Lord Jagannath with leg and feet worshipped in Orissa

Balasore, Jun 27 (UNI) In a rare exception, Lord Jagannath, his elder brother Lord Balavadra and their sister Devi Subhadra were worshipped in their full form in a temple near Remuna, contrary to their normal appearance in all other temples in the country.

The three deities were being worshipped for centuries in a temple adjacent to a Durga temple, known as Kanak Durga, at Kutapokhari under Remora block, just 15 kms away from this town.

The unnatural appearance of the three deities(with their legs and feet) has made the temple unique. Two theories are attributed to this different postures of the deities by the locals.

The people of northern parts of Orissa were deeply influenced by the Vaishanavism after renaissance 'Chaitanya Dev' movement. While devotees of lord Chaitanya visualise every god in shape of lord Krishna, they being ardent lovers of lord Jagannath too wished to see the lord in shape of Krishna and so made the legs and feet of the deities.

These deities, sources said, had been secretly worshipped since the 16th century in a jungle called Kantapala near Hatiaganda. They were later brought to the present place by Harigulam Das, a monk, on the wish of lord Jagannath who ordered him in a dream to do so.

The deities were initially housed in a hut which was later renovated into a temple with the help of local people and the district administration.

Another theory said one lieutenant of the then Bengal ruler Taquee Khan attacked Orissa. The then king prayed before the lord(Jagannath) to save his motherland from the invaders.

It is said that Lord Jagannath assured the King in his dream to help in the battle ground. The king could resist the attack of massive force and Taquee Khan was pushed back. The King then decided to worship the Lord in the form which he had seen in his dream.

Besides these theories,the local people believe the deities were the Kalki - the tenth (last) avatar or incarnation of god as per Hindu mythology.

UNI XC DP PL SHR KP1633