Jagatsinghpur: Participants of the 21st edition of Jagatsinghpur Heritage Walks (JHW) visited the Jhankeswar Mahadev temple located in Birittola village of Tirtol block here on Sunday.
In terms of antiquity, this temple is contemporaneous with the Sarala Temple at Jhankad. However, the structure standing today is a modern construction. In this Jhankeswara Mahadeva Temple, one can find ancient relics, including a graceful idol of Uma-Maheshwara, accompanied by images of various attendant deities such as Ajaikapada Bhairava, Mahishamardini Durga, Astika-Jaratkaru, Ganesha, Kartikeya, and Parvati.
Participating as the chief speaker, Ranjan Kumar Panda, the Chief Priest of Sarala Temple, shared valuable insights regarding Maa Sarala (the presiding deity of Jhankada), Adi Kavi Sarala Das, Nanda Deula, the Vruddha Nadi (river), and the Jhankeswara Mahadeva Temple. He has described the anecdotes on these subjects in his book, “Sri Chandi Sarala Madala.”
The temple, also known as Jhankadeswar Mahadev, sitting within the historically rich Jhankad Kshetra, is highly revered for its deep antiquity and its spiritual connection to the nearby iconic Maa Sarala.
The original construction of the temple could be traced back to the 9th to 10th Century AD. It reflects the regional architectural explosion that occurred under dynasties like the Somavamsis, who heavily patronized Shaivism. Locally termed as “Jhankeshvara” or “Jhankadeswar”, the temple perhaps got its name derived from the historical name of the surrounding region, Jhankad. Following its desecration, the site lay neglected until it was systematically revived and rebuilt around the early phase of the 19th Century by local rulers and devotees who reclaimed the sacred spot.
The historical evolution of the Jhankad region represents a profound harmony between Shaivism (worship of Shiva) and Shaktism (worship of the Mother Goddess). Historically, a visit to the Jhankeswar Mahadev shrine has been an essential spiritual component for pilgrims visiting the premier Shakti Pitha of Maa Sarala Devi.
Local lore links the spiritual aura of Jhankad’s temples—including Jhankeswar—to the 15th-Century saint-poet Sarala Das (originally Sidheshwar Parida). He is celebrated for composing the epic Odia Mahabharat, after being blessed by the deities of Jhankad.
Today, the Shiva temple serves as an important site for cultural preservation. Twenty-five heritage enthusiasts led by JHW convenor Srikant Singh participated in this walk. Convenor of Odisha Heritage Walks (the umbrella organisation under which the district-level heritage walks are being held), Biswaranjan Dehury, shared that from December 1st week onward Jajpur Heritage Walks will start its monthly walks in Jajpur district.