Sri Nrusinghanath Temple, devoted to Lord Nrusinghnath who is also called Marjara Kesari, Bidala Nrusingha and Marjara Nrusingha, is located in the foot hills of Gandhamardhan hills in Baragarh district, Orissa. Nrusinghanath Temple is a popular pilgrim destination, adorned with stunning waterfalls and sculptures, surrounded with serene natural beauty; the temple is situated only 165 km from Sambalpur. Baijal Singh Dev, King of Patna-Garg, laid the foundation of Nrusinghanath Temple in 1313 A.D. the temple is almost 300 km away from the Jagannath temple in Puri and 110 km from Bargarh. Khariar Road Railway Station is the nearest railhead. It is a remarkably mesmerising and magnificently located temple that pleases all the visitors who come to this remote destination.
Myths related to Nrusinghanath Temple
According to the ancient epic Ramayana, Gandhamadan Hill was actually located in the Himalayan Mountain Range, but when Lord Hanuman was bringing the mountain to Lanka, which contained the medicinal herb needed to cure Lakshmana, a piece of it fell in this region and the hill was formed. Moreover, as described in the Mahabharata, the Pandavas also visited the region during their exile. During the 18th century, poet Yuga Das Kondh compiled the local legends and traditions related to Lord Nrusinghnath, in his Nrsimha-charita.
History of Nrusinghanath Temple
According to the renowned Chinese traveler Hiuen Tsang, the region used to be a central field for learning Buddhist scriptures. As per Devnagari and Oriya inscriptions, Nrusinghanath Temple was constructed in the Orissan style of architecture, by the King of Patna-Garg, Baijal Singh Dev, in the early 15th century AD.
Architecture of Nrusinghanath Temple
The current temple, 14th century structure, is placed at the mouth of the Papaharini stream. It is derived from the four pillars within the Jagmohana that the original temple was constructed in the 9th century. Nrusinghanath Temple is only 45 m high and segregated into 2 distinct parts. The first part houses Lord Nrusinghnath and the second one houses Lord Jagamohan. This part contains an anti-chamber comprising of 3 gates and each supported by 4 pillars. The gorgeous doorframes can be traced back to the 11th century. Behind the temple, Stone steps that move along the hillside, passing under a waterfall, leads to a location which contains well maintained and gorgeous relief sculptures.
Harishankar Temple is located on the reverse slope of the hill, where the Nrusinghanath Temple is placed. A plateau is present in the region between the 2 temples and the distance is 16 km. Buddhist ruins are found in this plateau.
Tourist attractions in Nrusinghanath Temple
Tourism has been developed in the region of Gandhamardhan hills in the recent years. A grand Fair is organized yearly in the honour of Lord Nrusinghanath, on Nrusimha-Chatrurdasi Day during Vaishakha Shukla Chaturdashi, in the month of May. This fair lures numerous tourists and pilgrims from around the country.
