Jajpur

  JAJPUR (JAJAPUR / YAJPUR)

The place called Yäjapura is very well known in Orissa. It is situated on the southern side of the Vaitarani River. It is also called as Jajapur.

Formerly great sages performed sacrifices on the bank of the Vaitarani River; consequently the place is known as Yäjapura, “the place where sacrifices are performed.” According to a local legend, when the Lord Brahma was performing Ashvamedha yajna (sacrifice), he realised that the Vedas were stolen. He then requested Lord Vishnu for help to retrieve them. As soon as the yajna was completed, Lord Vishnu emerged out of the sacrificial fire in the form of a boar – his avatar Varaha  with the stolen scriptures. From that time onwards, the location of the yajna came to be known as Jajpur. In some versions, Brahma completes ten Ashvamedha yajnas, after which Varaha appers. The place is also called  as Gada Kshetra  after the gada (mace) used by Lord Varaha to get the Vedas.

Some people say that this was one of the capital cities of King Yayäti and that from the name Yayäti-nagara the name Yäjapura has come. As stated in the Mahäbhärata (Vana-parva, Chapter 114): ete kaliìgäù kaunteya yatra vaitaraëé nadé / yaträyajata dharmo ’pi devän çaraëam etya vai / atra vai åñayo ’nye ca purä kratubhir éjire  : According to the Mahäbhärata, great sages formerly performed sacrifices in this place.

There are still many temples of demigods and incarnations there, and there is also a Deity of Çré Varähadeva. This Deity is especially important and is visited by many pilgrims. Those who worship the Supreme Lord’s energy worship her as Värähé, Vaiñëavé and Indräëé, the internal energy. There are many deities of Lord Çiva, and there are many places along the river known as Daçäçvamedha-ghäöa. Sometimes Yäjapura is also called Näbhi-gayä or Virajä-kñetra.

Yajapur – Jajapur is thus considered a  Vishnu tirtha  as well as Devi tirtha together.

Brahma Kunda

There is Brahma kunda here commemorating the incident of Brahma doing yajna.  Near Brahmakunda is subha sthambha on which Lord Brahma sat and performed yajna.

Nabhi Gaya

Closeby is temple of Nabhigaya. Here the deity of Navel of Lord is there. Here thousands of people come and offer grains (rice) as pinda daan . Inspite of vast quantity of rice being deposited at a single place astoundingly  the rice never piles up. As the rice is offered in a hole and it balances out. This hole is said to be connected to Khir sagar (milk ocean). This temple  is also called as second Gaya.

Apart from Varaha tirtha, this place Jajpur is also called Viraja tirth or Devi tirth – because it is one of the Sakti peeth  where Sati’s Nabhi (navel) fell here.

Varahanath temple :

The *Varahanatha Temple*, also known as *Yajna Varaha Temple*, is a beautiful temple  located on the left bank of the Vaitarani River  on an island formed by the division of river. The main shrine is dedicated to Varaha , the boar avatar of the Lord Vishnu. Built in 15-16th century, the temple is constructed in Kalinga architectural style. This Ancient Varaha temple  once had 4 deities – while 3 deities of Varaha are still here (Yajna varaha, Vishanu varaha and adi varaha). 4^th deity named as Laxmi varaha was taken by king Ali across viraja to Kendrapara. Also on the altar is deity of Lord Jagannatha. This temple is said to have build by King Prataprudra under direction of Kashi misra.

In Varaha temple is also Samadhi of a bird- A small bird landed on lap of Lord chaitanya when he came here. Lord was sitting under a Banyan tree. The bird sat on lap and sang some songs and in front of everyone left her body and went directly to the spiritual world.  The Banyan tree is still here and in the base of the tree is the Samadhi of the bird.

At Varaha temple is also temple of  Lord Jagannath , Bimala devi, Surya narayan and 9 devis.

The temple complex is located at an elevation of 15 feet (4.6 m), on an island created by two branches of the Vaitarani River, about 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from Jajpur bus station. The island is opposite to the Dasaswamedha ghat which is also a famous pilgrimage centre.

Lord Chaitanya’s grand father Upendra Mishra was from Jajpur. Then he shifted to Srihatta in Bangladesh and later the son Jagannath Mishra settled in Navadvip.

