Shankha-kshetra Panchatirtha: Rohini Kund
BY: SUN STAFF
Rohini Kund is one of the five Panchatirthas of Jagannath Puri Dham, and the daru-brahma sacred log from which the original image of Lord Jagannatha was carved is said to have been found floating in this holy tank.
This kund was mentioned in an earlier segment of this series, as being situated in the Second Fold of Shankha-kshetra. Rohini Kund is joined in the Second Fold by the abodes of four Devis (Bimala, Kamala, Sarbamangala and Uttarai), Pranitodaka Kund, two vraksha-stahlas, Sri Garuda, and the top of Nilgiri Hill.
The original Rohini Kund sits near the entrance of Bimala Devi's temple. The kund is said to contain karana, or the water of creation. Unfortunately, the tank fell into disrepair long years ago, although in 2007, the Sun published an article by Srila Prabhupada's disciple, Deena Bandhu das, who was calling for help in restoring the kund.
For the present time, a small tub representing Rohini Kund has been placed inside the Jagannath Temple. On the floor of this tub is a carved stone image of Bhusandi Kaka, a famous crow who fell into the Rohini Kund and was suddenly transformed into a four-armed devotee of Lord Narayana.
The story of Bhusandi Kaka is told in the Skanda Purana. Bhusanda Kaka was cursed by the sage Lomasa. Anticipating his death, he flew to Shankha-kshetra, going to Rohini Kund to take bath in the sacred waters and look up Lord Jagannath in His temple. The crow perched upon a branch of the ancient Kalpabata, a wish-fulfilling tree, praying for liberation from the curse. Suddenly Kaka Bhusanda died and fell into the Rohini Kund, turning into a four-armed form. Since the time of his liberation, he has been worshipped here as Bata Narayana.
Situated next to the original Rohini Kund is Nabhi Chakra, in the shape of Nilachakra, and beside it sits a four-foot tall statue of a crow, who was part of a pastime of King Indradyumna's. The pastime took place after the completion of Lord Jagannath's temple, when King Galamadhava insisted that the temple belonged to him. Lord Brahma came and settled the dispute, with the crow and chakra serving as witness on the side of King Indradyumna. The two have remained there ever since. King Galamadhava himself is said to have remained at Rohini Kund, where he eternally offers prayers to Lord Jagannatha.
In its original form, Rohini Kund was a large water tank. Vedic scriptures mention the quartz steps leading down from its banks to the water. In the Skanda Purana there is a narration about the return of Vidyapati from Nilasaila. He states to Indradyumna:
"On the top of Nilagiri there is a perennial Bata Brikhya, towards its west there is Rohini Kunda and there is a Sphatik-manimaya Vedi around it. Gada-Padma-Sankha-Chakradhari, sapphire colored, Indra-nila-manimaya, Nilamadhab, is seated on a golden lotus, on this Vedi, under the cooling shade of the Banyan tree, His lotus-like hands embrace Laxmi, who is seating on His left thigh and playing flute, Ananta Nag in backside covers Him in shape of an umbrella. Sudarshan is seen in front of Him and Garuda is seated with folded hands just in the front side."
This image of Nilamadhab and the Rohini Kund are said to have vanished, being buried under the sands during a severe cyclone, in between the periods when Vidyapati saw Nilamadhab and Indradyumna arrived at the holy place. However, Sri Narasimha, enshrined on the Nilasaila under an Aguru tree, was all along present before and after the disappearance of Nilamadhab. (Orissa Review, July 2008)
Off to the east of Rohini Kund one can see the footprints of the great sage Markanda, for whom another kund among the Panchatirtha was named – Markandeya Kund.
source : http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/12-10/features1958.htm
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Shankha-kshetra: Kalpabata Wish Fulfilling Tree
BY: SUN STAFF
The word kalpa has two meanings. First, it refers to tense or time. When used in conjunction with bata, it takes on a new meaning, i.e., the age-old tree. In Sri Shankha-kshetra, the Kalpabata has existed since time immemorial. It is one of the oldest shrines to be found in Jagannatha Puri. According to the Puranas, this sacred tree has been residing in Puri Dham over the last four yugas: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. Another meaning assigned to Kalpabata is that it's a wish-fulfilling tree.
