BHUVANESWAR
The Hari-Hara Kshetra

SACRED THIRTHES AND THEIR ITHIHASAS

This holy kshetra contains holier thirthas casting enhancement on the visitors by their strange stories. Among them, Bindusagara, Gosagara, Devipadahara, Papanasani, Gouri and Kedara are considered worth-visiting for a dip. Ardent devotees take bath in them for purging off their sins.

Of the thirthas, Bindusagar is the biggest and has a mysterious story that attract thousands of pilgrims found the year. It is 1300 feet in length and 700 feet in breadth, with strong stone embankment on all sides. There stands a pretty shrine in the Centre like a diamond set in gold. The story goes that Siva in order to compensate the absence of the Ganges here caused the construction of this tank soon after his settlement and bade the presiding deities of all the sacred rivers and tanks of the Akhanda Bharat to deposit each a few drops of their waters. Soon His command was obeyed and the tank over-flowed with sacred waters. Hence this thirtha is held in high esteem, and so a great craze for the pilgrims, whenever visited. It is recorded that the water having been contributed from all the rivers of our Punya Bharat, there is special merit when bathed in it. And the place was deemed highly sacred, hence the building of seven thousand and temples around it during its heyday. The Kedara Gouri has yet another story of eternal attraction. It is believed that the water has medicinal properties due to the natural spring inside and release women from the curse of barrenness, if bathed. A special attraction for the childless mothers. Some more places lying outside the city boundaries, yet accessible in a few minutes ride deserve space here.

[ Back ] [ Up ] [ Next ]