Situated in Ichhapur (Tulasi Khetra), Kendrapara, Odisha Baladevjew Temple is a famous temple of Odisha dedicated to Lord Balarama. Along with Lord Balarama, Jagannath and Subhadra are also worshiped in the Ratna Sinhasan in the main temple. The temple was built in 1761 AD during the Maratha rule in Orissa. The then king of Kanauja, Raja Gopal Sandha and Zamidar of Chhedara killah, and Srinivas Narendra Mahapatra constructed the temple.

Location Odisha, Kendrapara, Bhubaneswar

Legend

Per chronicles, Khan-I-Duran, a Subedar of Odisha under the reign of Aurangzeb demolished the temple in 1661 and replaced it with a mosque. Baladev Jeu, a devotee of the Hindu Gods, took the deity and crossed the Godavari River and kept the idols in a safe place near a jungle. Later on the idols were shifted in Balarampur village near Luna River which is the present Baladev Jeu temple of Ichhapur, Kendrapara, Odisha.

Architecture

The total area of the Baladevjew Temple is around 2 acres. The premise is divided into two sections among which one half consists of the main temple and the other half  has a beautiful garden. There are 4 sections in the temple- Bada Deula or Sri Mandir, Jagamohan or Natya Mandir, Bata Mandir or Mukhashala and Majhi Mandir or Bhog Mandap. The main temple is 23 m high and 12m wide and is created with a heavy baulamalia stone. The other significant sculptures and important things to explore in the premise are - Ganesh mandir, Sri Ram mandir, Sidheswar Mahadev, Mukti Mandap, & Adhistati Devi Tulasi Temple, Garuda Stambha, Jhulan Gruha, Laxmi Mandira, Ratna Bhandar, Snana Mandap, Mukti Mandap, Anand Bazar, Bhairabi Mandir, NabaGraha Mandir, Kasi Biswonath and Astasambhu Mahadev.

Culture

The other name of Odisha is Utkal, which means Utkrista kala or the highest form of art. From the temples, art, performing arts like Odishi dance and their music, it can be estimated how enriched the race is with multitude of talents.

Odisha is the harbinger of the Kalinga culture which has its strong history attached with Emperor Asoka, one of the mightiest Indian Maurya rulers. From the ancient chronicles it is said that his zeal to conquer Kalinga was so devastating that it turned the color of the Daya River into red. From that moment the Chandasoka became Dharmasoka and preached Buddhism until the rest of his life.

Darsan Dresscode

Nothing specific

Temple Rituals

Daily worshipping of the deities.

Special Rituals

Nitya Besha - The regular dress-up, Nrusingha Shesadeva Besha - Dressed during the Baisakh Sukla Chaturdashi or Nrusigha Chaturdashi, Gaja Uddharana Besha - This is the special dress for the Gods during the Baisakh Purnima, Gamhabhisheka Besha - Is the usual fashion for the deities from the Sravana Sukla Dasami to Purnima Suna Besha, Janmastami Besha - The celebration of Bhadrab Dwadashi for the Bamana Janma, Gajanana Besha - The ritual of the Jyestha Purnima or Devasnana Purnima, Sri Gundhicha Raja Besha - Dressed on Ashadha Sukla Dwitiya, Sri Raghunath Besha - is the attire for the Ashadha Sukla Dwadashi of Lord Vishnu, Bakasura Baddha Besha - For Kartika Sukla Chaturdashi, Padma Besha - For Kartika Purnima, Prathamastami Besha - For Margashira Krushna Astami, Pralambasura Samhar besha - The Kartika Sukla Ekadashi attire for the Deities, Garuda Arohan Besha - For Kartika Sukla Dwadashi, Dhenuka Marddana Besha - For Margashira Purnima ( Pandu Purnima), Pushyabhisheka Besha - For Pousha Purnima, Kachikaveri Besha - For Magha Sukla Panchami ( Sripanchami), Kandarasura Baddha Besha or Kandara Mardana Besha - For Magha Purnima, Krushna Balaram Besha - For Dola Purnima, Sri Raghunath Besha - For Chaitra Purnima, Radha Damodar Besha - Dressed from Kartik Krushna Pratipada to Purnima, Kaliya Dalan Besha - Clothed on the Kartika Astami, Ekalaksha Tulasi Arpan Besha - Attire for the Kartika Sukla Navami or the Amla Navami, Madhu Samhar Besha - The dress worn by the Gods during the Kartika Sukla Dashami, Dwibinda Banar Besha - For Kartika Sukla Trayodashi

Additional Info

 

Khana Khazana, Babri Sabri, Blue Fox Restaurant, Hotel New Sahoo Cafe, Barabati Restaurant.

 Supermarket : Available