Lotus Land

By Bhuban Patra

This was not by chance, but by choice, as this holy land was fulfilling a prophecy that could become the basis of existence for the entire humankind after the Kali Yuga ends.

The first book of the Konark Secret Duology is the tale of Bishnu Maharana, the chief architect of the Konark Temple. This is his journey about how he became a master architect and the secrets he unravels while constructing this shrine.

Was this temple just a grand monument or were there secrets behind its construction? Why was an unusual technique being used for its creation, when there were tried and tested methods? Did this monument hold some secret within itself? Was Bishnu Maharana an architect or a man of secrets?

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Nov 21, 2020
• ISBN: 9789390463664

Bhuban Patra

Bhuban Patra, a contemporary traveller, discovered his passion for writing when he began exploring and then blogging about Odisha, one of the eastern states of India, which possessed a fascinating historical and maritime legacy. Born in Balasore, a quaint district town in Odisha, Bhuban was raised in Bhubaneswar, thecapital city.Delving deep into the history and culture of Odisha, he found monuments yet unexplored and stories still untold. His passion for travel and spontaneous photography led him to share the treasures he foundthrough his blog and books. His first book, Lotus Land: The Secrets of Padma Kshetra (Leadstart Inkstate 2020), has garnered wideappreciation.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

KALINGA

‘Hey, no one is allowed inside. The temple is not yet open for the public.’ The singing did not stop, and the humming continued. The voice got louder, as I moved closer to where the sound was coming from. I had already realised that this girl was no ordinary artist, as the melody in her voice could hypnotise any living being.

This was the first time, I had come across such a charming musician, and I knew that if I surrender myself, I would be drowned in this ecstasy. I had heard several such musicians in my life, who had that charisma in their voice, but hers was different. I knew I had to stop it somehow, before it’s too late. Her voice reminded me of someone, and that only enkindled pain

‘Stop the singing and get out of this place,’ I got close and shouted back.

The singing stopped, and I could hear tinkling sounds from her anklets, as if she was walking closer to me.

The tinkling stopped suddenly, and then she spoke, ‘This is my home, and you have no right to ask me to leave.’

She demanded on being irksome!

‘This is a temple, not a house that you can claim it to be yours, and who are you to claim this?’ I shouted back again.

I was still not able to see her, as it was dark, and the thick morning fog had made it difficult for me to even figure out her physical presence.

‘Leave immediately or there will be severe consequences. As a rule, any trespassers to this place will be severely punished by the kings’ guards. Whoever you are, you have to wait until the temple is inaugurated, come back after a few days.’ I now spoke louder and harsher, as I did not want any trouble before the grand event.

The tinkling continued again, and I could feel that she was coming towards me. I was alarmed, as she could be anyone, even a spy who could have been coursed to disrupt the celebrations. If she could dodge past the guards, who stood outside the temple complex and come inside, she could pose a threat to the temple too!

‘You know me, Bishnu. You know me well,’ she said, as the voice slowly became bolder and calmer.

I could sense her right beside me, though I still couldn’t see her. I could smell her perfume and somehow, felt that I know this fragrance. Someone I had known in the past wore this, but the question was how was this possible! She was not real. Even if she was here, why has she come after so many years? Why did she leave me? Now, after those many years she wanted to see me again.

I took a step forward and now I could feel her breath over me. Yes, it is undoubtedly the same person, and I began to shiver.

‘Is it you Sura?’

I woke up from my sleep, palpitating heavily. It was just a dream and the only place where I had struggled in the past. I had been dreaming a lot, since many years now, and every time I went to sleep, there was someone from my yesteryears, who came back and wanted to tell me something that I was not able to figure out. They were not my enemies though, and every face I saw was someone who was dear to me, but recently, I had been seeing her a lot.

‘How is that possible?’ Why would she be a part of my dreams or reality, after what she’d done! I had erased her entirely out from my life and had started believing that those three days did not happen at all. I had moved on with my new life, and my goal, but these dreams made me revisit those forgotten days.

I was in a one-room house that, I had built with the laterite stones, which I used for our construction work. This small room had a solid roof and was approachable by a narrow set of stairs built outside the house. The interiors were ordinary, with a small window facing the south and a few items that were basic for my living. The objects included a small wooden shelf that contained few manuscripts, an oil lantern, and a big slab of polished stone that I used as a table for writing. I was sleeping on a handmade grass mat, and whenever I didn’t, it was folded into a small sitting sheet. Just beside the carpet, was an earthen pot that stored the drinking water.

