Dhenkanal district General information
Dhenkanal District is situated on the Cuttack Sambalpur Road( NH 42) and the Cuttack Sambalpur S.E.Railway line. It is bounded by the Keonjhar District in north, Cuttack district in south, Jajpur in the east and Angul in the west.
It is commonly believed that it owes, its name to a Savara chief called Dhenka who formerly ruled over in this tract.
This District contains a centre of religions movement called " Mahima Dharma " since last 100 years or more and spread over through out the Indian Union. The religious movement in the medieval period also touched to this District. The famous " Kapilash Hill " which is popularly known as the "Kailash" of Utkal is also in this district. Lord Chandrasekhar Mahadev temple is set up at the top of the hill.
Some large scale industries like Nilachal Refractories, Utkal Asbestos Ltd, Orissa Polyfibres Ltd ,Shakti sugar are established in this district.
The climate of this district is generally hot with high humidity during April and May and cold during December and January. The monsoon generally breaks during the month of June.
Most part of this district are covered with dense forest and a long range of hills. Therefore this district is called as the "Home of elephants and tigers for the country".
An agricultural district like Dhenkanal gains much from forests which plays an important role in the economy of the district. The principal forest products are Timber, Bamboo, Fire wood and Kendu leaf. The minor forest products are Lac, Honey, Kenduli Gum, Wax, Mahua flower, Sunari fark, Siali Leaves, Catechus, Tassar Cocoons and other raw materials used for medicine.
History
The district has a pre historic habitations. How ever the pre-historic facts are shrowed in oblivion.But the Nasik Rock inscription shows that , during 2nd C.AD, Dhenkanal was a part of the Sattabahana empire.In the 3rd & 4th C.AD, it was a part of the Gupta empire.In the 6th &7th C.AD the region remained under the sway of the Bhauma Karas.The Sulki dynasty ruled over some part of Dhenkanal in 8th& 9th C.AD.
The somavansis ruled over the part of this region .After them the Ganga vansis occupied the area and drove away the Stamvas from the western part of the district.
When the Suryavansis emerged in the political field of Orissa,by that time Dhenkanal was scattered in many a small kingdoms.The ancient capital Karamul had 7 kosas only in radius.
By 16th AD , a tribal chief namely ‘Dhenka’ was ruling over Ghumuranali,Dudianali &Kantanali.He was a shabara and was ferocious.However ,Sridhar Bhanja of Besalia defeated and killed him in the battle.His kingdom was annexed.He named the kingdom “Dhenkanal” after the shabara chief ‘Dhenka’ .Subsequently , Hari Singh Vidyadhar who was a commander of Gajapati Pratprudra deva defeated the Bhanja kings and occupied Dhenkanal and Karamul ,its capital in 1529 AD.Subsequently, the capital was shifted from Karamul to Dhenkapidha and the kingdom was named Dhenkanal.Geneologically the following kings ruled over Dhenkanal.
· Hari Singh Vidyadhar – 1530-1594AD
· Loknath Ray Singh Bharamarbar- 1594-1615 AD
· Balabhadra Ray Singh – 1615-1641AD
· Nilakantha Ray Singh- 1641-1682AD
· Nrusingha Bhramarbar- 1682-1708AD
· KunjaBehari Bhramarbar – 1708-1728AD
· BrajaBehari Bhramarbar- 1728-1741AD
· Damoodar Bhramarbar-1741-1743AD
· Trilochan Singh-1743-1785AD
· Dayanidhi Mohindra Bahadur - 1785-1796AD
· Ramachandra Mohindra Bahadur - 1796- 1807 AD
· Krushna Chandra Mohindra Bahadur-1807-1822AD
· Shyamchandra Mohindra Bahadur – 1822-1830AD
· Bhagiratha Mohindra Bahadur – 1830- 1873AD
· Pitambar Deo-1873- 1877AD
· Dinabandhu Mohindra Bahadur-1877-1885AD
· Surya PratapMohindra Bahadur(Minor)- 1885-1905AD
· Surya Pratap Mohindra Bahadur- 1905-1918AD
· Shankar Pratap Mohidra Bahadur-1918-1947AD
These 18 kings ruled over Dhenkanal & brought about so many administrative,political,socio-economic and cultural evolutions of the district.In 1947 when the Country gained freedom,the princely State of Dhenkanal merged in the Indian Union.
