bibaha day (Marriage day of Tulasi) with
great pomp and ceremony every year.
The war of Lord Baladeva
with Kandharasura indicates the war of religious understanding. From the early
times, worship of Nagas (snakes) was prevalant in Orissa, and Naga Pujamingled with
Brahamanism. During archaeological excavations at Paharpur in Rajshahi
districts of East Bengal (now Bangladesh), they discovered one gray sandstone
sculpture of Lord Balaram, one of the ten incarnations of Visnu, depicted with
plough (hala) and under snake-hood. [21] As this image is dated to the
9th century A.D, it is proved that the Balabhadra Upasana was fully developed
from at least the 9th century A.D. in the neighbouring province of Orissa.
In the 13th century
A.D., King Anangabhimadeva-III of Ganga dynasty constructed one temple for the
worship of Lord Baladeva near the present Kacheri of old Kendrapara town, which
is about 60 hands (28 metres) high, for the worship of Lord Baladeva Jew in the
heart of Tulasi Kshetra.
The original temple was
demolished by Khan-i-Dwina (1660-1667 A.D.), the then Subedar of Orissa during
the time of Moghal Emperor Aurangazeb. [22] He constructed a Masjid on the
foundation of the dismantled temple in the year 1663 A.D.
Devotees took the Deity
in disguise in a boat through the river Govari by boat and kept the Deity
secretly near Baranga (Chhedara) Jungle. Afterwards it was shifted to
Balarampur village near the Luna River at Samkhi Bata, so this place is also
sacred for Vaisnavas.
Because the original
stone image (Manibigraha) of Lord Balabhadra was found in the Tulasi
forest by the cowherd boy Gopal Siddha das, the name of the presiding Deity
Lord Baladeva is "Siddha Baladeva Jew".
In 1761, the present
Baladeva Jew temple was constructed at Ichhapur (Kendrapara) during the Maratha
rule in Orissa. It was constructed by the king of Kujanga, Raja Gopali Sandha
and Zamindar (landlord) of Chhedara killa,
Sri Srinivas Narendra Mahapatra. One saintSantha, Gopi das, and Sairatak
Giri convinced the then Maratha King of Janoji to construct the Jagamohan,
Bhoga Mandap, etc. of the main temple of Gundicha and the compound wall. The
viman and Jagamohan are built in pidha style of temple architecture. Afterwards
Mukti Mandap, Ananda Bazar, Bhandarghara (store), Gouranga temple, Basudeva
temple and Garuda pillar were constructed inside the compound wall.” xxxxx
This is an extract from “Balabhadra Upasana and
Tulasi Kshetra - BY: ER. NIRAKAR MAHALIK source : odisha.gov.in/e-magazine/Orissareview/june2006 “
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