Bipin Chandra’s
Jagannath Temple
Khallikote,Ganjam,Odisha.
The temple is 300 years old and the second
tallest Jagannath Temple in the State after Puri Shree
mandir... If historians are to be believed, construction of the Jagannath
Temple in Khallikote was started in 1730 by
King Jagannath Mardaraja-I and completed by his grandson
King Jagannath Mardaraja-II in the year 1868.Nov 5, 2019
Legendary sources suggest that Jagannath was originally worshiped by the
Tribals, the Sabaras. The most important evidence of this belief is the
existence of Daitas, a class of sevaks who are considered to be of tribal
lineage and who still play a major role in the various services to Lord
Jagannath. Historians predict that the original diety was ‘Kitungu’ worshipped
by the Tribal Sabaras
in the hilly areas of Mahendragiri situated in the undivided Ganjam
District. Later on ‘Kitungu’ the God of wood was named as ‘Jagunta’ and then
the Lord Jagannath. Ganjam is the place directly related to the birth of
Jagannath cult. Earlier the Ganjam had not less than thirty Gadjats. The king
of each Gadjat had a direct relation with the Gajapati king of Odisha and
everyone had accepted the Vaishnavism and the cult of Jagannath for their
kingdom and constructed temples and celebrated functions on Lord Jagannath.
After Puri, Ganjam is the next richest place in celebrating the festivals of
Jagannath cult in the state of Odisha. Each and every Zamidar of Ganjam
has their Jagannath Temples. Following are the Jagannath Temples situated in
different Zamidaries of district Ganjam.
The Jagannath Temple at Khallikote: From the manuscript of ‘Krshna
Janmastami Vrata’ in Odia composed by Aniruddha Chhotaraya, a Raja of
Khallikote in the Saka year 1670 (1748 A.D), it is known that the wooden images
of the Chaturddha Murti (Jagannatha, Balbhadra, Subhadra) and Sudarshan were
first being worshipped in a Mandapa (open space) built by his great grandfather
Jagannatha Mardaraj -I. So the building of the Jagannatha Mandap of Khallikote
may tentatively be fixed in the middle of the 17th century A.D. From the
manuscript of ‘Vaisakha Puran’ in Odia written by Jagannath Mardaraja Deva II,
it is known that he built the present Jagannatha Temple of Khallikote. He may
be placed in the last quarter of the
18th century as his father Nalinaksha
Mardaraj was living in Saka year 1699 (1777 A.D). A vadivelu writes about this
as follows, “The building of the Temple of Jagannatha in Khallikote which
commenced seven generations ago was finished during his time at a cost of over
lakh rupees”.
Jagannath Temples at Gadazata Areas of Ganjam : A researcher has surveyed
the total number of Jagannath Temples in the state which
are 928 and out of this only Ganjam bears 178. They are as follows:
Digapahandi, Vijay Nagar Gada, Padma Nava Pura, Veer Padmanava Pura,
Gopinathpur, Brahmapur, Alarigada, Kurula, Nuapada, Jakamaripally, Podamari,
Pratapgiri, Bhismagiri, Fasiguda, Singipur, Moula Bhanaja, Patapur, Sidheswara,
Basudevpur, Kankarada, Adapada, Haripur, and Paika Jagannathpur, Parlakhemundi,
Seranga, Jiranga, Udayagiri, Mohana, Luhagudi, Kasinagar, Garabandha, Gurandi,
Ankuda, Chandragiri, Chheligada, Namangada, Ramgiri and Rayagada, Bhanjanagar,
Balichhai, Buguda, Belguntha, Jagannath Prasad, Bidipur, Barpalli, Natgaon,
Badangi, Kaduapada, Kokalaba, Rauti, Gobara, Binjigiri, Jhilemili, Mahaguda,
Patrappur, Basudevpur, Badakodanda, Birikote, Galeri, Golia, Khamareddi,
Pailipada, Berhampur, Mahuda, Bayali Mantridi, Khallikotegada, Bikrampur,
Kairashi, Chikite, Pathara, Dampur, Kama Nalinakshyapur, Kanchana, Keshapur,
Kantapada, Langaladei, nimina, Sankuda, Shandhamala, Athagada, Kabisuryanagar,
Barida, Dhundapada, Gudiapalli, Gudiali, Kharida, Veer Jagannathpur, Kodala,
Polosara, Beguniapada, Digapada, Jilunda, Hatioat, Phasi, Rimagada, Marada,
Ramasa Narayanpur, Sikula, Tentulia, Chatrapur, Purushottampur, Landabar,
Pratappur, Chingudighai, Jalaswara Khandi, Kantali, Kakarpani, Raipur,
Sanathara, Tanganapalli, Hinjilikatu, Saru, Huma gada, Biraligada, Gopinathpur,
Naidapalli, Khanda Deuli, Balarampur, Rambha, Subalaya, Palurgada, Ganja,
Agasti Nuagaon, Aska Sunambasahi, Debhuin, Jayapur, Sidhanai, Dharakote,
Dhaugaon, Kalashandhapur, Nalabanta, Chasa Pital, Tahamra. Along with the above
spots Jagannath Temples are existing at Chikitigada, Surangigada, Patrapur,
Jarada, Surangi Nuagada, Seragada, Sorada areas. Hence, Ganjam is claiming as
the 2nd place in the state after Puri in celebrating the Jagannath cult.
There is a saying in the area that
Khallikote gada Jagannnath Temple is the 2nd biggest Temple in Odisha, Tikali
Jagannath is the 2nd ancient most, Pratapgiri carries the biggest image and
widest Badadanda. The saying in Odiya goes like, Khallikote deul (temple)
Jarada gahala (rush), Pratapgiri Ratha, Bije Nagar Yatra (festival), Seragada
Mandani (decoration) and Dharakote Adheni (celebration), this tells about the
top in kind and quality in the state of Ganjam district as well as in Odisha.
Jagannath Temples at other areas of the District : The cult of Jagannath
is the culture of Ganjam District. In each and every inhabitated village mostly
carries at least one Jagannath Temple or a Dadhi Baman Murty associated with
other God and Goddesses of Vaisnavism. Similar to this the Temples are at
Konisi, Randha, Golonthara, Girisola, Chatrapur, Rajpur Bipulungi,
Purushottampur, Kodala, Buguda, Balipadar, Belguntha, Kumari, Kanaka,
Sunathara, Sahapur, Raipur, Sikula, Hinjilikatu, Rambha, Huma, Kukudakhandi,
Hinjlikatu and in almost all remote and urban areas, and so the observance of
all the yatras is very popular with car festival in whole of the district.
Chikiti, Dharakote, Digapahandi, Mahuri and so all other zamindari estates have
their Jagannath Temples from the times immemorable basically from the second
half of fifteenth century. During the partition and formation of the New Odisha
province, theTemples of Budharsingi, Tekkali, Jalantara, Manjusha, Tarala, etc,
are in bichhinnanchala (Andhra Pradesh).
Thanking You!
Written By: Bipin Chandra’s
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