Culture
Dhenkanal is the place where the fertile soil for all religious sects and philosophies is available.Rightly from its inception to the present days, testimony is eloquent that , the Hindu sects like Baisnvism,Saivasism, Saktism etc flourished.Besides that ,Buddhism to some extent also found a place of adoration.Mahima cult originated and spreaded from this place.
a) Saibism:
Saivism found a fertile ground in the district of Dhenkanal. Shiva is worshipped in many a names in the temples seattered throughout the district. There are some eminent shiva temples which bear testimony to the fact. Sri Chandrasekhar at Kapilash, Sri Biswanath at Kapilash, Sri Naganatheswar at Nagana,Sri Annakoteswar at Latadeipur, Sri Kanakeswar at Nadhera, Sri Kamleswar at Kamalanga, Sri Bhudeswar at Bhuban, Sri Biswanatheswar at Ramashankarpur, Sri Paschimeswar at Bhapur, Sri Daudeswar and Kapilesar at Karamul, Sri Rameswar at Tentulisingha and Sri Kapileswar at Hatuari in K.Nagar. Sri Kumbheswar at Depara. Besides that , there are some Siva temples located at Ganeshkhola, at Aswakhola, at Jibankhola and in the heart of Dhenkanal town.
b) Baisnavism: It relates to the worship of Lord Vshnu and His incarnations. Dhenkanal district has a great impact on Baishnava sect. Rightly from the resurgense of vaishnavism in India. Sridhar swami a Vaishnava saint settled at Kapilash and wrote the commentary of Srimat Bhagavatam in Sanskrit. The image of Nrishinga at Kapilash, the temple of Sri Narayana, the Saligram in the santum of Kapilash temple, the foot print of Sri Gauranga, Sri patitapavana Jaganath image in the temple of Lord Chandrasekhar signifies the Baisnava cult's florishment in Dhenkanal.
The cult further developed by the royal patronage of the kings. Harisingh vidyadhar constructed Sidha Balarama temple at Dhenkanal and which was subsequently completed by Nrusingha Bhamarbar . Sri Chaitanya while proceeding to the Jharkand had halted at Shambhu Gopal matha and also visited the cemetery of Sridharswami. The advent of Goudiya Vaishnavism or the Bhakti cult created an epoch in the spiritual history of the district. After wards Baishnavism flourished under the patronage of the royal dynasty.Raja Kunjabehari was a baishnava who wrote ‘Premsheela’a spiritual kabya. Kabi Brajanath wrote Keli kalanidhi, Gopibilapa and many other baishnav kabyas. Maharaj Bahgiratha Mohindra Bahadur entrusted the holy responsibility of dieties to Baba Sitarama Das.He also erected the wooden mandap at Kapilas, Japa mandap , the kitchen at kapilas. Rajarshi Surapratap spearheaded the spiritual field. He created Debottar Dept. for Dhenkanal and appointed Sri Parvati Charan Das as the magistrate. He erected Jaganath temple in the premises of Lord Balaram temple, initiated car festival , erected gundicha temple. Constructed Jay Gopal temple and the famous Kunjakanta temple at Dhenkanal.
c) Shaktism: Side by side alongwith saivism and Baishnavism ,Shaktism or the worship of Shakti the Mother- manifested.The Parvati image at Kapilas, Brahmani Devi temple, Dhakinakali temple, Ma Sundarsuni and Ma Jenadei at Dhenkanal proves that the practice of mother worship is still in force. Dhenkanal has a martial tradition and the rural milisia namely the ‘Paikas’ are the traditional warriers who worship goddess Durga. Hence in different part of the district we find Shakti temples and vituals.The Stambeswari at Kualo, Ramachandi, on Brahmini bank , Sukia Bauti temple at Hindol etc are famous Shaktipithas.
d) The Mahima Dharma :Is the unique contribution of Dhenkanal to the spirituality of India.Joranda is the center of the Mahima dharma. Mahimadharma originated in such a manner in which there was no critical ristuals of the Brahmanism .It also does not believe in caste & creed. It believes that the ‘Alekh’ the inscribable absolute is the only creater of the Universe.