I quickly drank some water and sat quietly. These dreams were the reasons why I hated to sleep, and as a fact, I had almost turned into an insomniac. After a few minutes of brooding, I stood up and walked out of the room.

The night was dark, but the glitter of the stars and the brilliance of the full moon transformed the surroundings into a lovely portrait. Probably, it was the third phase of another never-ending night, and as always, the numbness of the contiguous kept my thoughts wandering. I stood on a small hillock, right next to the Kalinga Sagar, looking into the vastness of this spectacular cerulean sea and waited for the sun to rise. On one side, I could see the curing waters of the Chandrabhaga River, along with its many tributaries, slowly blending into the ocean, forming an estuary. The moon’s reflection over the still waters posed tranquillity to the landscape. The calm breeze flowing within the thick green foliage further relaxed the weariness of my body. I was in my late fifties, but the mental and physical exhaustion of the last twelve years or maybe, just the previous year had made me frail. I felt as if the past year had taken away all the charm I had and made me look older than I actually was. My body must have withered during this time, but today, my excitement was no lesser than any teenage boy. I was able to solve one of the complex puzzles of my life, and probably, this made me a bit relaxed.

This small hillock right next to the sea had been my favourite place, since I had arrived at Mundira, thirteen years back. This hillock, with its spectacular view, was my territory that nurtured my ideas and enhanced my creativity. I always reached for this place whenever I was depressed, directionless or wanted to spend some time alone. This place was unique with all its six sides calming my senses, and in a way, helped me rejuvenate and think anew for a problem that needed attention. To ease my visit further, there stood a small rock that became my chair and a place from where I could witness this natural glory.

I was looking at the enormous Kalinga Sagar, whose shores extended from the estuaries of mighty Ganga, at its north, until the confluence of the Godavari, in the south. These two rivers were the marked borders of Kalinga, a kingdom where I belonged. Being a coastal kingdom, the river, and the sea had been its lifeline, and with the proper utilisation of these water bodies, my land prospered.

Kalinga was famous for its maritime history, and every kingdom in Bharat knew its reputation as a renowned business hub. The place I stood now was an ideal place to witness the many ships harboured in the port of Mundira. I could even see the flashing lights from vessels anchored a few miles away, waiting to enter the port by morning. Further towards the south, stood the colossal temple of Lord Jagannath at Puri, famously known as the Sri Kshetra that meant the land of Lord Vishnu. This place was another famous port in my kingdom. If one travels further south, they will come across the renowned port of Chilika, the biggest commercial and passenger port of Kalinga. There were several small ports across the coast, but these three remained the top of the maritime list.

The sacred Chandrabhaga River was on my left and along with its many branches surrendered itself to the sea. This partially enclosed coastal land formed a transition between the river and the sea. This portion of the land was inhabited, as frequent tides made these areas unstable for living. The mixing of seawater and freshwater provided a very high level of nutrients to the water and its sediments, making these waters work as a remedy for curing all skin diseases. When I reached Mundira for the first time, the residents told me of this therapeutic place, and over time, I had witnessed its real charm and remedies. It was during a day of the year, when several sick and lepers, who were suffering from skin diseases, came to this place and took a holy dip in this river. They prostrated themselves to make humble supplications to the sun god and pray for their own cure. They fast until they have a dream, where the god says, Your offerings are accepted, and now you are cured.

Unbelievably, the next morning, they found themselves healed!

I found these beliefs ridiculous, when I heard them during my initial days, but later, when I witnessed them myself, I did believe that miracles do happen. Brahmins here said that it was God who had done it, but the scholarly and well-read people noted that the water of the river had healing powers! Few wise men said that when someone realises his or her mistakes and chooses the path of truth and honesty, the person himself develops an ability to heal. I had my views too, and that was learnt from my past experiences and from my strong dedication towards the things, I did. I believed that if you have strong faith in something, you would end up with the desired results.

The river may have healed people who have taken a dip, but for me, the view from here had equally treated my senses.

