Odisha Review June - 2014 Bhairabi - Jagannatha Kshetra Dr. Prafulla Chandra Mohanty Odisha is the land of spiritual and cultural meaningless. With the above background the monuments. The biggest religious cultural centre article gives a brief description of ancient Bhairabi inside the state is Puri and it is famous for the Kshetra presently developed as Durga-Madhaba shrine of Lord Jagannath. Jagannath Dham is one Kshetra situated in the sacred land of Mantridi of the four important Dhams (centres) of India area in Ganjam district of South Odisha. Maa Sri situated at the eastern part of our country. Siddha Bhairabi Kshetra was situated at a 18 Jagannath Dham of Puri termed as Sankha kms distance towards south east corner of Kshetra situtated in a triangular land scape looking Berhampur city on the side of N.H.-5. The like a coanch. It is also the Shreekshetra which signifies the place of Lakshmi, the spouse of Lord Jagannath the Lord of the Universe, Who is well known as the Goddess of wealth. In Odisha there are other kshetras (centres) like Arka Kshetra (place of Sun), at Konark, Tulsi Kshetra at Kendrapara (Baldevjew temple), Sabar Shreekshetra of tribals at Koraput, Saran Srikshetra at Marada (Ganjam), Saila Shreekshetra at Anugul and Durga-Madhaba or Shaktipeeth was famous for the cult of Bhairab Bhairabi-Jagannath Kshetra at Mantridi of South which was believed to be present since 400 B.C. Odisha. In Bhagawat Geeta, Lord Srikrishna narrates about the kshetra & khetrangya where The Durga Madhab kshetra has two kshetra is the place where God of the Universe important deities. One is the Goddess Bhairabi resides. Kshetra without Kshetrangya (God) is (the fifth incarnation of Durga), and the second 110 June - 2014 Odisha Review one is the Jagannath (the Lord of the Universe). Raghunatha, Balaji, Radhakanta Mathas are In Vaishnavism, the earlier to Daru worship was witnessing the Vaishnab Kshetra. Mantridi is a the worshipping of idol made out of stone. ‘The place which connects South to North and East to Madhaba’ is a tribal deity. In each and every West of India in religion and culture. Now in South Shakti Peetha a Vaishnaba Bhairab Kshetra will Odisha the Bhairabi Peetha is an important Shakti be there. Accordingly a Jagannath Temple was Peetha also termed as ‘Ekpada Bhairavi Kshetra’ developed since 1982, as per the verse goes like of Odisha. ‘Vimala Bhairabi’ Yatra Jagannathstu Bhairab’. As per the mythological studies, it is The sacred shrine is situated at an ancient port known that before the incarnation of Jagannath, town and trading centre Mantridi. The natural the cult of Madhaba was prevailing there. In the beauty of the location is very heart-touching and deep forest the Supreme was worshipped by a attractive. The Kalinga Sagar, i.e. the bay of Sabar – Tribal named Viswavasu. The diety was Bengal is only at a distance of three kilometers to in a cave most possibly at Mohendragiri area and the east. The roaring sound of the sea in the night worshipped in the name of Neela Madhaba – the can create an eternal music of life in the ears of blue coloured idol. Later the diety was stolen by living being. The south is filled with tribal and Vidyapati in the knowledge of Viswabasu’s forests of palm, mango, cashew, kewada and of daughter out of love. On the desire of Bhairabi a many other flowering plants. The unique presence proposal of errecting a Jagganath temple was of the Bahuda river, its sacred sands, soil turns made in 1982. The work was carried on without the visitor emotional. In the west a skyhigh green any obstacle in the backyard in the vicinity of Maa Kerandi Mala mountains looks like pyramid and Bhairabi Temple after cutting the age old Kalpa stands like a fence linked to the Eastern ghat Bata which was there from the time immemorial. legendary mountains of Mahendragiri. Brahmapur The Bata Briksha (Peepal Tree) was believed to city, the place of Brahma, the port Gopalpur, be the incarnation of Lord Bhairaba – Vishnu in Mansurkota, Golabandha the military the premises of Maa Bhairabi. A Viswa Shanti cantonment, Bhanja Bihar, the campus of Maha Yangya – was conducted since eleven days Brahmapur University is at a distance of five to from 4th to 14th April 1982 and Purnahuti was ten kms towards the north. The very important performed by the Gajapati King of Puri Sri Sri river shrine Rushikulya and the largest lake of Dibyasingha Dev. Devotees in lakhs came and Asia, Chilka is the eternal beauty, queen of the got Darshan of Bhairabi and visited the site for land, is singing the songs with migrating Siberian newly constructed Jagannath Temple. It is not only birds as a rare feature of the site. The presence said but witnessed also by the gathering that a of the natural sceneries increases