Kendrapara
1) Baladev jeu temple – (Ichapur, Kendrapara)
Baladev
Jeu Temple is situated in Ichhapur (Tulasi Khetra), kendrapara, odisha.
Baladev jeu Temple is a very famous temple of Odisha and Balarama is
its main divinity. However, jagannath and Subhadhra are also worshipped
in the Ratna Sinhasan in the main temple. A deity of tulasi as a
goddess in a seated position is also present after the sacred seven
steps.
Tulasi Kshetra – Kendrapara is one of the
five holy Kshetras of Orissa. It houses the temple of Lord Baladeva Jeu
in the heart of this Kshetra. The same rites and rituals of Lord
Jagannath at Puri are generally followed here which makes Kendrapara
equally attractive. It is only 95 Km away from the state capital
Bhubaneswar. Literature like Brahma Tantra written by Vedavyas and Padma
Purana speak the glory of this place. Here Lord Balabhadra married
Tulasi, the daughter of the demon king Kandarasura and resided here
secretly. So this place is called Tulasi Kshetra or Gupta Kshetra. It is
also known as Brahma Kshatra, Kandarapadi or Kendarapada.
The deity holds club (Musala) in his
right hand and plough in the left. Balabhadra is known as elder brother
of Vasudeva. Rebati Raman, Talanka, Musali, Hali, Kamapal, Kalandi
Vedan, Pralaghna, Achutagranja, Bala, Rohineya, Nilambara, Sirapani ,
Halayudha, Baladeva, Balarama and Sankarsana are the sixteen other names
of Balabhadra .
History of the Place-
There are several stories surrounding
Lord Baladeva Jeu at Kendrapara. Kandarasura, a demon king, destroyer of
Yajnas (sacrifices) , was ruling over the area surrounding Lalitagiri
and Assia mountain ranges. Tulasi kshetra Mahatmya reveals that he lived
near Lalitagiri – Alatigiri and was terrifying people. Lord Balabhadra
defeated him in a fight as a result of which he left the place, went to
Kapilas mountain near Dhenkanal and lived in disguise in the nearest
mountain ranges as he was an ardent devotee of Lord Siva. Lord
Balabhadra thoroughly searched every nook and corner of the hill and
lastly ploughed the hill with his plough (hala) as a result of which one
perennial spring emerged from the hill, which is now called ‘Langal
Siar Jharana’ (spring of the plough). After persuading him from Kapilas,
Lord Balabhadra killed the wicked demon Kandarasura in a fight and
threw his slain body all over nearby places by cutting it into pieces.
It is a popular belief among the local
people that the scattered body was fallen at Asureswar, Balagandi, Kamar
Khandi, Navi Khanda which places are named after the head (Aswa Sira),
trunk (Gandi of Aswa) waist (Kamar-Khanda) and Naval (piece of Navi) of
the demon Kandarasura respectively. It is also believed that the Siva
temples of Swapneswar at Kantia, Lankeswara of Gualisingh, Bileswar of
Kagal were founded by Baladeva over the face, neck and waist of the
demon respectively, Balagandi, the place where the trunk of Kandarasura
had fallen is called Kandara padi (Kendrapara). According to his name,
the place name ‘Kandharapara’ or ‘Kendrapara’ has been derived.
Before killing the demon, Lord Balabhadra
at first killed Madhudaitya, the chief military general of Kandarasura
at Lalitagiri through his war weapon plough. The blood gushing out from
the body of the general formed a river named Madhusagar (now Gobari
river) which flow towards east by the side of Kandarasura Menhir and
ultimately meet the sea.
Lord Balaram married Tulasi, the only
daughter of Kandarasura on the 12th day of the bright fortnight in the
month of Magha which is observed with pomp and ceremony every year as
‘Tulasi bibaha day’ (marriage day of Tulasi) in the Baladeva Jeu Temple,
Kendrapara. The place where this marriage was performed is renamed as
Tulasi Kshetra. The deity of Tulasi Devi is worshipped in a temple near
village Gochha on the northern side of the road from Kendrapara to
Ichhapur.
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