History shows, in 1828 AD a man probably known as Mukunda Das came to Kapilas and started practicing yoga. Later he came to be known as Mahima gosain. After 12 years of sadhana, he moved to Srikshetra and rolled on the sand of the Badadanda and hence, known as Dhulia Baba.He tried to convince the Hindu scholars of the Mukti mandap about the monotheism. But they disgreeded with him. Hence He left and went to Bhubaneswar where he practicised yoga at Khandagiri cave. Again he returned back to Kapilas and practicised yoga. Sadanand a shabar served him supplying fruits for 12 years. Hence he known as Phalahari Baba,. Raja Bhagirath Mohindra Bahadur arranged milk for him. He lived on milk for another 12 years and he known as Ksherahari Baba. Another 12 years he lived on water so he was known as Nirahari Baba. Sadanand the shavara was the first disciple of him. In 1872 Mahima gosain started propagating his philosophy in different parts of Orissa and finally in 1876 attained moksha.
The teachings was simple and understandable by the rural people. The Mahima sanyasis stayed one night at each village and took one handful of rice from each house. Bhimabhoi became the spokesman and exponent of the philosophy. His Stuti Chintamani and innumerable Mahima bhajans popularized the cult. Gradually the cult spread in different parts of Orissa & the Country. The Mahima sanyasis were divided into sects as the ‘kumbhipatias’ or the Balkala dharis and the kanapatias or the kaupinadharis. Now at Joranda the Kumbhapatias observe Prabhupurnima and the Kanapatias observe Gurupurnima in Magha sukla chturdasi and purnami which is other wise known as Joranda mela.
Now Joranda is the center of attraction for all the believers of the dharma where Gadimandir, Shunya mandir,Dhuni mandit and the rest houses for thousends of devotees situated.Now at Kadua Tapobana another Mahima temple is constructed.
Temple
Due to rich cultural heritage & spiritual height Dhenkanal is dotted with innumerable temples,maths(abbeys) dating back to ancient times.All the branches of Brahmanism like Saivism , Baishnavism, Shaktism , and other minor sects have plenty of their holyplaces.
A)Saiva Temples:
Kapilash Temple: It is situated in the north east corner of Dhenkanal town at a distance of 26 Km from the district head quarters.The temples is situated in about 2239 feet from the sea level.The temple is 60 feet in height .There are two approaches for the temple.One is through climbing 1352 steps and the other is ‘Barabanki’ or the travel twisting way.Narasinghdeva-I constructed the temple for Sri Chandrasekhar in 1246AD indicated in the Kapilas temples inscription .In the left side ‘Payamruta kunda’and in the right side ‘Marichi kunda’ exists.The temple has a wooden Jagamohana.Sri Ganesh,Kartikeya,Gangadevi,etc are found in the temple.Patita pavana Jaganath also remain in the temple as ‘Parsva deva’.Lord Biswanath temple is also situated in Kapilash .According to some scholars this temple is older than the Chandrasekahr jew temple,hence it is known as ‘Budha linga’ .There are many legends about Kapilash pitha and its significance.History says it was the ashram of Kapila muni,to some scholars it is the second Kailash of Lord Siva.Sridhar Swami who wrote commentary on Srimad Bhagavatham stayed there .There are some monastries in the premises.Lord chandra sekhara worshipped by the chintapatis in 36 Niyogas.
