Orissa Review September - 2009

The Shrine of Goddess Bhairavi of Puruna Katak, District

Niyati Panda

In the heart of ancient Utkal was the famous But much before the Bhariabi Pitha became Pitha, which is situated at Puruna Katak in Boudh famous as Isthadevi Pitha, the shrine of Goddess District, known as " Bhairabi Pitha". Devi Bhairavi was famous in entire Utkala as a Bhairabi is the Istadevi or presiding deity of the Tantrapitha. As per the Madalapanji - "Navischa then Chatrapur Gada Utkal Desa - Bhairabi Samanta, Mohapatra Royal Kshetra Muchyate". Dynasty. During 895 A.D. The famous shrine of the Somavanshi Maharaja Goddess Maa Bhairabi Swabhaba Tunga was the Siddha Tantra Pitha at king of Kosala. His only Puruna Katak is almost daughter, very wise and closer to all devotees for learned, was also the chief Goddess of mercy. All queen of the Bhoumakara nitis of Maa Bhairabi is dynasty, Maharani strictly followed and Tribhubana Mahadevi. She observed as per the expired and her baby son guidelines of Madala Gandhamardan Dev was Pothi. In which form brought up by Swabhaba Goddess Bhairavi is Tunga with the help of his worshipped here, it cannot brother Jajati Keshari. be found anywhere in the Gandhamardana process of nitis. So it is a ruled over the kingdom different tantra pitha than with the capital at Dhrutipur. others. At that time his Samanta From ancient ages king of Mahapatra royal Goddess Bhairavi, Puruna Katak Mahadevi Bhairabi is dynasty ruled over worshipped at Puruna Katak under the dense Chhatrapur Garh. When Samanta Mohaptra bamboo and mango forest. She is the presiding dynasty started the rule in this area, Goddess maa deity or Istadevi of Boudh. It is an integrated Bhairavi became the presiding deity or Istadevi. place of , and Tantra. Who ever

94 Orissa Review September - 2009 visits to this place once, he feels the eternal is found near Salakata village which is extended importance of Goddess Bhairavi. Many scholars, in an area of 8 acres of land. During March 1986 philosophers and tantrikas have attained the March a copper plate was exavated from this enlightement of divine power of Goddess place. Chatrapur Samanta king was older than Bhairavi. It is only 29 kms away from Boudh the Gupta Raja's of Golden Era. The Mahapatra town, 42 kms from Phulbani 199kms from Samanta Rajas of Chatrapur Gada worshipped . Maa Bhairavi is situated just on Maa Devi Bhairavi as their dynasty presiding deity the N.H.224 of Khurda-Bolangir National High i.e. Istadevi. Devi Bhairavi is situated in the Way. middle of the Argalia mountain forest range near committed suicide in the Gadadurga of Chatrapur kingdom. Mahapatra Yagyankunda as she couldnot tolerate the insult Samanta Raja's were happy and powerful with wordings spoken by her father Dakhya Prajapati the blessings of Maa Devi Bhairavi, the Goddess against her husband . Shiva carried the half being installed near the entrance of his Royal Fort. burnt dead body of Sati and moved here and there. Two brothers Kenhya Ray and Danei Ray were Lord applied Sudarshan to cut appointed as royal commanders for the worship into pieces the body of Sati. Navi Mandal of and development of Maa Bhairavi Pitha. During Sati fell in the forest and flowed in the spring water. Dushhera Saradiya Puja, great festival was The Navi kamal settled on the foot of the organised. Still now it is a great festival day for mountain, in the Padma Narasingha thorny forest. Maa Devi Bhairavi. When non-Brhamin Kshatriya Lord Shiva kept this Navi kamal of Devi Sati in Raja Mrutunjaya Bhanja was the ruler of Boudh, his heart and started Tandaba Dance and at last, at that time steps were taken to keep Devi he was fully attracted and satisfied to this Padma Bhairavi in a thatched house but it was a wonder Narasingha thorny forest and set up the Navi that before completion of the cottage it was burnt kamal in this Puruna Katak place, and proceeded by fire. Later on this proposal for construction of to North. The different parts of Body of Sati fell thatched house or cottage for Maa Devi Bhairavi in 108 places of and these places are named was abandoned by King Mrutunjaya Bhanja. by different names as Pithas. The Kamal Again new priests (sevaka) for the Upasana of Navi of Sati settled in Padma Narasingha thorny Maa Devi Bhairavi were engaged. Within few forest and named as Devi Bhairabi. Previously days they expired. Then none dared to come to this pitha was far away from devotees and was worship. Ramakrushnadev became the King of located in Jhadakhanda which is situated on the Boudh and devoted himself for religious works. right bank of the river , now known as After him Raja Gangadhar Dev ascended the Boudh. This kingdom was streched from Drutipur throne of Boudh. He exavacated the new tank named Chandrapur Sagar and also many village to 100 Kosa and four Samanta Raja's (Vassal tanks. The King of Boudh Chandrasekhar Dev King) were in charge of smoth adminstration in placed order to Paramananda Mishra of Palasa four places, (1) Kusanga (2) Chhatrapur village to go to Puruna for the seva of (3) Dharmagada (4) Bausuni. Chatrapur gada, Maa Devi Bhairavi and also alloted 27 villages as the capital of Mahapatra Samanta Raja was jagir. The priest Paramananada Purohit situated 29 kms away from Boudh and was proceeded with his wife and two infant sons and between two villages i.e. Salakata and Jiakata. at Puruna Katak third son was born. The eldest Still now the ruined of the fort of Chatrapurgada son Bhagaban Purohit was granted Rajingi village,

