Sakshigopal Temple, Odisha

Address

Puri Sakshigopal Temple, Odisha

Puri, Puri- Bhubaneshwar high road,

Odisha 752002

Moolavar

Sakshigopal

Introduction

Sakhigopal Temple formally known as Satyabadi Gopinatha Temple is a medieval temple dedicated to Lord Gopinatha located in the town of Sakhigopal on the Puri Bhubaneshwar highway in Odisha. The temple is built in the Kalinga Architecture style. It is believed that this temple was built in 11th Century CE.

Puranic Significance

It is said that a poor young man of the village, later named Sakshigopala, fell in love with the daughter of the village headman. However, being of a higher economic status, the headman opposed marriage between this young man and his daughter. The villagers, including the headman and the young man, went on a pilgrimage to Vrindavan. The village headman fell ill and was abandoned by fellow villagers. The young man tended to him so well that he soon got well, and, in gratitude, promised his daughter in marriage to the young man. As soon as they returned to the village, the headman went back on his promise, asking the young man to produce a witness in support of his claim.

Lord Gopala, impressed by the young man’s devotion, agreed to come and bear witness to the promise on one condition: that the young man led the way, and he would follow. But the young man must never look back. He led the way to the village, passing a mound of sand. As they passed, the man could not hear the Lord’s footsteps and turned back. Immediately the Lord turned into a statue of stone rooted to the spot. The villagers were still so impressed that God himself came to back the young man’s claim that the youngsters were married off; they were later appointed as the first clergy of the temple built in Lord Gopala’s honor who came to bear witness (known in Sanskrit as Sakshi).

Special Features

The temple is famous for celebrating the annual Anla Navami Festival (Anla = gooseberry; Navami = ninth day in a lunar cycle).

The festival is associated with the practice of touching Radha‘s feet (Radha was the legendary lover of Lord Krishna). Legend has it that the temple was originally built without a statue of Radha. But when a girl named Lakhmi claimed to be the incarnation of Radha, and it is believed that Lord Krishna (here as Gopala) should not be without his true love Radha, a statue from northern India was installed here.