Orissa Review September - 2009

The Bhairavi of Mantridi

Y.S. Murty

Orissa is famous for its Sakti cult. , "Srusti", the "Devatas" ran to Lord to stop a treatise on Saktism, mentions Odra (Orissa) as "Rudra". Lord Vishnu used his "Sudarsan " of foremost importance amongst the major four and cut the body of the into several pieces 'Saktipithas', the other three being 'Jala Sailakam', which were strewn all over. Some of those places (now Jullundur in Punjab), "Purnapitha'' or where these pieces fell, developed in later times "Srimukhalingam" in as Pithas or centres of Andhra Pradesh, and worship of . Kamarup of Assam. Mantridi, located at a Thus "Sakti "or "Durga" distance of 5 kms from in its varied forms is the Golantra on the National most worshipped deity Highway No.5, and 15 at the various pithas and kms from Berhampur is temples of Orissa, the abode of the Siddhi famous among which Bhairavi . It is said that are the "" of the deity bestows Cuttack, the "Viraja'' of "Siddhi" to its "Bhaktas" Jajpur, "Bimala" of Puri, - hence the name. "Samaleswari" of Located at a calm, quiet, Sambalpur, "Narayani", Bhairavi Temple, Mantridi and serene place, a sort "Taratarini" and the of awe comes into the body when one enters the "Siddha Bhairavi", of Ganjam. Legend says that main-gate of the temple complex, which is spread when Goddess "Sati" Devi went uninvited to her over about 20 acres. The frontage of this place father's place to witness the great "Dakshayagna", has a beautiful garden with coconut, Ketaki and she got insulted so much so that she could not Champa trees. A walk of about 250 feet leads to bear it and got herself burnt in the sacrificial fire. the main entrance of the temple. Here is the first Enraged at her beloved's self sacrifice, Lord Siva modern arch type gate with the Durga in its in his "Roudrakara" went on with the destructive " Mardini" style. This is perhaps a dance "Pralayatandava", with body of the Sati in later addition by the temple committee. Further his hands. Fearing the total annihilation of the going, we enter into the sanctum sanctorum about

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3 to 4 feet down the surface level, and the deity is due to the nearness of the two places. If this is embedded there. The idol is carved from a single correct the age of the deity must be put to many granite, "Pashanarupa" stone. It has a clear plough hundreds of years before what was told by the injury mark. It is in the standing form facing the Archaka. But no attempt to determine the age west with one foot and four hands. That is why either by the stylistic method or historic method this is called "Ekapada Bhairavi". There is appears to have been done. This is because the ''Ganga'' in the heart from which water sprinkles place did attract any archeologists or historians all along, and will never dry up. The Bhairavi is due to the absence of any other original idols in holding the Trident and the Sword in her two the surrounding. This is also a deviation from the upper left and right hands. The lower left hand is other pithas, where there are many parsvadevatas placed on the navel and the lower right hand is besides the main deity. pointing the ground. Thus the devi is in her During "Dasara" the "Bhairavi" goes in a ''Roudra'' mood. This awe inspiring idol and the procession from the temple to the basti of Mantridi presence of a burial-ground nearby is suggestive and stays there for nine days, receiving "Bhog" that this "Pitha'' is more of Tantrism than Saktism. (daily rituals). Thousand of pilgrims throng during The exact origin of the deity is obscure. these days, though the daily average attendance But legend as narrated by the oldest archaka, Hari during normal days is about 20 to 30 only. On Rana, says that more than 200 years ago, the every "Masanta Sankranti" day, however the place was a forest of the village Hurudungo. When visitors number about 500 to 1,000. On the last the ancestors of the Reddy family wanted to Tuesday of "Chaitra" a "Jatra" is held when reclaim the land and began ploughing, the plough thousands of visitors visit the temple. The people was stuck up. To find out the reason, they dug of Mantridi come in a procession with the beating the place and found the present idol, with a mark of the drums and sounds of "sankhas" (conches), of injury from the plough. They then installed the and offer "pona" (sweet drink) to the deity said idol in the present place, and later a temple was to be left there by her. The people firmly believe built. that only after this ritual, there will be the first rains. The Bhairavi takes precedence over other Saktipithas, it is said, as Parasuram who did his meditation on the Mehendragiri hill was worshipping Bhairavi. This probability is perhaps Courtesy : Orissa Review, October, 1991

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