thousand times Cobra snake was the master of the whole Yangya the beauty of this shrine of Durga Madhaba or and managing the total show for eleven days. Bhairabi-Jagannath Kshetra. Spiritually, Mantridi People had the belief that Bhairabi Maa incarnated is the place of Shaiva, Shakta, Vaisnaba and as a Snake Cobra for successful completion of Bouddha religion. Utareswar, Neelakantheswara, the sacred fire (Yangya) which is for a motto of Kasiviswanatha, Enkenswara and Pataleswara betterment of the total Universe. It is decided then are the Saiva temples of the area. Similarly and there to start the work of constructing a 111 Odisha Review June - 2014 Jagannath Temple as the Peetha Rakshaka of Durga Madhaba Kshetra went in search of (Protector) of the Kshetra. Daru by the orders of Bhairabi instead of Mangala. Temple Construction : The villagers of Mangala is said to be the sea Goddess related vicinity Bayali, Mantridi, Haradanga etc had given with Taapoi, Sudasha Brata, Khudurukuni Osha. free services (Kara Seva) day and night for the Similar to this Maa Bhairabi is the Thakurani – construction of Jagannath Temple. The progress Mangala worshipped by the only daughter of was in a sound process and the Temple was ready Dhaneswar Sadhaba. The area around Mantridi for ‘Ratnamuda’. The Ratnamuda was done with is also a centre to start the sea voyage by the then lot of enthusiasm and devotion. Lakhs of devotees Sadhabas who are now also the inhabitant of the came and participated. Ratnamuda means the area in the name of Sadhabas and Sadhabanis. closing of the first roofed chamber of the Temple Researchers said the titles are changed a bit in with all grains, gold, silver, copper coins and plates pronouncing Sahus and Sahuanis. The team in which can be utilised for renovation and search of Daru went in a procession with Aum- reconstruction of the temple in the future if marked orange coloured flags, agyanmala required. The upper portion of the Temple was (phool, sindur), hundred and eight Sankirtan speedly constructed and the structure was ready groups towards east and reached in a dense forest for placement of Parswa Devatas and different near Jarad village. A gigantic neem tree was godly images were put on the outer skirt of the earmarked for Daru in obedience with all the rituals temple. The Neelachakra was of eighty four and godly symbols in it. Vast tree was cut by Kilograms weight made up out of Astadhatus golden and silver axes after offering Puja, Homa, (eight metals of fifty per cent of Iron and steel, Yagyans. The Daru was cut into four pieces for twenty five per cent of Copper, Gold, Silver, Chaturddha Murti – The Jagannath, Balabhadra, Dusta, Ranga, Lead, Mercury) costing nearly a Subhadra and Sudarsan. A car (Ratha) was crore rupees was set along with Aanlashree. The decorated for transporting Daru from Jarada to construction of the temple was finished. The Bhairabi Peetha. The procession of Daru Yatra temple has four parts like Rekha, Gama, Bhadra was accompolished with twenty one camps and and Mohan as described in silpa bastu sastras. stoppages througout the way on walk. The Now, it was the time to go for Daru Yatra. Daru scenery carries a vision of ancient Kanchi Yatra means to search for a Neem Tree out of Abhiyan headed by Jagannath and Balabhadra in which the new dieties are to be made for the 15th Century. The crowd on both the sides of worshipping. On receiving the Agyanmala of Maa the road ready with Dhoop, Deepa & Naibedya Bhairabi, a team of devotees went towards North as offerings and as such welcomed the sacred direction after crossing the pious river Rushikulya Daru Brahma with full devotion uttering Hariboles in search of Daru. Similar formalities and rituals and Hulahulis. This created a heavenly of Daru Yatra of Puri also observed after getting environment in receiving the Daru Brahmas. The the permission and Agyanmala of Kakatpur Daru Yatra (Procession) was ended at Bharabi Mangala situated near the bank of the historic river Peetha. An Anna Yagyan was arranged for the ‘Prachi’. Here the difference is the bank of devotees. A carpenter (Viswakarma) was Rushikulya instead of Prachi. Here the devotees arranged and the wooden immages of Lord 112 June - 2014 Odisha Review Jagannath, Balabhadra, Subhadra and Sudarsan Balabhadra, the yellow painted car is for were made in the stipulated time as per the Subhadra and Sudarsan is kept in the Chariot with schedule. The day of car festival was nearing, the Jagannath. The Gods are taken to Mausima Ghara Gods were painted with usual colour. Prior to which is about one forth of a kilometer towards Rath Yatra Nava Youvana Darshan was held. the east near the village Bayali for Ratha Yatra – Lakhs and Lakhs of people came to attend the since 2000.