Kalpabata is situated at the center point (navisthala) of Shankha-kshetra, where it is situated in-between the Satyanarayana Temple and the Mukti-mandap Srimandir complex. It is surrounded by a number of small temples and shrines of Deities including Bateswar Mahadeva, Bata Krishna, Bata Balamakunda, Bata Madhava, Bata Ganesh, Bata Mangala, Bata Jagannath and Bata Markandeya.
A stone and clay pedestal (mandap) has been constructed around the trunk of Sri Kalpabata, and various ornaments are hung from its branches. There is a path around the tree which the devotees circumambulate, and it's believed that three rounds will result in the fulfillment of one's wishes.
Orissa's famous Vaisnava poet, Jagannath Das, the author of Odiya Bhagabata, spent a great deal of time under the Kalpabata and regarded it as one of the most sacred places in the Holy Dham. From here, he went to see Lord Jagannath, traversing through the jagamohana.
Near the Bata Ganesh shrine there was an historic meeting between Sri Chaitanya and Jagannath Das, while the poet was giving a discourse on the verses of the Bhagabata. Sri Chaitanya was deeply moved by his scholarly analysis of the great epic, and He embraced Jagannath Das, bestowing upon him the title 'Atibadi'.
The Buddhist who first identified Lord Jagannath as an incarnation of Buddha also compared the Kalpabata with the Mahaboddhidruma. The Buddhist, in collaboration with the devotees of Lord Jagannath, established the Saugata Narayana deity under Sri Kalpabata.
Antiquity and Historicity:
It is very difficult to determine the origin of Kalpabata. It is said that during the annihilation of the entire world, Kalpabata was not immersed in the water. Maharshi Markandeya saw baby Vishnu floating on a bata (vat) leaf at the top of the grand banyan tree. Therefore Kalpabata is worshipped as Vishnu, and its four main branches are compared with the four arms of the Lord. Vyasadeva presented the view that Kalpabata originated from the body of Lord Vishnu.
The Skanda Purana gives a vivid description of this tree and the results of visiting it. During the Mahabharata era, the Kalpabata was known by the name Devanasana bata, because an auspicious pillar described in the Mahabharata battle was erected from a branch of this tree.
Sarala Das, another famous Orissan poet, has specifically described this tree, and a pastime during which King Indradyumna was once sitting under Kalpabata, in anxiety over the construction of a grand temple. A stranger came by, giving him a plan for the construction. Later, Mahapurusa Achyutananda Das also got enlightenment and mystic powers by worshipping at Kalpabata.
During the Vedic age, Kalpabata was known and worshipped as Nyagradha, and was considered most sacred and great. The Vedas and Puranas contain eloquent verses glorifying this tree.
Gajapati Kapilendra Dev (1435-65), who conquered many kingdoms of India including Malaya, Gouda, Delhi, and Karnataka, also pushed the boundary of Odisa. He had collected great wealth from the kingdoms he'd defeated, but he surrendered all his valuables before Lord Jagannath, under the Kalpabata.
The real relationship between Lord Jagannatha and Sri Kalpabata is witnessed after the Car festival. When Their Lordships return to Srimandir, after entering into Kurmabedha, Lord Jagannath stops for sometime, facing towards Kalpabata. From there, the Patimahapatras receive the Deity with obeisances.
Sri Kalpabata also has a link with Kaka Bhusanda. Bhusanda. Kaka was cursed by the sage Lomasa, and in anxiety he sat on Kalpabata, praying for liberation from the curse. Suddenly Kaka Bhusanda fell into the Rohini Kunda, which is situated by the sacred tree. He is said to have gotten salvation, turning into a four-armed form of Lord Vishnu. Since that time, he has been worshipped here as Bata Narayan, near Sri Kalpabata.
source : http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/11-10/features1902.htm
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| Rohini Devi and Mother Yasoda |
Rohini Kund is one of the five Panchatirthas of Jagannath Puri Dham, and the daru-brahma sacred log from which the original image of Lord Jagannatha was carved is said to have been found floating in this holy tank.
