Tag: Odisha Tourism

Maa Kalijai Temple; Beauty of Chilika Lake

Chilika Lake is a brackish water lagoon located in the state of Odisha, India. It is the largest coastal lagoon in India and the second largest in the world. The lake is spread over an area of 1,100 square kilometers and has a unique ecosystem that supports a wide variety of flora and fauna. It is home to over 160 species of birds, including several migratory species that visit the lake during the winter months. The lake is also home to a variety of fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic animals. The lake’s ecosystem is highly productive, and it supports the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on the lake for fishing, farming, and other activities.

Chilika Lake is also an important tourist destination and is known for its natural beauty and biodiversity. Visitors can take boat rides on the lake and observe the various bird species and other wildlife that inhabit the area. The lake is also home to several small islands that are popular among tourists.

Hisory of Maa Kalijai Temple

Kalijai Temple is a famous Hindu temple located on an island in Chilika Lake in the state of Odisha, India. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Kalajai, who is considered to be an incarnation of the goddess Kali.

According to legend, a newly married girl (named Jaai) and her father were on their way to meet her husband. Her in-house law’s was on an island in Chilika Lake, so they had to take a boat across the lake to get there. The coast of Odisha is prone to cyclones, and during this boat trip, they encountered a severe cyclone, causing their boat to capsize in Chilika Lake. Except for the girl Jaai, all of the boatmen and her father survived this incident. They looked for her but couldn’t find her. After the untimely death of that newlywed girl, she became the Goddess of the people who lived nearby, and she is still worshipped as an Excerpt of Kali. And, this is how the place got its name.

The temple is located on an island in the middle of Chilika Lake, and can only be reached by boat. Visitors to the temple can enjoy the scenic boat ride across the lake and take in the natural beauty of the area. The temple is also home to a variety of wildlife, including several species of birds, which can be seen on the island and in the surrounding water.

The Kalijai Temple is a popular pilgrimage site for devotees of the goddess Kalijai, who come from all over India to offer prayers and seek blessings. The temple is particularly crowded during the annual festival of Kalijai, which is held in the month of November and attracts thousands of devotees.

The temple is also a popular tourist attraction, and visitors can explore the temple complex and learn about the history and legends associated with the temple. The beautiful architecture of the temple, the scenic surroundings, and the spiritual atmosphere make it a must-visit destination in Odisha.

Story of Dharmapada – Legend of Konark Temple

The Sun Temple of Konark was built around the 13th century and took 12 years and 12000 artisans to complete. Generations have grown up hearing the immortal story of the little child prodigy-Dharmapada, who could only add the finishing touches to the construction work of Konark Temple and gave his life to save twelve thousand artisans. The throngs of people were stunned to learn that a 12-year-old boy could master the intricacies of building a temple in Odisha that modern architects find incomprehensible.

Picture Courtesy – Sadhana Khamari

The construction work of Sun Temple of Konark was over seen by Sibei Samantray Mahapatra and Bishu Maharana as the chief architect. The soil on which the temple was to be built was originally in such poor condition that the chief architect, Bishu Maharana, who was entrusted with the project, became very upset. There was an agreement between the king and the workers that no one would be allowed to leave until the entire project was completed. 

As the construction progressed, the chief architect Bishu Maharana and his workers encountered difficulties in repositioning the Kalasha (temple crown stone). Meanwhile, the chief architect’s son, ‘Dharmapada,’ came to see his father because he had been away from home for a long time. Dharmapada was born a month after his father’s departure, and it had been twelve years, he had never seen his father and his mother never told him much about his father.  On his 12th birthday, he asked his mother for a gift, and she told him about his father and his responsibility to build the Konark Sun Temple near the sea. Dharmapada decided to visit his father and arrived at the construction site after a long journey. He went to the site and didn’t take long to spot his father. After meeting his father and other artisans, he discovered that they were dissatisfied and faced a major problem. 

The versatile boy could have known about the real flaw in the final stage of construction from the manuscripts he read as a child. It was only through his sheer genius that the stone that would fit the temple as the key stone or Kalash and keep the temple together could be designed. When his father showed him the structure, he hurried to make the correct stone with him. The key stone was correctly placed and the work was completed within a few hours.

However, the workers on the construction site were afraid that the king would be furious if he found out that a 12-year-old child had completed the work while twelve thousand artisans had failed to do so. The sensitive child climbed and gradually reached the temple’s peak. As the first ray of light appeared, the child jumped into the sea and gave his life to save 12000 lives, including his father’s. The example of supreme sacrifice laid down by the little child has been passed down through the generations as a tale of inspiration, brilliance, and self-sacrifice for the greater good of society.