Toshali Sands

The Mascot of Tribals: Nilamadhaba

In this original form, the presiding deity of Orissa was worshipped as Kitng, a Primordial God, by the Sabaras, a Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribe of the Asutric linguistic family

Lord Jagnnath is the mascot of Orissa. Centuries of myths, legends and history have gone into the making of the cult of Jagnnath. According to legend, Lord Jagannath’s original form is Bilamdhaba placed at Kantilo. In this origianl form, the presiding deity of Orissa was worshipped at Kitung, a primordial God, by Sabaras, a Pre-Aryan and Pre-Dravidian tribe of the Austric linguistic family.

Originally natives of the fertile plains of northern India, the Sabaras were pushed South and East-ward by the invading Aryas. The vast mountainous region, comprised of the undivided districts of Puri, Phulbani, Ganjam and Koraput in Orissa.

It all started in a small cave in the Brahmadri hills situated on the banks of Mahanadi, which is known as Kantilo of Nayagarh district today. Here, Biswabasu the local Sabra Chief worshipped Kitung, as the God was known in the Sabara dialect. According to the Puranas, the deity was originally worshipped in the form of a black tong image know as “Nilamadhaba”. The daru murty (wooden image) came much later.

A some stage of his or her life, every Oriya person has heard the beauticul legend of Nilamadhaba. According to legend, Nilamadhba appeared in a drema of Indradyumna, the legendary King of Malawa. To ee the God, the king consulted his Pundits who informed hi that the Nilamadhba was being worshipped some where in the forest of Utkalika. It fell upon Bidyapati to trace out the God. After walking bare foot for seveal days through the thick fores of hill tracts along Mahanadi Bidyapati finally landed in Kalipali a village, Biswabasu - the tribal Chief played the perfect host to his guest. Bidyapati was besotted by the beautiful “Lalita”, daughter of his host. The two got married with the blessings of Biswabasu.

One day, Lalita confided in her husband the fact that her father worshipped Lord Nilamadhaba in a cave deep inside the forest. Bidyapati relising that his mission was nearing completion, beseeched her to take him there but on one condition that Bidyapati would have to go there blind folded.

On the day of recknong, he carried a handful of mustard seeds and kept dropping the on the way at reguarl intervals. The advent o monsoon saw the mustard plants form the path leading right up to the cave. Soon after Bidyapati went back to Malawa and narrated his experience to Kind Idrayumna. And both of them immediately set out to invade Utkal. But while on his way, he was told by a divine voice that Nilamadhaba had disappeared and was floating in the Sea. Graciously acceding to the King’s request , Biswabasu pardoned his son-in-law and agreed to come to Puri.

There the floating divine image behaved like a long of wood and came ashore. The idols of Lord Jagnnath and others were made out of that log and placed in a tiny temple. The present one came up sometimes in the 12th Century. The cult of Jagnnath too has undergone its share of changes down the ages.

By 9th century AD, the worship of the original tribal God in varous forms such as Sabari-Naryanana, Nilaksha - Madhaba and fainally Nilambadhaba had spread throughout Orissa. Gangadharadi in Boudh, Pattapatam near Parlakhemudi, Rsibalisa near Vijayanagara in Andhra Pradesh bear evidence of the fact that a large number of Madhaba temples existed.

The worship of Madhaba continues even to this day. During every Puja in an Oriya him, Madhaba is invoked first, to be followed by Ganesha. Among the temples built during the Period, the Nilamadhaba temple at Kantilo surely holds pride of place. It was built by Gandhamardan Dev, the last King of the Budh royal family, before the Bhanja dynasty took over.

Located near the confluence of three rivers-Mahandi, Kuanria and Kusumi the temple structure is like the Jagnnath temple of Puri. It stands on the right bank of Mahanadi. On the left, the hill ranges merge with the hazy gray horizon. This place is an ideal spot for tourists who are religious and nature lovers. Kantilo is also famous for Brass Metal.

A permanent flow of holy water from the feet of Lord Nilamadhaba is a wonderful sight to be seen at this place. It is also on of the most interesting Picnic spots in Orissa.

How to go
There are good motorable roads. The place is situated near Nayagarh District and is 100 km from Bhubanewswar. The nearest airport is Bhubaneswar.

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