Legend
In the Satya
Yuga, Lord Brahma, one of the Hindu trinity came and worshipped Lord Vishnu in
today’s Brahmagiri atop a hill. Pleased with his endeavor, Lord Vishnu surfaced
before him and advised him to raise a four-armed Deity of him holding conch
shell, disk, club and lotus in his arms. He also hinted that the Deity should
be made off from a piece of black stone and the stature of his ‘bahana’ Garuda
should also be erected. The lord named the place as Brahmagiri since Lord
Brahma worshipped him there.
The tale of Sri Chaitanya
Legendary
saint Sri Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, who is also believed as an incarnation of Lord
Vishnu, was an ardent devotee of Lord Jagannath. He used to visit the Lord’s
abode at Puri regularly. Yet, as per the ritual, once during Anasara period,
when the lord is believed to have fallen sick and so darshan was not allowed in
Srimandira, Chaitanya was restricted from darshan. It was too intolerable for
the devotee to live for long 15 days without getting a glimpse of the God. It
is believed, being impressed by his devotion, Lord Jagannath advised in his
dreams to visit him in the temple of Alarnath in Brahmagiri. Accordingly the
saint visited Alarnath and got a glimpse of his cherished God. Even a piece of
stone (shila) found in the temple premises is believed to be the one where the
saint stood to get darshan of the God.
History
As per
history long ago Alwars visited the famous shrine in Brahmagiri and the temple
was named after their name as Alvarnaath which was later simplified to Alarnath.
Location
Alarnatha temple
is located in Brahmagiri block around 20 kms away from the district head
quarter of Puri. The place is well connected in roadways through National
Highway 203A. Puri railway station is the nearest railhead while the Biju
Patnaik Airport in Bhubaneswar is the nearest airport to the place.
Festivities
Alarnath is
not a very famous place around the year but the temple witnesses thousands of
devotees/tourists during the Anasara period that falls normally in the month of
June each year. For fifteen days during the krishnapaksha of Ashadha, after the
Snana Yatra when lord Jagannath of Puri cannot be visited, large number of
people visits Alarnath.
Kheer, the sweet offering
It becomes
crowded During this period, popularly known as Anasara or 'Anavasara'
(literally meaning no opportunity to see the lord of Puri), instead of having
darshan in Jagannath temple, people believe that Lord Jagannath during this
time manifests as Alarnath Dev, at the Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri.
Temple Timings
The Temple
opens at 6 AM and closes at 9:30PM.Morning Baal Bhoga is offered and mid day
different kinds of rice, daal and vegetable curries with Payasam is offered. In
the night different kinds of Pitha and Khichudi with Plantain fry is offered.
During Anavasara time the Payasa or Kheeri bhoga offered to Alvarnaath Swami is
much hyped and in demand.
Anasara in
year 2015
Year 2015
being the Nabakalebara year, Anasara of Lord Jagannath will continue for 45
days unlike other normal years when the normal span of Anasara is two weeks.
Accordingly, this year devotees can take the privilege of darshan of Lord
Alarnath in Bramhagiri for 45 days.
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| Alarnath temple in Brahmagiri, Puri District, Odisha |