Naganatheswar Temple: This temple belongs to sri sri Naganatheswar shiva,situated at village’Nagena’ about 20 Km from Dhenkanal.It is the most ancient saiva temple and was constructed during the region of the Keshari dynasty.According to scholars Pandit Nagendranath Mohapatras’Naganath satakam it is one of the 12 yotir lingas.In the stotras of the ‘Awashyotirlinga’ one of the yotirlinga is in the Daruka-Vana or Neem forest.The neem forest is still there in the premises.Even Harisingh Vidyadhar who occupied the Dhenkanal fragmental temple for the darshan of Lord Naganath.The sloka of Dwadasha yotirlinga says that Naganath temple is situated in the southern most part of Anga Kingdom.It shows that some times in history that part Kalinga touched Anga border.However , near it there is a debri of a fort which is still un-identified.Here river Brahmani turns to north which is as holy as the Gangas.
Astasambhu Temple:Kualo or Karmula was the ancient capital of Dhenkanal.Kualo is situated in north of Dhenkanal town at a distance of 32 Km on the right side of river Brahmani. The kingdom was ruled by the shulki kings who hold ‘stamba’epithets.They were the feudotaries of the Bahmukar kings.Their futiler deity was Lord Shiva. Hence we see eight siva temples at Kualo known as ‘Ashta Sambhu’ . These eight shiva lingas are known as – Kanakeswar , swapneswar, Aisneswar, Kapileswar, Baidyanatheswar, Bane and Lokanatheswar.
Sri kanakeswar: It is one of the Ashta shambhu siva and situated near Ramachandi temple.
SriAnnakoteswar: Situated at Latadeipur. The significance of this shiva linga is that it grooms in the bright fortnight and reduces on the dark half.
Other Shiva Temples: Besides the above temples there are many other shiva temples which indicate the extant of saiva culf in the region.Some of them are as below.
Sri Paschimeswar: Situated near Bhapur in the 7th AD by the shambhu vamsi kings.
Sri Daudeswar : Situated on the bank of river Brahmani.
Shiva Temple of Niji Garh,Hindol:This temple is situated in the Sub Divisional head Quarter of Hindol Sub Division.
Kapileswar Temple:This temple is situated in village Hatuari(near Badasuanlo) on the Kamakhya Nagar-Bhuban road.
Sri Budheswar: Situated near Bhuban on the bank of river Brahmani .It is related to the mythology that Lord Kartikeya after taking holy bath in the river had the darshan of Lord Shiva.
Sri Bishwanatheswar: Situated in the village mandu khura .
Sri Kamaleswar:Situated near Kamalanga on the bank of river Brahmani.
Baisnava Temples &Holy places
Baisnavism in different form spread in Dhenkanal in diffrent ages .The Ramanandi Vaisnavas , the Gaudiya Vaisnavas , the Pancharattra all developed side by side in the district.There are some of the famous Vaisnava temples and holy places as belows.
Siddaha Balaram Temple:Siddha Balaram temple at Dhenkanal town is the pivotal figure in the domain Vaishnava cult in the district.History says that Anangabhima III brought Sri Balaram from Talmul to Bhima nagari garh in 12th -13th CAD.While he was taking the image to Puri,Sri Balaram Ordered him to give up the effort.Hence, he built Dasakamba Mandala at Chittala pur near Hindol.But with the advent of the Muslim rule the devotees kept the image at Kardabindha village.Subsequently,Sridhar Banja brought the image.Hari singh Vidhyadhara later on defeated the Bhanja King and brought the image of Balaram to Dhenkanal.He started construction of the temple in 1590 AD.The main temple is 90 feet high.Sri Raja Narasingha Bharambar and his son Kunjabihari Bharambar's period, the construction of gateway,Jaga mohana,the boundary wall were completed.ie. between 1708 to 1741AD.From 1906 to 1918, Raja Surya Pratap constructed the separate Jagannadha Temple in the campus of Sri BalaRama temple.Initially the car festival was initiated from the Dadhibamana temple, but Raja Surya Pratap started car festival from Balaram Temple.
The temple compound has Baraha nath,Nrushingaha,Bamana,Bakuleswara Shiva,Sri Hanuman Sri Chaitanya,Radha Krishna,Mahalakshmi,Mangala etc.are also worshiped.The Balaram temple follows the rituals like Sri Mandir of Puri and observes auspicious days through out the year . In the sanetorium sanctum Sri Balaram is seen with Jaganath,Subahadra,is the unique deity and the symbolic spiritual entity for the people of Dhenkanal.