This kund was mentioned in an earlier segment of this series, as being situated in the Second Fold of Shankha-kshetra. Rohini Kund is joined in the Second Fold by the abodes of four Devis (Bimala, Kamala, Sarbamangala and Uttarai), Pranitodaka Kund, two vraksha-stahlas, Sri Garuda, and the top of Nilgiri Hill.
The original Rohini Kund sits near the entrance of Bimala Devi's temple. The kund is said to contain karana, or the water of creation. Unfortunately, the tank fell into disrepair long years ago, although in 2007, the Sun published an article by Srila Prabhupada's disciple, Deena Bandhu das, who was calling for help in restoring the kund.
For the present time, a small tub representing Rohini Kund has been placed inside the Jagannath Temple. On the floor of this tub is a carved stone image of Bhusandi Kaka, a famous crow who fell into the Rohini Kund and was suddenly transformed into a four-armed devotee of Lord Narayana.
The story of Bhusandi Kaka is told in the Skanda Purana. Bhusanda Kaka was cursed by the sage Lomasa. Anticipating his death, he flew to Shankha-kshetra, going to Rohini Kund to take bath in the sacred waters and look up Lord Jagannath in His temple. The crow perched upon a branch of the ancient Kalpabata, a wish-fulfilling tree, praying for liberation from the curse. Suddenly Kaka Bhusanda died and fell into the Rohini Kund, turning into a four-armed form. Since the time of his liberation, he has been worshipped here as Bata Narayana.
Situated next to the original Rohini Kund is Nabhi Chakra, in the shape of Nilachakra, and beside it sits a four-foot tall statue of a crow, who was part of a pastime of King Indradyumna's. The pastime took place after the completion of Lord Jagannath's temple, when King Galamadhava insisted that the temple belonged to him. Lord Brahma came and settled the dispute, with the crow and chakra serving as witness on the side of King Indradyumna. The two have remained there ever since. King Galamadhava himself is said to have remained at Rohini Kund, where he eternally offers prayers to Lord Jagannatha.
In its original form, Rohini Kund was a large water tank. Vedic scriptures mention the quartz steps leading down from its banks to the water. In the Skanda Purana there is a narration about the return of Vidyapati from Nilasaila. He states to Indradyumna:
"On the top of Nilagiri there is a perennial Bata Brikhya, towards its west there is Rohini Kunda and there is a Sphatik-manimaya Vedi around it. Gada-Padma-Sankha-Chakradhari, sapphire colored, Indra-nila-manimaya, Nilamadhab, is seated on a golden lotus, on this Vedi, under the cooling shade of the Banyan tree, His lotus-like hands embrace Laxmi, who is seating on His left thigh and playing flute, Ananta Nag in backside covers Him in shape of an umbrella. Sudarshan is seen in front of Him and Garuda is seated with folded hands just in the front side."
This image of Nilamadhab and the Rohini Kund are said to have vanished, being buried under the sands during a severe cyclone, in between the periods when Vidyapati saw Nilamadhab and Indradyumna arrived at the holy place. However, Sri Narasimha, enshrined on the Nilasaila under an Aguru tree, was all along present before and after the disappearance of Nilamadhab. (Orissa Review, July 2008)
Off to the east of Rohini Kund one can see the footprints of the great sage Markanda, for whom another kund among the Panchatirtha was named – Markandeya Kund.
source : http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/12-10/features1958.htm
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Shankha-kshetra: Kalpabata Wish Fulfilling Tree
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| Krisna on Kalpabata leaf, floating on Mahodadhi dading pralaya |
The word kalpa has two meanings. First, it refers to tense or time. When used in conjunction with bata, it takes on a new meaning, i.e., the age-old tree. In Sri Shankha-kshetra, the Kalpabata has existed since time immemorial. It is one of the oldest shrines to be found in Jagannatha Puri. According to the Puranas, this sacred tree has been residing in Puri Dham over the last four yugas: Satya, Treta, Dvapara and Kali. Another meaning assigned to Kalpabata is that it's a wish-fulfilling tree.
