ISSN 0970-8669 Odisha Review

Sri Jagannatha- Bhairabi : Durga - Madhaba Kshetra

Prafulla Chandra Mohanty

disha is the land of spiritual and Ocultural monuments. The biggest religious cultural centre inside the state is Puri and it is famous for the shrine of Lord . Jagannath Dham is one of the four important Dhams (centres) of India situated at the eastern part of our country. Jagannath Dham of Puri termed as Sankha Kshetra situtated in a triangular land space looking like a coanch. It is also the With the above background the article tries to Shreekshetra which signifies the place of give a brief description on ancient Bhairabi- , the spouse of Lord Jagannath, Who is Kshetra presently developed as Durga-Madhaba well known as the Goddess of wealth. In Odisha, Kshetra situated in the sacred land of Mantridi there are other Kshetras (centres/ places), like area in Ganjam district of South Odisha. Arka Kshetra (place of Sun), at Konark, Tulsi (established since1999- 2000 year.) Maa Sri Kshetra, at Kendrapara (Baldevjew temple), Siddha Bhairabi Kshetra is situated at a distance Sabar Shreekshetra –recently developed of 18 kms. to south east corner of Berhampur Jagannath temple of the tribals in Koraput, Saran city on the side of N.H.-5. The Shaktipeeth is SriKshetra at Marada (Ganjam), Saila famous for the cult of Bhairaba- Bhairabi which Shreekshetra at Anugul and Durga-Madhaba believed to be present since 400 B.C. Kshetra or Bhairabi Kshetra of Mantridi in South Bhairabi Devi was worshipped as the Odisha. Similar to this, there are also some other Boudhatantra Devi. After Boudhayugo, the Kshetras, in and outside Odisha like Dakshina Brahma upasana came into existence and Kshetra (Jagannath Temple) at Chennai, Shree accordingly the Madhaba culture was spread. Kshetra at Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai, Bangalore Madhaba upasana is seen everywhere in Odisha etc. In Bhagawat Geeta, Lord Srikrishna details in the form of -Madhaba, Rai-Damodar, about the Kshetra and Kshetrangya. Kshetra is Radha- worship generally in the month the place where of the Universe resides. of Kartika. The Kartika Purana narrates the story Kshetra without Kshetrangya (God) is nowhere. of Lord Krishna, Narayan, Lakshmi, Jalandhara

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with its various manifestation of . The epithet of Madhava was adopted by the rulers of Sailodbhava Dynasty. Nila- ma-dhaba (here Nila means blue or black i.e. nothingness, ma means mother i.e., the creation and Dhaba means the white-the embodiment of all colours- the oneness means the Supreme. The myth tells us that Jagannath is originally worshipped as a blue stone (Maha Nilamani) idol in the cave of a Blue Mountain (Neela Kandar). Viswavasu, a tribal chief was worshipping this stone, with a purpose of increasing fertility to earth, and well-beings to all of the universe. He was offering to the God, the natural flowers, fruits of the trees. In almost all ancient civilization, the cave worshipping is seen. The historians opine that the black or blue the demon and Brundabati. Before the worship stone pieces are the salgrams worshipped as the of ‘Daru Image’ of Lord Jagannath, only a blue living Vishnu, the Supreme God. Niladri stone was worshipped. The Utkal Khanda of Mohadaya relates that Saptada (Seven Skanda Purana narrates that a blue stone or God’s images) worshipped on the Ratnavedi of Nilakantamani was being worshipped near the Jagannath temple comprises Jagannath, Rohini Kunda. It is believed that this black stone Balbhadra, , Sudarsan, Bhudevi, Sridevi is kept inside the wooden image of Jagannath as and Madhaba. This signifies the Madhaba cult the Brahma. Similarly, the black stones are also and Madhaba of the Bhairabi Kshetra is thus worshipped under the name of Nilamadhab in justified after the establishment of Jagannath different parts of Odisha and India. The temple as-the unique Durga-Madhaba Kshetra. Markendeya Puran has also a description on Durga-Madhab Kshetra has two important Madhaba. The Rupamadan furnishes twenty four deities. One is the Goddess Bhairabi (the fifth names of Vishnu and the ayudhas (weapons) in incarnation of Durga), and the second one is the His four hands. Madhaba holds Chakra (wheel) Jagannath (the Lord of the Universe). In in upper right hand, Sankha (conch) in upper left , earlier to Daru worship was the hand, Padma (lotus) in lower left hand and Gada worshipping of idol made out of stone. In each in the lower right hand. and every Shakta Peetha a Vaishnaba Bhairabi The history of Madhaba worship (in Kshetra will be there. Accordingly a Jagannath Odisha) is traced, from the time of Vaishnavism Temple was developed since 1982, as per the

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verse goes like ‘Vimala Bhairabi yatra largest lake of Asia is situated near to this Jagannathstu Bhairab.’ The sacred shrine is Jagannath-Bhairabi Kshetra. These natural situated at an ancient port town and trading centre scenery increase thousand times the beauty of this Mantridi. The natural beauty of the location is very shrine of Ma Bhairabi- Durga Madhaba Kshetra. heart-touching and attractive. The Kalinga Sagar, Spiritually, Mantridi is the place of Shaiva, i.e. the Bay of is only at a distance of two Shakta, Vaisnaba and Boudha religion. to three kilometers to the east. The wave-roaring Uttareswar, Neelakantheswara, Kasiviswanatha, sound of the sea in the night can create an eternal Enkenswara and Pataleswara Saiva temples are music of life in the ears of living being. The there in this area. Raghunatha, Balaji, Radhakanta fragrance of the Bahuda river, its’ sacred sands, Mathas remind the holy culture of Ayodha, soil turns the visitor emotional. In the west, sky- of South India, Radha Krishna high green Kerandi- mala mountains looks like worshipping of , Srichaitanya Brundaban pyramids and stands like fence linked (tailed) to and Dwarika in western India. Mantridi is a place the Eastern ghat of sacred legendary mountains which connects South to North and East to West of Mahendragiri. The very important river shrine of India in religion and culture. Rushikulya, Bahuda the pious river shrine of mahabharatian age, the ancient fort ganj-i-am. panchama, the shrine of Lord Sri Ganesh, the Prafulla Chandra Mohanty, Sanskruti Sadan, Bayali Kalingan-palura mountains and the Chilka, the (Mantridi), Ganjam-761008.

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