————-

Lord  Chaitanya’s  first visit to Jajapur on his way to puri –

Srila Bhaktisiddhänta Sarasvaté Thäkura in his commentary to Chaitanya bhagavat states that while Sri Caitanya Mahäprabhu passed through Bengal, He passed through Äöisärä-gräma, Varäha-gräma and Chatrabhoga. He then reached the Orissa province, where He passed through Prayäga-ghäöa; the Suvarëarekhä River; Remuëä; Yäjapura, where He bathed at the Daçäçvamedha-ghät, on the Vaitarani River; Kataka (Cuttak), where the Mahänadé River flows; Bhuvanesvara, where there is a big lake known as Bindu-sarovara; Kamalapura; and Äöhäranälä. In this way, passing through all these and other places, He reached Jagannätha Puré.

Chaitanya bhagavat antya 2.280  Chapter Two: Description of the Lord’s Travel Through Bhuvanesvara and other places to Jagannätha Puri

TEXT 280

kata-dine mahäprabhu çré-gaurasundara

äilena yäjapure—brähmaëa-nagara

Within a few days Çré Gaurasundara Mahäprabhu arrived at the Brähmaëa-nagara locality of Yäjapura.

The footprints of Çré Gaurasundara have been established in the Ädi-Varäha temple, which is situated in the Brähmaëa-nagara neighborhood of Yäjapura. These footprints were established in memory of the mother of Çréyukta Mohiné Mohana Räya Chaudhuri Mahäçaya, the landlord of Bäliyäöi village.

TEXT 281

yaìhi ädi-varähera adbhuta prakäça

yäìra daraçane haya sarva-bandha-näça

At that place there is a wonderful Deity of Ädi-Varäha. By taking darçana of this Deity, all one’s material bondage is destroyed.

TEXT 282

mahätértha-vahe yathä nadé vaitaraëé

yäìra daraçane päpa paläya äpani

The most sacred Vaitaraëé River flows past this place. One’s sinful reactions flee away upon seeing this river.

Purport – The word vaitaraëéin this verse refers to the Vaitaraëé River. Yäjapura, also known as Näbhi-gayä, is situated in the place known as Virajä-kñetra on the bank of this river.

TEXT 283

jantu-mätra ye nadéra hailei pära

deva-gaëe dekhe catur-bhujera äkära

If even an animal crosses that river the demigods see it as having a four-armed form.

TEXT 284

näbhé-gayävirajä-devéra yathä sthäna

yathä haite kñetra—daça-yojana-pramäëa

The deity of Virajä-devé is situated in Näbhi-gayä, which is eighty miles from Jagannätha Puré.

TEXT 285

yäjapure yateka ächaye deva-sthäna

lakña vatsare o näri laite saba näma

I am unable to name the numerous temples in Yäjapura even in a hundred thousand years.

Purport -Another name of Näbhi-gayä is Virajä-kñetra. This place is situated within Yäjapura. This place is situated eighty miles from Néläcala.

TEXT 286

devälaya nähi hena nähi tathi sthäna

kevala devera väsa—yäjapura gräma

The village of Yäjapura consists of all varieties of temples with all varieties of deities.

TEXT 287

prathame daçäçvamedha ghäöe nyäsi-maëi

snäna karilena bhakta-saàhati äpani

The crest jewel of the sannyäsés first took bath with the devotees at Daçäçvamedha-ghäöa.

TEXT 288

tabe prabhu gelä ädi-varäha sambhäñe

vistara karilä nåtya-géta prema-rase

Thereafter the Lord joyfully visited the Ädi-Varäha temple, where He relished ecstatic love while dancing and chanting.

TEXT 289

baòa sukhé hailä prabhu dekhi’ yäjapura

punaù punaù bäòe änandäveça pracura

The Lord was greatly pleased to see Yäjapura. His ecstasy repeatedly increased there.

Purport -It is said that Yäjapura is a corrupted form of Yayätipura, which is derived from the name Yayäti Keçaré, a Çaivite king of Orissa. In other’s opinion the name Yäjapura is derived from the word yajïänuñöhäna (“a place of sacrifice”) or yäjana (“worship”). Çréman Mahäprabhu made His auspicious arrival in Yäjapura in A.D. 1511. The temple of Çré Varähadeva is situated in Yäjapura. Çréman Mahäprabhu displayed the pastime of offering obeisances, chanting, and dancing before Çré Varähadeva. It is described in Çré Caitanya-caritämåta (Madhya 5.3-4):

calite calite äilä yäjapura-gräma

varäha-öhäkura dekhi’ karilä praëäma

nåtya-géta kaila preme bahuta stavana

yäjapure se rätri karilä yäpana

“Walking and walking, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His party finally arrived at Yäjapura, on the river Vaitaraëé. There He saw the temple of Varähadeva and offered His obeisances unto Him. In the temple of Varähadeva, Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu engaged in chanting and dancing and offered prayers. He passed that night in the temple.”

