My quest for ancient temples often takes me to hidden corners of the country, often less visited by regular tourists. More often than not, my drivers are completely unaware of these temples, and we often get lost looking for them, despite the ease that Google Maps has provided. On my recent visit to Odisha, I had only two such less visited temples on my list – the Varahi temple at Chaurasi, and the Gangeshwari temple. I had heard and read about the Varahi temple at Chaurasi , and was eager to go see her. The form of Varahi has always fascinated me, and this particular temple was said to have an exceptionally beautiful idol of the deity. Persuading my driver wasn’t an easy feat – he was reluctant (to say the least) about going in search of temples he had never heard of, but my persistence paid off. The Varahi Temple at Chaurasi The Varahi temple dates back to the 9 th century, and the architecture is unusual, as compared to the other temples of Odisha. The temple is closest in st...
Bheema,
it is said,
once came across an old monkey, lying with his tail across the path. Not wanting
to step over the tail, Bheema asked the monkey to move. The monkey replied that
he was too tired, and could Bheema himself move the tail, since he was so
strong? Bheema, always confident and proud of his strength, bent to lift the
tail, but was surprised that he couldn’t even shift it an inch! After trying
multiple times, he finally gave up, acknowledging that his strength was no
match for the monkey. Pleased, the monkey revealed his true form. He was
Hanuman, the older son of Vayu, the wind, and thus Bheema’s elder brother. He
then blessed Bheema, promising to stay by his side in the great war which was
to come.
I remember being fascinated by this story when
I was a kid, because of the way my mom told me the story… of Bheema and Hanuman’s
conversation, and Bheema’s futile efforts to lift the monkey’s tail. As I grew
older, the story continued to fascinate me, since it is one of those events
which binds the two greatest epics – the Ramayana and the Mahabharatha!
Recently, I was reminded of the story once
again, when a Hanuman Langur sat in our path, tail extended, refusing to
move!!!
We
were on a safari
in the Satpura National Park, while visiting the Denwa Backwater Escape, on an
invite from Pugdundee Safaris. The morning safari had been a washout, the
animals keeping well away! We were returning, rather disappointed, when this langur
stopped us, and made us smile, at his stoic behavior!
As
someone so fascinated
by mythology, legends and their origins, I couldn’t have asked for a more
memorable experience!!!
The article seems to be so interesting. Yes i have heard about the story of Bheema and Hanuman. But I never experienced such a thing. Thank u for sharing your memorable experience with us.
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