The Holy Land of Lord Nrusimha (Nrusinghanath)

            For the last so may centuries Nrusinghnath has magnetically attracted pilgrims and tourists. It stands majestically amidst the boulders and the crevice; a series of cascades and rapids, murmuring rivulets and verdant trees, shrubs and medicinal herbs of northern flank of the Gandhamardan hills in the Padampur Sub-Division of Bargarh District, Orissa History and culture of this place have mingled inextricably with this famous place.

           This temple is an earliest surviving Vaishnava monument, built in 1413 A.D. by Vaijal Dev- I the fourth Chouhan ruler of Patna. It has been dedicated to Lord Nrusinghanath “in his feline incarnation (marjara Keshari)”. The image of Marjara Keshari of black chlorite stone having the head of a cat and body of a lion is the presiding deity of the sanctum. The temple consists of a Viman and a Jugmohan. A descriptive genesis of this incarnation of Vishnu in the form of Marjara Keshari is found in “Nrusingha Charita” of baba Jaga Das, a famouf Kandha peot of 18th century (1). According to the narration Malati the beautiful daughter of Udunga rishi living on the bank of the river Godavari was ravished by Ravana, the king of Lanka, Cursed by her father, Malati was thrown into the river Godavari. Later on she was protected by Goddes Godavari. She searched for her father but in vain. Again she was raped by Mushika and thus from Ravana ans Musaka born of her a demon called Musakadaitya who when grew up ate up his mother. He also became a source of constant trouble to Gods. The Gods being defeated for several times by the Musakadaitya prayed Lord Ramachandra for his mercy. Ramachandra assumed the form of Nrusingha. Seeing him in this from, Musakadaitya fled in fear, assumed the form of a mouse and entered the crevice of the mountain Gandhagiri. On the request of Gandhagiri Nrusingha established himself there and awaits in ambush there in that feline form to devour the mouse demon, Musikadaitya.