Bhadrakali : a Complete Study
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Orissa Review September - 2009 Bhadrakali : A Complete Study Dr. Soma Chand Rivers have always played a dominant role in Shaktipitha are found in different religious texts shaping the culture and civilisation of a particular as well as mythologies. The premier Deity Durga place. From the time immemorial civilisations of being born out of yagna fire has assumed the name Egypt, Mesopotemia, Indus et al. Owe their of Bhadrakali and has blessed the region. The contributions to eternal flow of the rivers presence of Sri Jagannath (the last which fulfill the basic necessities of incarnation of Krishna) in the same human life. platform marks the peaceful co- The Salandi valley existence of the place. culture at Bhadrak serves a Shaktipuja or worship of glaring example in this Shakti occupies a very context. The flow of significant position in the Salandi and its tributaries ancient Indian tradition. have played a major role Though various opinions in enriching its tradition, have been put forward by culture and custom. When the historians, Indologists, we try to reconstruct the archaeologists about the glorious cultural heritage of origin of the cult, it is a the district the very first universally accepted fact that thing that strikes our mind shakti worship constitutes a is the name of Goddess very important aspect of our Mahakali from Meghasani religion. (origin of the river Salandi) As per µDevi-Sukta¶ to Bhadrakali, the Devi Shakti represents daughter of Salandi - herself through various ways Goddess Bhadrakali, Bhadrak Presiding Deity of the through deaming and region - Mahamaya Bhadrakali. knowledge in the form of Saraswati, through From ancient time till today the place has wealth in the form of Laxmi, through general its own sanctity as one of the renowned benevolence in the form of Durga or through shaktipithas of Orissa. Frequent references to this violence in the form of Kali. 126 Orissa Review September - 2009 µAkeiba Shakti Paramesvarasya upper right hand she holds sword and in the upper Bibidha badanti vyavahara kale left hand there is Kharpara. A baby (whom the Bhoge tu Bhavani Purushesu Laxmi devotees accept as Balgopal Krishna) is found in Shakte tu Durga Pralaye tu Kali the lower right hand along with a garland of beads Form ancient scriptures as well as in the lower left hand. The hands, feet, shoulders, Tantrasastra it is clearly evident that from 3rd- neck, nose, ears and head of the Deity are 4th century A.D. to 12th Century A.D. ornamentally carved. On both sides of mother, there Shaktipithas grew into prominence in various are the images of Jaya and Vijaya. The five gods parts of the Country. In the Tantric ritualistic of Hindu tradition such as Ganesh, Vishnu, descriptions Orissa has been regarded as one of Bhaskar(Sun), Siva and Durga are also enshrined the important pithas. here. The mythological description of the Deity goes as follows : Odrakhyam Pratham Pitha Dwitiya Jala Sailakami Srikali Bhadrakali danavadalini kesari Trutiya Purnapithastu Prusthasamstha, Srikrushnaka Santarupa nikhila Vayahara Kamarupam Chathurthakam niradava trinetra Dr. Harekrushna Mahtab rightly opines Bakhoyordhe khadga bamecha that out of the four important Shaktipithas - Kharparadhara Anaya bhaktavatsala Vaishnavi Vishnu maya bhabatu varada patu mam Odrakha, Srihatta, Pumakoti and Kamakshya - Bhadrakali Odrakha or Odyamsa or Orissa is the first pitha. Among the famous Devipithas of Orissa mention Mother Bhadrakali is a quite ancient may be made of Sarala of Jhankad, Cuttack Chandi mythological deity. The entire Indian tantra of Cuttack, Bhagavati of Banpur, Kichakeswari of literature is full of prayers and hymns for mother. Khiching, Charchika of Banki, Mangala of The Gadaparva of Mahabharata Padma Puraha, Kakatapur, Vimalapitha of Puri, Viraja of Jajpur, Markandeya, Purana, Chandi Purana of Sarala Samaleswari of Das, Vishnu Purana, Srimad Bhagabata Sambalpur and Tantraprasanga of Sri Krishna and the second part Bhadrakali of of Harivamsa make vivid references to goddess Bhadrak. They are Bhadrakali as all pervasive and eternal incarnation all one and the of Parambrahma. same. They are the The eleventh chapter of Saptasati Chandi Shaktis of makes references accordingly. Mahakala Siva. Jwala Karala Mrutyugra Mahisasura Sadanam The image of Trisula Patunobhite Bhadrakali namostute. goddess According to Durga Astottara Satanama Bhadrakali is made stotra : of black chlorite Agnijwala, Roudramukhi karalivi stapaswini, stone. It is around Narayani Bhadrakali Vishnumaya Jalodari four feet tall. She is four-handed and Thus she is the Emancipator of human Mahisamardini Durga, Khiching, sits on a lion. In the soul. For the gen eral welfare of the universe circa 10th-11th Century A.D. she has appeared in a metaphysical form. 127 Orissa Review September - 2009 Legendary Study : Once the