Madhya 5.6

In Çré Caitanya-caritämåta there is an indication that Mahäprabhu came to Yäjapura another time. In the year when Çréman Mahäprabhu had a disagreement with Çréla Gadädhara Paëòita Gosvämé Prabhu regarding his residing in Néläcala as a resident sannyäsé, Çré Gaurasundara came to Yäjapura with Çré Räya Rämänanda and the two Mahäpätras, Maìgaräja and Haricandana. Mahäprabhu then bid farewell to the two Mahäpätras at Yäjapura. (See Çré Caitanya-caritämåta, Madhya-lélä, Chapter Sixteen, verse 150.)

The two stone Deities of Çré Varähadeva are attached to each other. On the left of the Deities there is a stone deity of Çré Lakñmé, and on her left there is a Deity of Çré Jagannäthadeva. In front of them there is a smaller set of Lakñmé-Varäha deities made of metal. From the Yäjapura Road railway station one must take three buses and cross two rivers to travel the seventeen miles to the temple of Varähadeva. On both banks of both rivers there are connecting buses waiting to transport passengers. After traveling nine miles in one bus, one crosses the first river called Yamunä Khäi. Then one has to walk six miles to the next river called Buòä. After crossing this river, one catches a connecting bus. There is a dharmaçälä in Yäjapura known as Rädhäbäi Dharmaçälä or Jagannätha Dharmaçälä. It is situated near the ancient temple of Jagannätha. The footprints of Çré Caitanya were established in Yäjapura on December 25, 1930. For an elaborate description of this one should see Gauòéya, Volume 10, Part 2.

TEXT 290

ke jäne ki icchä täna dharileka mane

sabä’ chäòi’ ekä paläilena äpane

Who knows what was His desire? Suddenly He left everyone behind and went away.

TEXT 291

prabhu na dekhiyä sabe hailä vikala

devälaya cähi’ cähi’ bulena sakala

When the devotees saw the Lord was not there, they became confused. They began to search for the Lord in the various temples.

TEXT 292

nä päiyä kothäo prabhura anveñaëa

parama cintita hailena bhakta-gaëa

When they could not find the Lord anywhere, they became filled with anxiety.

TEXT 293

nityänanda bale,—“sabe sthira kara citta

jäniläìa prabhu giyächena ye nimitta

Nityänanda said, “Everyone calm down. I know why the Lord has left.

TEXT 294

nibhåte öhäkura saba yäjapura-gräma

dekhibena devälaya yata puëya-sthäna

“The Lord wants to visit all the holy places and temples of Yäjapura alone.

TEXT 295

ämarä o sabe bhikñä kari’ ei öhäìi

äji thäki, käli prabhu päiba ethäi”

“We should all beg alms and stay here today. We will meet the Lord here tomorrow.”

TEXT 296

sei mata karilena sarva bhakta-gaëa

bhikñä kari’ äni’ sabe karila bhojana

In this way all the devotees went out to beg alms, and then they ate together.

TEXT 297

prabhu o buliyä saba yäjapura-gräma

dekhiyä yateka yäjapura-puëya-sthäna

And the Lord wandered around Yäjapura visiting all the holy places there.

TEXT 298

sarva bhakta-gaëa yathä ächena

vasiyä ära dine sei sthäne mililä äsiyä

The next day the Lord returned to where the devotees were waiting.

TEXT 299

äthe-vyathe bhakta-gaëa `hari hari’ bali’

uöhilena sabei haiyä kutühalé

Immediately the devotees enthusiastically jumped up and chanted, “Hari! Hari!”

TEXT 300

sabä’-saha prabhu yäjapura dhanya kari’

calilena `hari’ bali’ gauräìga çré-hari

After making Yäjapura glorious, Lord Gauräìga chanted the name of Hari while departing with His associates.-

Lord Chaitanya’s second visit to Jajpur on his attempt to go to Vrindavan –

Chaitanya charitamrita Madhya 16.153

TEXT 150

dui räja-pätra yei prabhu-saìge yäya

‘yäjapura’ äsi’ prabhu täre dilena vidäya

TRANSLATION

When Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu and His party arrived at Yäjapura, the Lord asked the two government officers who had come with Him to return.

