Jhankad Sarala & Gorakhnath Visit

It was an auspicious day a sunny Friday. I was resting at my house when my brother came and said we have to go to some tourist place which was almost 100 km from Bhubaneswar. I wasn’t interested at the first because I was tired from the last night. I was busy on writing my project reports last night for which I had a late night sleep. Also my bro had phoned me from two days earlier that we had to go some place which had always been a surprise to me but still then we had to go there not only for my brothers wish also we had to go there  for some work which had  been a surprise to me always.

  We got ready, it was morning 7 am and we had to go Jagatsinghpur( it is an Orissa district) it almost 100 km from Bhubaneswar( capital of Orissa). I was in a dozy state but when my brother said have bath as we are going to visit a shrine and a temple. That made me very happy as I loved to visit temples. We had planned to go the “Jhankad Sarala” and “Goraknath”. These two are famous tourist place that endeavours Jagatsinghpur earn some attraction. I immediately backpacked and started ours journey. We opted to go on a bike as it would be very fast and also to go on a shortest route. We had taken a route through a village instead of the as usual tourist route.  The route was through Phulnakhara-Ali Pingali- Jagatsingpur town.

The Architecture Of Sarala Temple

   The climate was good and the cloud-sun were playing hide and seek. Some moments it was cool breeze and some it was scorching heat. We were speeding at ours bike, I was riding and my bro was at the pillion. There were many local people also with us. All were riding fast as if it was a F1. The route through the village was very charming. Kids were playing outside, farmers ploughing the fields, women were drying out cow dung cakes, goat & sheep’s were moving in groups at the side of the roads, and the local hotels were smoking up there chulhas for preparing food. Everything was summing up to the pleasant atmosphere. It was almost noon and we were nearing ours destination. After some distance it started raining but we were hell-bent to reach – Jhankad Sarala first as the temple would be closed for two hours for the afternoon as per the custom. But the nature’s fury didn’t allow us to reach there before time. We had to wait for some time for the rain, immediately it stopped and we headed very quickly. But still we reached there late. The temple was closed. We washed ourselves at the holy pond near the temple and headed to feed ours stomach. The Prasad (food) was very savour and it had the smell of the elegant ghee. After the food I went alone to feel the temple surrounding, the architecture which was marvellous, the pandits and the puja shops (shops that sell items needed for worship of Gods). I was mostly fascinated by the delicate architecture.

History: The Jhankand Sarala is situated at village Kanakpur of Jagatsingpur district. It is said that the tongue of Goddess Sati had fell at “Jhankad Sarala”. Known as “Vak Devi”. And it is also a shakti peeth. The God residing there is virtue of wisdom and music. As the Goddess has a veena in her right hand. It also said that the a person named Sidheswar Parida who has written Oriya Mahabharata completed it after the blessings from the Goddess, and hence he was named as Sarala Das. The Jhankad Sarala is indeed a very ancient temple.

       We waited at temple verandah and after two hours the main door to deity opened. Aww it was such a nice feeling, the fragrance of the aarti and the glowness in Goddess face left us enchanted. We worshipped with the help of ours village pandit. I wished before the God to bless me to go ahead in life. It was very awesome feeling when we were about leave the Mandir.

Next we headed towards “Gorakhnath” its another famous holy place that lives within the faith and hope of the people of Jagatsinghpur. It is just about 9 km from Jhankad Sarala. The en route was through the ancient village surrounding the Jhankad sarala. Now I was at the pillion and my brother was riding. The reason behind it was, I wanted to admire the ancient place, wrecked houses, and some shrines. I was just taking photographs of the people, houses, childrens coming from school. In between I used to stop at the mid way and used to ask people about the culture, history associated with that place. It’s hard to believe that there were mosques also amounting to 1600^th year. Also I saw a house which was very beautiful but no one was leaving there so it was inhabited by the nature.

