States » EastPosted at: Oct 26 2026 6:26PM


Heritage Walk traces Odisha’s Jagulipatna temple history, rituals and legends

Bhubaneswar, 26 Oct (UNI) The centuries-old Sri Ananta Purushottam Temple at Jagulipatna, known for its distinctive full-length deities, unique Rath Yatra traditions and fascinating legends linked to Odisha’s royal past, came into focus during the third edition of Khordha Heritage Walks.
The walk began yesterday at Chandichua Square, with 25 heritage enthusiasts from across Odisha participating. Temple servitors Kamalalochan Das Maharaj and Ganesh Das Maharaj, along with local residents, welcomed the participants.
Senior journalist Prabhata Kumar Panigrahi shed light on the temple’s history and religious significance. Kamalalochan Das Maharaj explained its daily rituals and major festivals, while Baikunthanath Mohapatra and Meenaketan Mohanty shared insights into its cultural heritage.
Local accounts link the temple’s history to Gajapati Divyasingha Deb, who was reportedly sent to Kala Pani during British rule before escaping and later seeking refuge with Baba Raghubir Das under the assumed identity of Dayanidhi Das.
Another legend attributes the creation of the deities to a divine inspiration received in a dream of Lord Jagannath. Artisans from Puri are said to have carved the idols from timber brought from Beruhan village, while Shautriya Brahmins from Kerala reportedly arrived to consecrate them. Worship is believed to have begun in a thatched house before the present temple was built.
A distinctive feature of the shrine is its full-length idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Goddess Subhadra. Balabhadra is depicted holding a hala (plough) and musala (pestle), while Jagannath holds a conch and Sudarshan Chakra.
The temple complex also houses shrines dedicated to Bhairaveswar, Chaitanya Dev, Hanuman and Goddess Lakshmi, besides the samadhi of Mahant Raghubir Das.
The temple’s Rath Yatra, once celebrated with three chariots, reportedly remained suspended for a period before being revived in 1980. The annual festival has continued since then.
Participants also visited Kalpabata, the Bhairava shrine, the samadhis of former mahants, Karunya Kunda, Jagulei Temple and the Gundicha Mandap. They expressed concern over the neglected condition of the former mahants’ samadhis and stressed the need to preserve the site’s historical remains.
The walk aimed to bring lesser-known heritage sites and local traditions into public focus and encourage younger generations to appreciate Khordha’s cultural legacy. Pritipallavi Mohapatra coordinated the programme. Suresh Prasad Mishra, convenor of Dhenkanal Heritage Walks, also attended.
UNI MK RSA
Tags: #Heritage Walk traces Odisha’s Jagulipatna temple history# rituals and legends
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