Jaya Mahadeb :
We learn from the Epics that Lord Shiva guzzled poison which
trickled during churning of the Deep using Mandara Hill as a shaft. For the
welfare of the Universe, He drank the poison that coloured his neck blue. In
order to remain cool and composed he let the river Ganges descend from the feet
of Lord Vishnu on his mat. So wel called him Gangadhar. Since the moon which
signifies coolness adorns his forehead. He is named as Chandrasekhar.
Because of
this necessity, man probably associated profuse water with the worship of Lord
Shiva. Hence during ablutions we use much water and milk to gratify him.
Peculiarly Lord Loknath in Puri remains completely ducked under water but
unfailingly water dribbles on the Linga at every Shiva Temple.
However, like
Panchalingeswar, the rarity of Jal Mahadev is that He displays
himself(Swayambhu) beneath the flow of a perennial stream. So devotees drop bel
leaves and flower on the gushing rill. Picturesque surrounding casts charm and
placiditly on solemn presence of the Lord. Moreover, a number of Shiva Lingas
are ferreted out at the site which were probably earlier adored by ascetics.
This fact oints to antiquity of the site which perhaps was a hub of religious
activities. Like Harishankar, dense forest cover enriches the backdrop of a
modern temple. The white edifice of Trilingeshwar was completed by Sri
A.U.Singhdeo, The Ex-Minister of Tourism, Odisha few years before.
The stream
amid nature provides ample scope for bathing in privacy. Nature lovers and
pilgrims throng the place for picnic and a holy dip., As the destination is
located at the foothills of the Gandhamardan, exotic plants, birds, animals,
reptiles and insects get full freedom to roam and flock. So a visitor gets
solace and real vaalue of his money.
For all these reasons, visitors from
Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha enjoy these two places by own transport.
There is a connecting route from Harishankar to Jal Mahadev(6/7 KMs) but it is
not motorable nor free of accidents. So if pucca road can be lad for the benefit
of visitors and tourists the distance and time will be reduced and journey will
be most exciting. The visitors may commune with nature and stumble upon wild
animals. Thus they will have a choice for picnic either at Harishankar or Jal
Mahadev. But they can pay respect at both the places. In addition, one can visit
the Deer Park, Herbal Garden and local market at Harishankar. Trekkers can try a
16 Km route to reach Lord Nrusingh at the other side of the Gandhamardan Hills.
Jal Mahadev is 84 KM from Balangir via Khaprakhol. Khaprakhol (16km from Jal
Mahadev) is a vintage point and well connected with Balangir, Bargarh(68 km)
Nuapada(67KMs) Kantabanji(68KMs) Titilagarh(144 KMs) One is to take a left turn
at village Maharapadar(08KMs) on the way from Khaprakhol to Harishankar(13 Km)
and reach another village named Kandarabhata which is only One Kilometer away
from Jal Mahadev. However, this fag end of the road is not blacktopped and an
unstable bridge keeps the are detached during rain.
Jagannath :
A village revived its old celebrity that it was a seat of religious activities
during Savapuriya Dynasty before the advent of the Somavamsi Kesharies(8th
Century). An open space surrounded by paddy fields, presently houses three
monolithic deities of Jagannath temple.
However, the stone images of Lord
Jagannath, Balabhadra and Subhadra, unique of its kind were known to humankind
after an excavation made in accordance with an afflatus received by a villager.
Respective colours of the deities are applied to these Idols ranging not more
than 1.5ft in height. The age and time of execution can only by revealed after
Carbon testing.
One can reach Balangir by bus or train. From Balangir one can visit Patnagarh by
bus or taxi.
Patmeswari :
The ancient capital of the kingdom of Patna, Patnagarh combines in happy
synthesis its mythic past with the modern present. The temples of Patmeswari in
Chalukyan style and that of Someswar Siva belonging to the 12th Century are the
monuments of prominence. One can find here the reminiscence of the earliest
group of temples build during the Chauhan rule in Western part of Odisha.
One can reach Balangir by bus or train. From Balangir one can visit Patnagarh by
bus or taxi.
Narasingh :
It is a rustic village of aborigines. Yet accommodates magnificent images of
Jagannath Cult, made of neem tree. The village derives its name from Narasingh,
the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu who is believed to have killed a demon
named Mura who prayed the God to be remembered in association with the name of
the Lord Narasingha. Though the village is yet to erect a proporti9onally big
and decent temple for the deities, there is no let up in the rituals of these
vaishnavite idols at par with those of Puri.
The villagers exhibited an
incredible moral change under the leadership of a school teacher named Bijoy
Kumar Mohanty. Mr. Mohanty was in charge of the worship of former small idol of
Lord Jagannath. He received an afflatus and located the holy neem tree along
with the villagers who initiated to invite the rajguru of the king of Puri for
consecration. an old lady named Kayavati Pradhani(75) donated land for the
construction of a temple as a mark of her respect and lover for late husband.
Presently the magnificent deities are placed and worshipped in a temporary shade
and all the religious festivals and rituals are going on in accordance with
Hindu belief. Here the deities underwent Navakalevar and traveled in three
separate chariots this year during Car Festival amidst 20000 onlookers from
neighjbouring villages.
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