local kids had organised a picnic The present Bhadrakali pitha is situated on the river bed. The kid-loving affectionate in the eastern side of Bhadrak town. From Sangat goddess overwhelmed with childlike simplicity took food with them in disguise for which the place gurudwar of Puruna Bazar it is around five became famous as µAharapada¶ (place of taking kilometres and from Bhadrak Kacheri Bazar it is food). about seven kilometres. The place is better known as Bhadrakali Sahi. On the Eastern side of the After the Muslim menace was over a temple there is a tank and an opera mandap. River small temple was constructed. The Deity was Salandi flows in the west. On the Northern and shifted from the water to the temple. The Southern sides there are residential complexes particular portion of the river Salandi is known as meant for the devotees. Besides, a Jagannath µBhadrakali ganda¶ till date. temple is there in the compound Legend goes that the of Bhadrakali temple. Bhuyan devotees brought The popular belief goes brahmins from Siddhesvara that this is not the original seat of village of Jajpur to worship the the goddess. Different legends Deity. The small temple gradually began to deteriorate with the also strengthen this view. If ravages of time. So the present history is the life of civilisation, temple came into existence in legend is its soul. Even though the between 1953 to 1959. legends are not research oriented findings like history, still then they Another legend goes on play a very important role in to say that the original place of shaping history. worship of the Deity was on the Meghasani hill in Mayurbhanj According to one legend district. This being the starting the original image of Bhadrakali point of river Salandi, one tantrik was worshipped in a very sage Tapas by name used to beautiful temple at Bhuyan worship the Deity Bhadrakali. Mahala situated in the eastern Oneday being overwhelmed side of Bhadrak town. The Mahisamardini Durga, Bindu Sarobara Tank, Bhubaneswar, with the hymns of the sage milk Muslim conquest of Orissa circa 8th-9th Century A.D. began to ooze from the left breast brought in its wake destruction of the Deity. The flow of milk of temples and places of Hindu worship. The joined a spring and took the shape of a river. As original temple of the goddess also fell prey to it flowed through a forest of Sal trees, it took the Muslim invasion . The devotees of Bhuyan dynasty name of Salandi. prayed mother who directed them in a dream to The sage Tapas became extremely happy shift her place of worship.The devotees and drank the water of the river as the blessing of accordingly took the image in a boat in river the Deity. Then his soul mingled with eternal soul. Salandi and moved eastways. Then she remained His disciple Bhadranath created a tomb of his in a hidden form in the river. master and started worshipping the Deity. 128 Orissa Review September - 2009 One day surprisingly he saw that the body The next day holding the sacred flower of his master had come out of the tomb. Being the youngman proceeded being followed by perturbed he started praying. Suddenly he heard Mahamaya. The jingle on her feet began to ring a heavenly voice that he should give pinda to his as she walked behind. While the youngman was master in the river. Further he should place the covering the dry bed of the river Salandi, he Deity in the water with pure heart. He should follow couldn¶t hear the sound. Thinking that the goddess the sound of jingles attached to the feet of the had deserted him, he looked back and the eternal goddess. He would stop his journey where the mother took the shape of a stone image. jingle would become silent. Bhadranath did As per the description of Ratnakosha, accordingly. At a particular place he couldn¶t listen goddess Bhadrakali was the family deity of the sound of jingles. Out of suspicion when he Bhuyan dynasty. This Maratha youngman was the looked back, the heavenly voice instructed him founder of Bhuyan dynasty. The name of the place to stop there. Bhadranath stayed there and began was Bhuyan Mahala which was the ancient capital to worship the Deity. of Bhadrak. The Bhuyans were the rulers of the The legend further tells us that once two adjoining areas of Salandi river. They were Chauhan Maratha brothers came to Purushottam worshippers of mother Bhadrakali. Later on they Puri for pilgrimage. They lost their way and shifted their seat of rule to Dola Sahi after being entered a dense forest. All on a sudden they came attacked by ferocious Afghan invaders. The place across a radiant glow and followed it. At last they is now well-known as Bhuyan Uasa from where reached a cottage. their successors migrated to different areas. They It was the residence of yogi Bhadranath are now better familiar as Samantaray family of where two brothers took rest. The next day Talapada, Bhuyan family of Kubera and Kanungo younger brother fell ill.