Lone House

It was a very pleasant feeling when you reach a spot seeing its realistic views. And there it is we reached the place. The place “Gorakhnath” is situated somewhat in between the crop fields. The shrine is surrounded by huge banyan trees and one thing peculiarity you will find when you visit this place is the banyan trees, the  branches of one banayan tree were connected with another banyan tree, you will be confused to find out which one is the mother tree. 

Besides the beautiful temple this inter-branching of the trees is the main attraction here. 

Interlinked Branches

We took some puja items from the local shop and worshipped at the shrine. A lot of questions were creeping in my mind how this place came into existence, who is this God, why is this place located at away from the village.. etc. On asking to  a local Pandit he said, earlier there was a Baba who used to help people, cure them help from diseases, give them holy advice and the place his shrine used to be his worship place, where he worshipped lord Shiva. But when the Baba died the local people buried him there and named him as Goraknath Baba. It was a ferocious place earlier as it was densely located and to reach there people had to go through crossing the crop fields and also there was fear of being bitten by snake as it was also home for lots of King Cobra snakes. And as we know where Lord Shiva resides, snake is associated there. The shrine was indeed the Samadhi of the Baba. Whenever there was a snake bite or a person gets ill, the people would put the concerned person near the Samadhi area and worship to Baba Gorakhnath and magically the person would be cured.

Baba Gorakhnath Samadhi

 This place really matters with the belief of people on God. Earlier it was just a simple hut, but later on the Government officials decided to build a beautiful temple there, which would create tourist attraction and it add to the respect of the people towards the shrine. Believe me anyone who goes there would surely wish to stay there for a long time adoring the area and solving out lots of questions creeping in the mind. I myself was transfixed upon the place for some time. Also it is a famous picnic spot. The temple authority people have taken all the care for the smooth conduction of pujas, marriages, birthday, etc there itself. 

The Temple Of Gorakhnath

There is a Jagnya Mandir in front of the shrine which is extremely elegant. I was very happy at-least to see such a pious place. I wasn’t wishing to return to home but as dusk was nearing we had to return, because ours route was through a village and if it would be night then it would be difficult for us to go through. We reached home after two & half hours. We had had ours meal at the local dhaba. Reaching home i was just wondering about the two places and I really wished to go there again.

How to reach there:

Roadways: It’s nearly about 100 km from Bhubaneswar. You can opt for a private taxi or a bus to reach Jagatsinghpur town and book a cab from there to Jhankad Sarala and Gorakhnath. Also it is well connected from Paradip, Cuttack.

Rail: It’s connected to the small passenger halt at “Sarala Road”. It is accessible from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack also.

Airways: Oops there is no nearby airport there. And the only airport is at Bhubaneswar.

