Goddess Manikeswari and Lankesvari

Orissa Review September - 2009 Goddesses Manikesvari and Lankesvari Uma Shankar Kar Tel and Indravati basin covering Kalahandi district Karundadhipati. According to Encyclopedia is a land of Sakti worship since time immemorial. Britannica, Page 478, Vol. 6 the name Corundum The earliest form of sakti worship was discovered (base metal of Ruby) is derived from its place in the shape of Stambeswari which has been where it is collected. Incidentally the Sanskrit name mentioned in the Teresingha Copper plate of of Corundum is Korund or Kurundum. It is Raja Tustikara during fourth century A.D. Tribal believed from Kurundum the old name of Kondhs worship wooden posts which has been Kalahandi i.e. Karund was derived and from it taken the shape of Stambeswari it is believed. the word Corundum was derived. Kalahandi district is mostly inhabitated by tribals The Chindakanaga kings of 12th and who are nature and mother deities worshippers. 13th century A.D. were worshippers of Goddess Besides, to get rid from drought like situation Manikya Devi alias Manikeswari which is known Sakambari, during war period to get strength from Jatanpal, Dantewara and Bhairamgarh Raktambari, Lankeswari, Dakeswari (Dukri) and inscriptions. Later she became tutelary deity of Manikeswari deities are worshipped in Kalahandi. Ganga and present Naga kings of Kalahandi. The Here there is an attempt to present different medieval period between 10th to 13th century aspects of Manikeswari and Lankeswari, two was a period of political disturbance in Trikalinga important deities of Kalahandi region. and South Kosala region due to continuing warfare Manikeswari between Somavamsi, Kalachuri, Chhindakanaga, Ganga dynasties and Kalahandi virtually turned Deity Manikeswari is the tutelary in to marching route of army and witnessed many goddess of Kalahandi. The name of the deity is battles. Availability of large numbers of Sati and significant as it is believed that the name of the Hero stones from different parts of the district is deity Manikeswari has been derived from the indicating long warfare. There was virtual word Manikya (Ruby). The Kalahandi region is competition among different powers to adorn the famous for various types of gemstones including title of Trikalingadhipati. During this period the that of Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, Iogite Chindaka Nagas suffered due to their friendship and many other verities of gemstones. Kalahandi with Gangas against Kalachuries. In order to was known as "Karund" and till 18th century the terrorise and to give lesson to Gangas, Kalachuries Naga kings of Kalahandi were known as crushed Chakrakota Nagar of Chhindak Nagas. 121 Orissa Review September - 2009 Kalachuri king Ratna Deva-II of Ratanpur also break of epidemic in the capital and even the 2nd defeated Jateswar alias Kamarnava the son of son of the king was also the victim of the epidemic Chodaganga Deva, the Ganga king of Utkala. and the eldest son Udit Pratap Deo was in serious This lost glory was at last recovered only by condition. He was believed to be cured after the Anianka Bhima alias Anangabhima Deva, the prayer of the king before deity Manikeswari and great grand son of Chodaganga Deva, defeating in the year 1850 the king shifted his capital to Kalachuri ruler Pratapa malla. The tradition says Bhandesir Patna or present Bhawani Patna. that the Gangas adopted Manikya devi the tutelary The temple of Manikeswari was deity of their friend Chindaknagas. During this constructed by King Fatenarayan Deo in the year chastic period of power struggle, this region turned 1852 but a new temple of gigantic order in the in to a vassal state of Gangas with no importance present form was constructed in the year 1935 and when the Ganga rulers were weakened, local by king Brajamohan Deo. The present temple is powers like located adjacent to Chauhans in Bolangir the palace, which is 56 region and Nagas in feet tall and in the form Kalahandi raised of Rekha deula. their heads. The The Darbar Records of Manikeswari Temple Naga rulers say that at Bhawanipatna is 56 after the death of the ft. tall and consists of 6th king of Naga Mandapa and dynasty his widow Sanctum. The temple queen along with her architecture is of minor son Rekhadeula style. Ramachandra Deo The Pillared took shelter in her Mandapa is linked Chhatra Yatra & Manikeswari Temple maternal house at with the main temple Gadapur who and once it was decorated with mural paintings belong to Ganga family. Later the Kondh Umras of Dasamahavidya and natural scenaries, which and important citizens brought the queen and son is at present not seen due to erosion. The from Gadapur. While returning back home Mandapa is having columns of six rows and six Ramachandra Deo brought Manikyadevi from his columns in each row. The temple of Budharaja maternal uncle's home. Manikyadevi was has been installed as a Parsvadevata in the established at Jugsai Patna in the form of northern entry of the temple. There are three other Manikeswari and the ruins of the old temple there small