Odisha - Pilgrimages and Temples

Religious Traditions of Odisha:

- All India Char Dham → Puri
- Shakti Peetha → Puri (Viraja Kshetra Shakti Peetha) - Jajpur (Viraja Kshetra Shakti Peetha)

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1.

Krishna (Jagannath) Tradition of Odisha:
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya)

• Puri → Sri Krishna abides in Purushottama Kshetra (Puri) as Lord Jagannatha (along with Lord Balarama and Devi Subhadra).

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2.

Shiva Tradition of Odisha:
(Ekamra Purana)
(Ekamra Chandrika)
(Kapila Samhita)
(Swanadri Mahodaya)
(Skanda Purana - Purushottama Kshetra Mahatmya)

• Bhubaneshwar → Lord Shiva abides in Ekamra Kshetra (Bhubaneshwar) as Lord Lingaraja.

• Puri → Lord Shiva abides in Puri as Kashi Vishwanath, Markandeshwar and Loknath.
• Mahendragiri → Lord Shiva abides in Mahendragiri as various Shiva Lingas established by the Pandavas (Yudhishthira Shiva, Kunti Shiva or Gokarneshwara, Bhima Shiva).

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3.

Devi Tradition of Odisha:
(Peetha Nirnaya Tantra)

• Puri → Devi abides in Purushottama Kshetra as Viraja Kshetra Shakti Peetha (Devi Vimala).
• Jajpur → Devi abides in Jajpur as Viraja Kshetra Shakti Peetha (Devi Biraja).
(Note: Puri Devi Vimala and Jajpur Devi Biraja are both identified as Viraja Kshetra or Utkala Shakti Peetha)

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4.

Parashurama Tradition of Odisha:
(Brahmanda Purana)

• Mahendragiri → Sri Parashurama is said to be staying and performing penance eternally in Mahendragiri.

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5.

Surya Tradition of Odisha:
(Samba Purana)

• Konark → Surya deva cured Samba (son of Sri Krishna and Jambavati) from his disease of leprosy due to the curse of sage Durvasa. Konark temple is associated with this event.

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6.

Sages and Odisha:
(Brahma Purana)

• Markandeya (Puri) → Sage Markandeya established a Shiva temple (for the welfare of the world) after seeing the vision child Krishna during Pralaya. This is identified with Markandeya Sarovar and Temple in Puri.

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7.

Saints and Odisha:

• Adi Shankaracharya (788 - 820 CE?) (Puri) → Sri Adi Shankaracharya established the Govardhan Math in Puri which is his eastern monastery.
• Haridas Thakur (1450 - ? CE) (Puri) → Sri Haridas Thakur used to chant the name of Sri Krishna incessantly under a Bakula Tree (under the instruction of Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu). This place is known as Siddha Bakul Math in Puri.
• Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486 - 1534 CE) (Puri) → Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu stayed in Puri for nearly 18 years (after taking Sannyasa) and spread the Gaudiya Vaishnavisn tradition there.
• Totapuri (1780 - ? CE) (Puri) → Sri Totapuri (Advaita guru of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa) stayed in Puri for several years where he has an ashram (Advaita Brahma Ashram).

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8.

Sacred Geography of Odisha:

Mountains:
☗ Nilachala Parvat (Puranic) → Puri
☗ Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves → Bhubaneshwar
☗ Mahendragiri Parvat → Mahendragiri

Rivers:
▬ Mahanadi delta → Bhubaneshwar
▬ Daya flows → Bhubaneshwar (4 km south)
▬ Kuakhai flows → Bhubaneshwar (4 km east)
▬ Brahmani flows → Jajpur

Seas:
☁ Sea Shore → Puri

Lakes:
◼ Indradyumna Sarovar → Puri
◼ Markandeya Sarovar → Puri
◼ Shweta Ganga Sarovar → Puri

Forests:
☸ Ekamra Vana (Puranic) → Bhubaneshwar

1. Pilgrimages and Temples of Sri Krishna: (Odisha)

-- Purushottama Kshetra (Puri) - Jagannatha (ICD-2) - Char Dham. Land of Sri Jagannatha


2. Pilgrimages and Temples of Lord Shiva: (Odisha)

-- Ekamra Kshetra (Bhubaneswar) - Lord Lingaraja - Land of Lord Shiva


3. Pilgrimages and Temples of Devi: (Odisha)

-- Purushottama Kshetra (Puri) - Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha [Devi Vimala] (SP-10) - The Nabhi (Navel) of Devi had fallen

-- Jajpur - Viraja Kshetra (Utkala) Shakti Peetha [Devi Biraja] (SP-10) - The Nabhi (Navel) of Devi had fallen

-- Hirapur - Chausath Yogini - A famous temple


4. Pilgrimages and Temples of Surya deva: (Odisha)

-- Konark - Surya deva - Famous Sun Temple