95 Orissa Review September - 2009 middle Basudev Purohit, Puruna Katak and the and Mahapala with sixtyfour . In the youngest son Jagamohan Purohit the Salakata middle of these, Balipitheswari is seen. Animal village. sacrifice nitis are held here till now. King Pitamber Dev engaged Pradyumna After Darshana of Khetrapala and Dehuri for the worship of Maa Devi Bhairavi as Dwarapala, one can enter into be temple of Maa an assistant Sevak of Paramananda Purohit . On Devi Bhairavi crossing five steps. Mahavir special occasion of festivals, Purohit was engaged Sardula is standing in the main temple and lion for worship of Maa Devi Bhairavi and Dehuri faced, tiger faced gate keepers are found in the was engaged for daily Nitis and Sevas ofShakti temple of Maa Devi Bhairavi. Inside the temple Pitha of Maa Devi Bhairavi. During Saradiya along Maa Devi Bhairavi following are Sodasa Puja and other festivals, purohit attained worshipped. They are - Maheswari, the seva puja. Khambeswari, Dakhinakali and Durgadevi with Till 1965 Devi Bhairavi was worshipped Chalanti Pratima and Bije Pratima. in a cottage. Then Sitaram Agarwal and Nandulal During Kartika Dipawali Amavasya i.e Agarwal constructed a new temple with the Diwali Maa is worshipped in the form of blessings of Maa Devi Bhairavi in 1969, alongwith Shyamakali, during Magha Krushna Chaturdasi other rooms for Bhoga kitchen and rest house Maa is seen as Ugratara and during spring for other Sevakas. Chaitra month Sukla Astami to Dasami Maa During Saradiya Sodasa Parva Puja Basantika puja is celebrated and the Goddess Boudh, King engaged 16 village heads called is worshipped as Bhubaneswari, Bagala and Gauntias to perform one each beginning from Dakhinakali in three days respectively. Maa Devi Aswina Krushna Mulastami. These Gauntias Bhairabi is seen as Kaumari during the month of belongs to village (1) Puruna Cuttack (2) Salakata Bhadrava Krushna Astami. It is the birth day (3) Jiakata (4) Kamalpur (5) Ranji (6) Gurudi puja of Maa Bhairavi. On Bhadrava Krushna palli (7) Ratnapur (8) Saradhapur (9) Phulajhari Chaturdasi Maa Bhairavi is seen as Digambari, (10) Balanda (11) Indrapur (12) Pitambarpur Kanyakumari, during Bhadrava Amavasya or (13) (14) Chamarpur (15) Bhabanipur Saptapuri Amavasya Yogmaya Besa is seen (16) Chhatrapur / Udayapur. Still now the during Bhadrab Sukla Ekadasi. villagers of the 16 villages provide all puja It is also a nice picnic spot for its natural materials for Maa Devi Bhairavi for Saradiya scenario and enchanting environment. So tourists Sodasa Puja. and devotees from all over the state visit Maa In the shadow of bamboo and mango Devi Bhairavi through out the year. trees Devi Bhairavi temple is a nice and peaceful place for all devotees. Devotees dedicate animals for sacrifice during the main festival on Mahastami. Sahada tree is dezzled with vermillion (Sindura). The animals meant for sacrifice are Ex-Head Mistress, kept here. Under the tall banyan tree Pithasena Helen Keler Red Cross School for the Deafs, Devis are worshipped. They are gate keepers of Ambapua, Maa Devi Bhairavi i.e. Dwarapala, Khetrapala , Dist. Ganjam.

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