MA PAUDI

Introduction

Worship of a deity without a devotional darshan is rather rare in India. The deity of Sri Sri Ma Paudi, enshrined at Porahat first and then at Seraikella in Bihar, is a deity of that category. Seraikella was the head quarters of a feudatory State and now it is the headquarters of the Seraikella Sub- division of Singhbhum district. Nobody is permitted to see Ma Paudi except the Ruler, the Heir Apparent, the Heir Pre- sumptive and their consorts and the main Dehuri or Pujari (priest) of the temple.

Formerly everyone could have darshan but,Since the beginning of the19th century, a decision was taken in a convention of the people of Seraikella that none except those mentioned above would be allowed to have darshan of the deity on ordinary days. The members of the Ruler's family, the Singha Dynasty, could now have the darshan of Ma Paudi only on the Nuakhia and Jesht Jantal days. The taboo still continues even after the termination of the ruler-ship. The story of how the taboo came into vogue is indicated later.

Author - P.C. Roy Choudhoury

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