Description
AnantaVasudev Vishnu temple is one of the rarest Vishnu temples present in the city of Bhubaneswar, in Odisha. There are actually very few temples of Lord Vishnu and hence it importance is manifested by the mere presence of a temple dedicated to the Lord. Located at the heart of the city of Bhubaneswar, it is just a few kilometers away from the station. The nearest airport is also in Bhubaneswar. It is very well connected by roads too and hence its easy accessibility is one of its best features.
History
History of this temple is not very well known and archeologists are still trying to find its very root. However, it is believed that the temple was built somewhere in the 13th Century. Queen Chandrika the then ruler of eastern Ganga dynasty had a dream to set up this temple with the image of Lord Vishnu in it. From where she got an image of Lord Vishnu and what exactly was her dream is still a mystery. But in the forthcoming years, the Marathas took the initiative of renovating it to the form that we witness today. This was precisely done in the 17th century when the Marathas extended their empire up to the river Mahanadi.
Importance/Significance
The prime importance of the temple is that it has incarnation of Lord Vishnu, in the form of Lord Krishna here. Vishnu temples are very rare in India and hence the significance. In addition it is the only Vaishnav temple in the city of Bhubaneswar. Idols of Lord Krishna, Lord Balaramanf Goddess Subhadra reside here which are worshipped by the devotees. Lord Balaram is seen under the hooded protection of a serpent and Goddess Subhadra holds chakra, lotus, pot of gold and conch in her hands. This is a unique sculpture which is found only in AnataVasudev temple in Bhubaneswar.
Facts/Mythology
This is one of the rarest temples of Lord Vishu present in the state of Odisha. Lord Vishu was one of the Gods of trinity who is worshipped as the preserver of the universe and the moral values. He is basically worshipped in its various incarnated forms which are significant in this temple in the form of idols of Lord Krishna and Lord Balaram. The uniqueness of the idol of Lord Balaram is that he is under the hood of a seven headed serpent which is found only in this temple. In addition the river running adjacent to the temple is also considered very holy and holds religious importance.
Festivals/Events/Gatherings
Since the temple AnataVasudev is dedicated to Lord Krishna, Janmastami forms the major festival of this temple. It is celebrated on a grand scale attracting devotees from far and wide. A special Janmastami fair is organized every year with bhajans and other events which involves the participation of all the devotees. The temple is also very beautifully decorated on this auspicious day. This temple is surely a place worth visiting with near and dear ones.
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