Rekha shrine temples of Vaishavi in the is still visible. Later Ramachandra Deo installed North of the temple, Narasimhi in the West and Manikeswari at Bhandesir garh (present Varahi in the South. Combingly the temple Bhawanipatna) and ruled from Jenabali Patna or complex has a gigantic look. Manikeswari though present Junagarh. having conception of Chhinnamasta from its However during the rule of the 27th king iconography it is worshipped in the Ekakhyra of Naga dynasty Fatenarayan Deo, there was out mantra of Kali. 122 Orissa Review September - 2009 Apart from Bhawanipatna Manikeswari Mahastami i.e. the day when the temple is is worshipped also in Sankhemundi, opened for the day. So the royal family after Paralakhemundi, Sonepur, Kashipur and also in waiting for the occasion take Navanna only on Thuamul Rampur and Jugsaipatna of Kalahandi next day i.e. Mahanavami after Chhatar Yatra district. of deity of Manikeswari. This is an unique The main Temple of Manikeswari is tradition. Besides. Manikeswari Deity being a situated in the campus of the Palace of Naga happy blending between Tribal and Non-Tribal kings of Kalahandi at Bhawanipatna. culture. There is close resemblence between Manikeswari deity is a happy blending between the icnography of Stambeswari or pillar worship Tribal and Non-Tribal culture. There is close and the present Manikeswari deity. Kondhs treat resemblence between the iconography of Maniksairo as the sister of the deity Dharnipenu. Stambeswari or pillar worship and the present A narrative song of Kondh tribe says : Manikeswari deity. Significantly the Manikeswari "Juhar Juhar Manikesari Maa Raije Maharani deity of Bhawanipatna is headless. And the body Sayabani mahan Laybani mahan Dharni San Baheni" is only a cylindrical structure and over it a clay So there is a belief that the deity head has been fixed and the body is covered by Manikeswari in the present form and Kondh cloths and ornaments. Like Navakalebara of traditional Manikesari is interrelated and through Jagannath each year on Mulastami day a clay the universalisation process the present form of head of the deity is placed engraved with gems Tantra worship of deity evolved. In the similar after replacing the old head, which is immersed process there is evolution of Kondh male deity in the midnight in the Purusottam Sagar adjacent Budhapenu taking evolution of Budharaja or to the temple amidst secret ritual. Bhairaba. Besides this tradition several other The Sharadiya Utsav of Deity traditions and rituals are also linked with deity Manikeswari starts fromMulastami and the most Manikeswari. Similarly another interesting ritual important function is Astami, Navami and is observed before deity Budharaja (Bhairaba) Dashami. After Sandhi Puja of Mahastami the located in a small temple in the northern side of Chhatra of deity is taken to Jenakhal in the the Manikeswari temple. It is only once in a year outskirt of the town. On the early hours of on the occasion of Mahastami this temple is Mahanavami the Chhatra makes its return opened and offerings offered. After offering journey to the temple accompanied by before Budharaja, the Chhatar of Manikeswari Jenabadya, Ghumura, Nishan, Ghanta. The is left for Jenakhal and makes its return journey chorus creates a thrilling sensation and a sense of on Navami early morning known as Chhatar awe and wonder to the lakhs of devotees Yatra. Interestingly although Navanna or congregate from different parts of the State Nuakhai is observed before other deities and including neighbouring States. As a mark of people observing Nuakhai either on Rushi fulfillment of wishes devotees make offerings. It Panchami (Bhadrava Shukla Pakshya is an occasion for every body irrespective of Panchami) or Bhadrava Shukla Pakshya Dasami, caste, creed and religion to find the Deity amidst the new rice is offered to Budharaja only on them. 123 Orissa Review September - 2009 Lankeswari an unique Sakta and Tantra centre and was the Lankeswari is the presiding deity of tutelary deity of different powers like Junagarh, the old capital of Kalahandi. Chhindakanaga, Ganga and Naga dynasties. Lankeswari is stated by tradition to be the Many legends are associated with the deity. protectress of mythical city Lanka ruled by Ravan According to one popular legend the Banka referred to as Lankini or Lankadevi. Similarly Paikas a warrior community brought Lankeswari Lankeswari was also the presiding deity in the from the South by the order of the King. Virtually Sonpur region during the reign of the Banka soldiers defeated the enemy and Chhindakanagas. After defeating the Soma rulers, brought the deity to the capital city at Chhindakanagas installed the Jenabalipatna, now Junagarh Telgu Chodas as local ruling by beating of Ghumura. The chief there. Even today legend may be related to the Lankeswari is worshipped in period when captured Soma the form of a flat rocky islet in Vansi Chhindakanagas the bed of Mahanadi and a Kingdom or may be Gangas whirlpool of Mahanadi is who defeated Kalachuries.

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