Orissa Review July - 2008 Sree Jagannath Jeeu of Nayagarh Geeta Devi Though the Rajas of Nayagarh were Saivites of removed to the temple precinct of Sri Ladu Baba the Lakulisa Pasupata Sect, they were equally of Sarankul. The stone altar in which the deities devoted to the Vaisnavite faiths. were installed by Raja Ramachandra Singh was Raja Bagha Singh (1480-1510 A.D.) who sold on a nominal price of Rs.250/- in 1890 A.D. rose from the status of a petty chieftain of Ralaba to Neela Kothlok of the palace (Kept of the Raja) to the stature of a Raja Samanta (feudatory chief) which was used as the pedestal (Padma Prusta) creating a new Fort (Nuagarh) at the of Lord Gopinath Jeeu. present principality of Nayagarh is Only the main sanctum credited to have made small (Viman), 120 ft. in height was icons of Shree Vigraha constructed by Raja Chaturdha Murty and Binayak Singh. However he installed the deities in a mud had kept Rupees 60 (Sixty) altar on the foot hill of thousand along with some Balarama for the first time building materials for the in the history of Nayagarh. construction of the frontal During the rule of porch or Jagamohana. Due Raja Ramachandra Singh to his demise in 1823 A.D., (1720-30 A.D.) the small the work could not be icons of the Chaturdha M u r t y completed. His son Raja were removed to Sinduria. New icons of Brajabandhu Singh spent the money comparatively bigger size were constructed and otherwise, to purchase the estate of Baramba worshipped at Nayagarh in an altar of black which was then being sold on auction to chlorite stone. repay back loans. So the frontal porch of the temple of Lord Jagannath could not be It is during the reign of Raja Binayak Singh built. However a flat roofed pucca building was (1793 - 1823 AD) the present icons were later built to serve the purpose of Jagamohana. installed in the newly built temple of Sri Jagannath on the foot hill of Balarama. The old images The main temple of Lord Jagannath is of a installed by Raja Ramachandra Singh were 'Rekha' order characterised by a Pancha Ratha Plan. As usual, Varaha, Narasingha and 30 Orissa Review July - 2008 Trivikrama are installed as Parsvadevates around discharging the duty of 'Prahari' (door keepar) the main sanctum. on Bethi. All the royats were providing vegetables On the lintel of the doorjamb there are stone for Dwitiya Osha. carvings of the nine planets. Little above the The Car Festival, Makara, Chandan and planets there is the carving of Gajalakshmi. Snana Yatras are the chief festivals of the deity. It is said that Raja Binayak Singh sought In the line of Lord Jagannath Jeeu of Puri, the assistance of Mukunda Mahapatra, a culptor here also three chariots are used for Rath Yatra. of the state of Athgarh (Ganjam). Mukunda was The making of the chariots starts from the day of the father of the famous poet Jadumani Akshyaya Tritiya. The Khonds of the state were Mahapatra. Mukunda's father Raghumani previously providing the ropes and discharging Mahapatra carved out the icon of 'Radha Ballava' some other duties on Bethi. Now-a-days the for the Raja of Athgarh. Raghumani's father Debottar Department assumes all responsibilities Artabandhu Mahapatra was the main mason to of the festival. make the icon of Lord Jagannath in the state of On the day of the car festival, the Raja of Athgarh. In all probability Raja Binayak Singh Nayagarh comes from the old palace in a grand who had family connection with the Raja of procession and performs the Chhera Panhara Athgarh might have invited Mukunda Mahapatra (sacred sweeping) of the chariots with a golden to house the family at Itamati with royal land broom. Then only the chariots start their journey grants, to use his masonry skill. Mukunda also to the 'Adapa Mandapa'. In the Adapa Mandapa carved out the image of Lord Radhamohan Jeeu (Gundicha Ghara) also all rituals like that of Puri installed in the palace precinct. are observed with pomp and grandeur. The Raja Binayak Singh introduced the festival ends with the end of the return journey 'Chhatisa Niyog Sevas' for the deities in the line (Bahuda Yatra). Like the sacred Mahaprasad of Lord Jagannath of Puri. He also recorded huge here also Anna Prasad (rice, dal, curry etc) is land grants to defray the expenses of the temple. available in earthern pots (Kudua) to the devotees The royats of Sakiri were providing fine rice of of the Lord. sixty-two cart loads of paddy. They were also discharging other Bethis (Services free of cost) for the temple. Royats of Itamati were discharging 'Bethis' for the Gundicha Bhawan. Royats of Geeta Devi is the Principal of the Utkalamani Balipatna, Gundi Gadia and Bhalia Padar were Gopabandhu Smruti Mahavidyalaya, Sakhigopal, Puri. 31.