To my right, there was the evergreen and deciduous forest that extended until Sri Kshetra and was named Maitreyavan. They were sacred and named after the successor of Gautama Buddha. Maitreya or Ajita, according to the Buddhist belief, would incarnate on this earth, when in the future Dharma would be forgotten on this planet. The philosophy is quite similar to what we who followed Lord Vishnu believe. The last incarnation of the Lord in the form of Kalki avatar would take birth and save us from all miseries and sorrow. These similarities make me believe that all the religions of this world are somewhere interlinked. Their path may be different, but the ultimate goal remains the same.

This vast green foliage of vegetation was also the lifeline for a myriad of flora and fauna, and they lived harmoniously alongside humans. Though I had never ventured into this forest, I had a chance to witness this alluring greenery from the sea. Once I had travelled from Sri Kshetra port to Mundira on a boat, alongside this coast, and the views from my boat were very fascinating.

These three sides belonging to the endless ocean, the river and the forest not only calmed my mind, but also condensed my stress arising out of my daily labour.

The monumental spectacle that we had built over this period was towards my other side. This memorial dedicated to the creator of the world, the sun god, was a place where people can come and seek his blessings. The temple not only complimented these gorgeous surroundings, but it also managed to surpass their magnificence.

Whatever dream I had this monument featured in it. As if the stones wanted to tell me something and I was unable to understand. Maybe, the people I saw in my visions were someone else of whom I had different illusions. Or having stayed and worked for a grand project for over twelve years has made me a psychopath.

This night everything looked different and peaceful, or maybe it was all the same, but I noticed its calmness only today. I had no gauge to differentiate the earlier nights with that of today, but surely, I had an entirely new set of eyes and a fresh mind to look at it. These past years at Mundira, had been very demanding, yet exhilarating. The place that was known to a few and a place that was only active during Magha Saptami would now become a famous religious place in the world. The site where the ceremonial bath on the waters of Chandrabhaga considered able to cure all your skin diseases would soon become a spiritual destination. This transformation only happened because of the mega monument that this place could now boast of. It took us long, it took me long, but what we had achieved was beyond what any time could determine.

The gods have always bestowed their blessings on me, but now I doubted on the number of coincidences I had. Why did so many people whom I loved and that had helped me get out of my miseries vanish, even without a word?

It all started when I was just four-years-old and even now, when I am in my fifties, similar acquaintances puzzle me. I was at this place, a few days before surrounded by all the miseries of this world, but today, I was probably the happiest man on this earth. I was free of any inhibitions and had peace within. The task that was assigned to me years ago was now complete, and definitely, something significant was being achieved. All my education and experience had finally blossomed into this lovely masterpiece. I had succeeded in living up to my teachers and my king’s expectations with the blessings of Lord Jagannath and these fictional characters that had been part of my life.

I was born into the land that was the most prosperous and magnificent kingdom Bharat had ever seen! Though secluded and reclusive, my motherland was a famous destination for the island kingdoms of the Kalinga Sagar. The vast empire of Kalinga, where I belong was slowly becoming the gateway of Bharat and a place where many religions lived harmoniously alongside each other. The region was the central trading place for the kingdoms north and south of Kalinga. The confluence of the great rivers of the subcontinent with the Kalinga Sagar made it an ideal place for doing business. Transportation was smooth, and my kingdom had some of the most beautiful ports across the subcontinent. The land not only boasted of the excellent sailors of this era, but also provided the kings with a skilful team of artisans that excelled in the art of building the most elegant monuments on earth.

My land was a doorway to many faraway island kingdoms that were ruled by other Hindu kings, who once belonged to Kalinga, or other rulers of Bharat. Much before any other nation learned the art of sailing, we excelled in this field, and our artisans sailed across the sea to various islands to build their temples and palaces. Our great king Anangabhima Deva not just encouraged these talents, but had also funded institutions that helped students, to excel in this art. The renowned maritime institution, at

Chilika, opened its doors to students from different kingdoms. The Chilika Lake being one of the largest inland lakes and a natural port was an ideal place for training and creating the future sailors of Bharat. The port was an active harbour and a place, where most of the bigger vessels anchored. It helped students to learn and experience the art of sailing and to build these mega-ships that sailed far across the sea.