PURPORT

The place called Yäjapura is very well known in Orissa. It is a subdivision of the Kaöaka district and is situated on the southern side of the Vaitaraëé River. Formerly great sages performed sacrifices on the northern bank of the Vaitaraëé River; consequently the place is known as Yäjapura, “the place where sacrifices are performed.” Some people say that this was one of the capital cities of King Yayäti and that from the name Yayäti-nagara the name Yäjapura has come. As stated in the Mahäbhärata (Vana-parva, Chapter 114):

ete kaliìgäù kaunteya yatra vaitaraëé nadé

yaträyajata dharmo ’pi devän çaraëam etya vai

atra vai åñayo ’nye ca purä kratubhir éjire

According to the Mahäbhärata, great sages formerly performed sacrifices in this place. There are still many temples of demigods and incarnations there, and there is also a Deity of Çré Varähadeva. This Deity is especially important and is visited by many pilgrims. Those who worship the Supreme Lord’s energy worship Värähé, Vaiñëavé and Indräëé, as well as many similar forms of Devé, the internal energy. There are many deities of Lord Çiva, and there are many places along the river known as Daçäçvamedha-ghäöa. Sometimes Yäjapura is also called Näbhi-gayä or Virajä-kñetra.

TEXT 151

prabhu vidäya dila, räya yäya täìra sane

kåñëa-kathä rämänanda-sane rätri-dine

TRANSLATION

Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu bade farewell to the officers, and Räya Rämänanda continued on with the Lord. The Lord talked to Rämänanda Räya about Çré Kåñëa day and night.

TEXT 152

prati-gräme räja-äjïäya räja-bhåtya-gaëa

navya gåhe nänä-dravye karaye sevana

TRANSLATION

In each and every village, in compliance with the King’s order, government officers constructed new houses and filled each of them with stocks of grain. Thus they served the Lord.

TEXT 153

ei-mata cali’ prabhu ‘remuëä’ äilä

tathä haite rämänanda-räye vidäya dilä

TRANSLATION

Çré Caitanya Mahäprabhu finally arrived at Remuëä, where He bade farewell to Çré Rämänanda Räya.

Srila Bhaktisidhanta saraswati Thakur visits at Jajpur –

To commomerate Lord Chaitanya visit to Jajpur,  Çréla Sarasvaté Thakur installed foot prints of Lord Chaitanya on 25th December 1930.

Later in 1932, Sarasvati Thakura came to Jajpur in Orissa, where he visited the Varahadeva Deity and the descendents of Mahaprabhu. Sarasvati Thakura  stayed in the Jagannatha dharmashala. There, on the other side of the Vaitarani river, which is closeby , there is also the Viraja temple.

One has to cross the Gauranga palli (palli means “bridge”) to get to viraja temple. While crossing the Vaitarani ,Sarasvati Thakura said “If you cross the Vaitarani you will cross the Viraja (spiritual world).” Or in other words, you will reach the spiritual world. This is, of course, in reference to the Vaitarani of Viraja river, which is at the border of the material world. One side is the material world and the other side is the spiritual world. One has to cross over the Viraja river to come out of the material; world to the spiritual world. Viraja means Vigata Raja, or without tama and raja, without the modes of ignorance and passion. They came at night to Jajpur station which was in the middle of the jungle at that time, infested with tigers.Tigers were roaring, and Sarasvati Thakura asked, “Oh, are they tigers roaring?” “Yes,” came the reply. From Jajpur Sarasvati Thakura went to Kurmaksetra, Mangalagiri, Singhachalam; all these places for establishing the footprints of Lord Caitanya.

Another time in earier years,  Sarasvati Thakura came here. While delivering his class he spoke in a public meeting about the “dasa-vidha nama aparadha”. The king postulated to Sarasvati Thakura that when chanting the names why worry about offenses, as the name can be chanted in any manner? Sarasvati Thakura quoted the ten offenses from the Padma Purana. The sadhus who were present there were propagating chanting without bothering about offenses and they didn’t believe Sarasvati Thakura’s quote from the Padma Purana, so he said to the doubtful king, “I’ll show you how this is true.” The meeting was organized from 4.00pm to 9.00pm, but Sarasvati Thakura said the sadhus should stay from 5.00pm to 7.00pm (the evening sandhya, time for taking ganja, opium). Sarasvati Thakura said that all the sadhus should stay. We’ll be having sankirtana and hari-katha, they should not go outside. Thousands of sadhus gathered for the meeting, but the meeting was from 5.00pm to 7.00pm, so by 6.00pm, many of the sadhus had left the meeting, because they had the habit to smoke ganja or tobacco, or take tea. They could not stay seated for the full two hours for Hari katha. Sarasvati Thakura showed the king, saying, “Just see what is the situation. Because they are addicted to opium, ganja, tea, cigarettes, etc., they cannot stay for the recitation of the holy name. Is this not due to their offenses?” The king then understood. Sarasvati Thakura finally instructed that these five things should be given up by serious reciters of the holy name: Meat eating, gambling, illicit sex, intoxication, and the search for money, because these are the five places where Kali resides. The king accepted this and became his disciple, taking Harinama initiation.