Kalpabata is situated at the center point (navisthala) of Shankha-kshetra, where it is situated in-between the Satyanarayana Temple and the Mukti-mandap Srimandir complex. It is surrounded by a number of small temples and shrines of Deities including Bateswar Mahadeva, Bata Krishna, Bata Balamakunda, Bata Madhava, Bata Ganesh, Bata Mangala, Bata Jagannath and Bata Markandeya.
A stone and clay pedestal (mandap) has been constructed around the trunk of Sri Kalpabata, and various ornaments are hung from its branches. There is a path around the tree which the devotees circumambulate, and it's believed that three rounds will result in the fulfillment of one's wishes.
Orissa's famous Vaisnava poet, Jagannath Das, the author of Odiya Bhagabata, spent a great deal of time under the Kalpabata and regarded it as one of the most sacred places in the Holy Dham. From here, he went to see Lord Jagannath, traversing through the jagamohana.
Near the Bata Ganesh shrine there was an historic meeting between Sri Chaitanya and Jagannath Das, while the poet was giving a discourse on the verses of the Bhagabata. Sri Chaitanya was deeply moved by his scholarly analysis of the great epic, and He embraced Jagannath Das, bestowing upon him the title 'Atibadi'.
The Buddhist who first identified Lord Jagannath as an incarnation of Buddha also compared the Kalpabata with the Mahaboddhidruma. The Buddhist, in collaboration with the devotees of Lord Jagannath, established the Saugata Narayana deity under Sri Kalpabata.
Antiquity and Historicity:
It is very difficult to determine the origin of Kalpabata. It is said that during the annihilation of the entire world, Kalpabata was not immersed in the water. Maharshi Markandeya saw baby Vishnu floating on a bata (vat) leaf at the top of the grand banyan tree. Therefore Kalpabata is worshipped as Vishnu, and its four main branches are compared with the four arms of the Lord. Vyasadeva presented the view that Kalpabata originated from the body of Lord Vishnu.
The Skanda Purana gives a vivid description of this tree and the results of visiting it. During the Mahabharata era, the Kalpabata was known by the name Devanasana bata, because an auspicious pillar described in the Mahabharata battle was erected from a branch of this tree.
Sarala Das, another famous Orissan poet, has specifically described this tree, and a pastime during which King Indradyumna was once sitting under Kalpabata, in anxiety over the construction of a grand temple. A stranger came by, giving him a plan for the construction. Later, Mahapurusa Achyutananda Das also got enlightenment and mystic powers by worshipping at Kalpabata.
During the Vedic age, Kalpabata was known and worshipped as Nyagradha, and was considered most sacred and great. The Vedas and Puranas contain eloquent verses glorifying this tree.
Gajapati Kapilendra Dev (1435-65), who conquered many kingdoms of India including Malaya, Gouda, Delhi, and Karnataka, also pushed the boundary of Odisa. He had collected great wealth from the kingdoms he'd defeated, but he surrendered all his valuables before Lord Jagannath, under the Kalpabata.
The real relationship between Lord Jagannatha and Sri Kalpabata is witnessed after the Car festival. When Their Lordships return to Srimandir, after entering into Kurmabedha, Lord Jagannath stops for sometime, facing towards Kalpabata. From there, the Patimahapatras receive the Deity with obeisances.
Sri Kalpabata also has a link with Kaka Bhusanda. Bhusanda. Kaka was cursed by the sage Lomasa, and in anxiety he sat on Kalpabata, praying for liberation from the curse. Suddenly Kaka Bhusanda fell into the Rohini Kunda, which is situated by the sacred tree. He is said to have gotten salvation, turning into a four-armed form of Lord Vishnu. Since that time, he has been worshipped here as Bata Narayan, near Sri Kalpabata.
source : http://www.harekrsna.com/sun/features/11-10/features1902.htm
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