Tourist Place
Sri Raghunath Temple - Saptasajya.
Sri Raghunath Temple of Saptya sajya is one of the Important Baisnav temples of Dhenkanal. One can proceed 12Km in the Sankarpur road from Dhenkanal Bus stop and then turn west at the Badagila chowk and pass two K.M. to reach Saptya Sajya a scenic beauty where the holy temple of Maryada Purusottama Sri Ramachandra is located at about 900 feet at the hilltop. A mountains stream flows down as if touching His holly feet in veneration.
Mythologically this place is important and many legends are still available. Its name is Sapta Sajya because, there are seven hills surrounding the area. Again there is story that, the Saptarashi had their ashramas here in this place. There is also a mythological story, that, Sriram during his exiled or Vanabasha had spent seven days in this beautiful spot. Secondly the Pandavas during their 12 years of exile and one year of Agyanta Vasa had chosen this mountains for shelter.
However the worship of Lord Sri Ram for the first time began on 18.4.1956 at Saptya Sajaya . The king of Dhenkanal constituted a committee of some eminent persons among whom Sri Harekrishna Pattnaik was one. The eminent sculptor Late Kumar Moharana built the statues of Sri Rama ,Laxman and Sita who were being worshipped in a thatched temple. After 1958, due to patronage of Rajamata Ratnaprava Devi, H.K.Pattnaik and Late Krishna Chandra Harichandan took initiative to construct the present temple. The marble statues of Sri Ram ,Laxman and Sita were brought from Jaipur in Rajastan and the then Chief Minister of Orissa Late Rejendra Narayan Singdeo inaugurated the temple by organising four days ritualistic function from 7th to 10th May,1971.The then Collector Sri Suresh Mishra IAS. and Dr.Dasarathi Mishra were actively involved in this great event.
The Govt. constructed the Pukka road way in 1982. Inside the temple complex Maa Annapurna temple was constructed in 1982,the 1st floor Kalki temple in 1985,the Surya Narayan temple in 1990. Now the temple of Sri Rameswara Shiva, Sri Ganesh, Sri Mahivir, and the Nabagrah Temple with each room for each graha are found. Mahakali , Mata Saraswati, Sri Nrushingha temple are conceived to be built in the holy complex. This scenic spot has become a good tourist and picnic spot where thousands of tourists and devotees gather from different corners of Orissa and India.
Radhakrishna Temple at Dhenkanal.(Kunjakanta) : Sri Brundaban Chandra, Krishna is worshipped at the Kunjakanta Temple . This temple is situated in Dhenkanal Town on a hill. Rajarshi Surapratap Singhdeo who was a pious and a person of spiritually built the temple. His Baishnav Guru his holiness Madhusudan Goswami of Brundaban suggested Raja Surapratap to build the temple . The image of Sri Radhakrishna was installed and the ritualistic pattern of Brundavan was adopted. Late Parvati Charan Das the then Debottar Magistrate who after initiation in to sanysa known as Baba Padmacharan Das helped the king in constructing the temple. However , after the sad premature demise of the king, Rani Krishnairiya took up the holly responsibility of the temple. Who also wrote (Kunjakanta Janana.)
Now this temple has Jhulan Mandap , Rasha Mandap with Astha Sakhi and the rituals are being taken up through out the year.
Jagganath Temple Deogaon.:
With the spread of Baisnavism in Dhenkanal Jagannath Temple were built in diffrent parts of the District. This Jagannath Temple is located at Deogaon at the foot.of Kapilas mountain. Gajapati Prataprudra Deva had built the temple. The gateway of this temple is higher than the temple itself. Every year the Rathayatra (Car festival) is being organised by the temple management in collaberation with Debottor Dept., Dhenkanal.
Narayan Temple of Kaplias :
Kaplias is the place where synthesis of saivism and Baisnavism are amply demonstrated. The Narayan Temple at the hill of Kaplias is an example of that great event. There, is a beautiful black granite image of Sri Narayan is Worshipped. A stream flows down touching holly feet of Narayan.