RATH -O- MANIA

Yup well thought its the 'Cart festival' of Puri, which comes once a year. And for me too to go once. I along wid my brother and his friends, six on wid three bikes went on to reach the destination. While starting, it rained but the holy force, piousness enthriled us in such a way that we decided that what ever happens we should go. I was felling such power that even if there would be cyclone i would pierce into it. We began ours ride the way from cspur, Jayadev vihar, Kalpana, and then the straight road from it to Puri which was almost 60 km from the Bhubaneswar city. My brother rides bike fast but believe me if we had a jet engine then it would have been a lot better. Passing on daya bridge, cifa, kec college, we went on. Then came pipili, from here onwards i felt very divine feelings, to it added the people comming along wid us in large amount. Some on bikes, cars, bus, auto,and also in train. I was siiting at back of the bike wearing a raincoat as it was raining place to place.  People waited in pan dokans, bara dokan( tiffin shop), and jhumpudis(small houses made up of hay), when rain use to stop they use to begin theirs route way once again. But we all were going on going looking at couples,old aged, chatra tokas, office guys, knungudas(womanizers), naluas etc... Still one thing i felt happy atleast all were of bhakti bhabanabale(Holy Attitude). Cold air and drizzle made me little uncomfortable but raincoat was saving me from water n air. We covered in this way almost 50km(Puri 60km approx). But from here twist happened due to traffic we were given a u turn covering 25 km extra before reaching puri. Passing through 25km, i recalled my child hood days how we had went on this way to see to see sunabesa( gold dressed deity).
On the way i saw the houses with high veranda,(myth says earlier brahmins hated sudras so to keep them down of their house they did so), a picnic spot and the old puri village which showed the Puri's custom n tradition, peolpe wid hokas(ganjeyi tana), wearing dhotis and glancing at us as if they had never seen a sahari(town) people. Reaching at talabana we headed for seabeach, parking our bikes n taking our clothes we dived into the sea, ohhhhh sea was so seducing believe me once you enter inside there was now way out. Bathed 45mins and then we headed to ours deity. We kept ours bike, purse, cellphone, ipods, boots at bros friend-sister house. We went bare foot walking 1km to reach near rath. Reaching their i saw the three raths had already reached gundicha mandir(the birth place of Lord Jagganath). The high mast light n evening scenario had turned raths into an ornament, it was such beautiful that which everybody loves to see. We went near the rath and started climbing like we do while tree climbing it was difficult but not impossible. We were first on Lord Jagannath rath(most beloved of all).
The streak of light falling on deity and my way towards lord was like steps to heaven, but one thing was troubling me was the huge crowded path as lots were trying to go near lord all were pushing, angling everybody i too did so but wid lot of power i being tall headed up n using my hands to remove all creepers(people) to weed out from my way offfffff..... atlast i touched ours maker the lord Jagannath, when i did so i felt crying out, bursting, shouting but all emotions blasted inside my body, i got hold of Lord Jagannaths all body parts nose, head, hands, feet, eyes everything, i cried holding my lord shared my wishes, feelings, aims etc. In the crowdy moment i felt as if iam the first one to go swarg.Well after it, i was on my way to go down of rath while doing so a police man was trying to push me to which i politely said " peliba jadi bajeidebi"(if u push me i will thrash u), to which he became polite n said ok. But i didnt go down rather stayed on rath for a while feeling my feelings ,thinking my happiness, succes on reaching it, n also i meant glancing at one of our college mall(girl) who had recently married, came wid his bald headed husband, atleast i would have been a better option for her(just kidding). Going down along wid my bros, we six proceeded for Maa Subhadra rath, here also the same happened pela thela(Hustle-Bustle),here there was black man along wid a black blonde, but the blonde was unable to climb the ladder so in the way he was trying to pull her up, to which she was unable n people were shouting " arey bhai chala kahinki gahali Karucha " but the blacky why listen he was on his bussines when people opposed he said magh....(slang) i know u would have understood no need to laugh, read on. Reaching up i did the same as i did on Lord Jagganath rath. Last we went near Lord Balabhadra rath to which i did the same. Coming down i realised how difficult it was to do so but still i happily succeded. One thing i noted when there were female members(married, kali kundi, malls, small,etc..) everybody who haven't touched a woman yet, had got a chance of it knowingly n unknowingly. But i couldnt do it as i realised it late, well it might have been the wish or plan of Lord.
We buyed coconut n made prasad by striking it on the rath of Lord Jagannath. After this i felt relieved as if " Mission-Puri "accomplished. Walking on badadanda(the road from srimandir to gundicha mandir) relaxing myself, glancing at girls, tired ones, bhikaris, people selling toys, people sleeping on road, police men, joyed children, newcomers etc... but above all i was always thinking about my succeed on touching lord which everyones does so, as everybody gets this chance once a year. We buyed some khajas(sweet dish), i drank frooti, buyed medicine as one of bros friend was having headache. We took ours necesities from ours friends sisters house, it was about night 10pm, we headed to ours house on the way we stopped at a dhaba, had ours dinner and again started on ours way and reached home at night 1am, on the way i was thinking about God only n the poem of

Robert Frost:

" The LORDS are lovely, dark and deep."

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep............