'Patali Srikhetra', where the Holy Trinity idols were kept hidden for 144 years

Patali Srikhetra is one of the oldest temples in the State dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is a holy shrine associated with Buddhism, Vaishnavism, and Saktism. It's widely believed that the idol of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were kept hidden in the caves of the Trikut for a period of 144 years.

Subarnapur: 'Patali Srikhetra', a famous place in Odisha's Subarnapur district with the significant historical importance of the Jagannath culture.

This religious place is associated with Shaktism, Buddhism and Vaishnavism. It is located in the foot of Trikut Hill. It is widely believed that the idol of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra were kept hidden in the caves of the Trikut for a period of 144 years.

The Madalapanji (chronicle of the Jagannath Temple) describes that during the invasion of Raktavahu, a king named Sovanadeva of Odisha escaped with the images of Lord Jagannath, Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra.

He then reached Subarnapur and buried the images at a place called Subarnapur-Gopali. After 144 years, a king name Yayati Keshari of Somavamsi dynasty got the images and made new images. He built a temple at Puri and enshrined the idols.

When the fact came to light, a team of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and State Archaeology visited the spot and testified the linkage of Patali Srikhetra with Srikhetra in Puri and also found archaeological properties of pre-historic importance.

Subsequently, a small temple was built atop the hill and the Patali Srikhetra Action Committee (PSAC) installed the idols of the Trinity, which the Puri temple administration had given them in 2011.

"Legend has it that the idols of the deities of Jagannath temple in Puri were kept hidden in the caves of Trikut for 144 years during the invasion of Muslim General Raktavahu. The deities were kept underground near a ‘Peepal’ tree at a place called Gopali. Therefore, this place is described today as “Patali Sreekhetra” or hidden abode of Lord Jagannath. It is said that since Lord Jagannath had himself chosen to stay here," said, Jogamaya Mishra, a local resident.

"In the past, the savage, indomitable and cruel ‘Jaban’ (Muslim) rulers have invaded the ‘Sree Mandir’( Sri Jagannath Temple) several times in order to conquer Odisha by destroying the idol According to Madalapanji, during the invasion of Odisha by Raktabahu, the ruler Shoven Dev secretly shifted the three idols from Puri temple to a secured place in far away here. After the idols of Lord Sri Jagannath and other deities remained incognito in the hidden cave for 144 years, Yajati Keshari, a king belonging to the Soma dynasty rescued the idols and consecrated them in Shree Mandir in Puri," said, Gorekhnath Sahu, Educationist.

The cultural fragrance of this place has been spread far and wide after Shri Jagannath Temple Administration accorded recognition to this holy place as another pleasure ground of the Lord. The district of Subarnapur has itself been enriched and beautified by carrying the memory of the mysterious Lord Jagannath.