The other famous school, where I was once a student is an institution that has been one of the most excellent art schools of Bharat. The institute consisted of departments that were devoted and specialised in architectural and structural planning, painting, sculpting, and many such aspects that defined art in my land. A place that nurtured the creativity of Kalinga and students like me have been playing our roles through ages. The alumni of this school have been building all the small and famous monuments of my kingdom, and this lineage continues to date.

The third school contributing to the creativity of Kalinga specialised in dance and music. Though there were several schools across the kingdom catering to this art, but the most popular and reputed among them was the Ekamra Natyashala. The institution not only taught music and dance, but it also produced the finest Maharis, who were the guardians of the temple. This school restricted its admission to girls only.

Under the patronage of our king, the creativity that was rooted in this land flourished through the help of these schools.

My childhood was no different, and I grew up in an environment that had an abundance of creativity all around me. My fascination was more inclined towards building monuments and was in sync with the community that I was born into. Since childhood, I had always desired to create memorials and wanted to keep our family legacy alive. My father was a prominent architect of several temples of Kalinga, and he was the sole inspiration for my goal. He was my first guru and my mentor. Being with him during my early days had exposed me to the skills and devotion that were required to build such magnificent stone wonders. Apart from being my father, he was one of the principal architects to the King of Kalinga. He was involved in creating several monuments that showcased our land’s creations.

When I was four, I was told that my mother died in an accident, though I realised what death meant only many years later. She was taken by the river, where she had been washing our clothes. Some said that she drowned and few said that an alligator took her. Whatever the case may have been, she was no longer there. I still remember her last words, while she was on her way to the river. She had bathed me properly, made me wear a new set of clothes, had fed me with some of my favourite dishes and had told me a story of a fairy. Then she had asked me to go and play and always stay close to my father. I had not understood what happened and where she went after that, but now when I introspect, I feel that the event was not that normal as I believed it to be.

Since then, my father never left me out of his sight and tried his best to nurture and nourish my upbringing. His work led him to many journeys across the land, and I was his companion in many of his expeditions. I sat with him, while he and his team were planning and discussing the work that they were assigned. I had heard many stories about the sculptors and architects, who had made our land proud by helping other kingdoms to construct their temples and palaces. Their fame was beyond any boundaries, as they had made a mark in faraway countries with their skill and expertise. I still remember the tales my father used to tell me about the magnificent temples that were built in the distant island kingdom of Khmer. The construction of the majestic temple dedicated to Lord Vishnu; built by the Khmer king Parama Vishnu Loka was considered one of the greatest achievements of my community outside Kalinga.

My journey from childhood had been quite fascinating, and there was so much to tell. I belong to the land of Lord Jagannath and Lord Shiva. This is a land, where miracles still happen as the gods still live. Who knew a simple log that floated onto the shores of Mahodadhi could shape itself to become idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Goddess Subhadra. Considering me to the afflatus log would be inappropriate, but my life had been shaped up at various stages. Many had helped me achieve my goal, and few of them would always stay close to my heart. Some mysteries were still not solved, and few questions were yet not answered, but I guess they all had a purpose in my life.

These memories of my childhood were still vivid, and the first among them was when I was eight-years-old. I had accompanied my father to Kalarahanga village, near Ekamra, where a massive construction was underway. My father and his team were building a temple that was dedicated to Lord Shiva. I was there for a couple of years and was in time to witness its completion. The shrine justified its name Jaleswara or the temple inside a lake, as it stood within a small patch of land within the Jaleswara Lake.

The two parts of the temple, the Vimana, which was the main shrine and the Natamandira its extension that formed the hall of dance, stood harmoniously beside each other. The exterior of the Vimana had exquisite carvings, where the outer three sides were presided and guarded by three members of Lord Shiva’s family. Lord Ganesha was in the south, Lord Kartikeya in the west and Goddesses Durga was in the north. Earlier, I had read many books related to these gods and knew a fair bit about them.

The elephant Lord Ganesha, in the southern niche, was represented with four arms standing in a Tribhanga pose over a lotus podium. I discovered from my father that the three-bend pose or Tribhanga pose was considered the most elegant stance for any sculptor or artist. The arches at the neck, the waist, and the knee made the representation look more graceful and rhythmic. The upper two arms of the Lord held a Modaka Patra and a broken tusk, on his left and right hands respectively. The lower left arm rested over the shaft of a Parasu, and his lower right arm was holding an Akhya mala, a type of rosary. The image of the lord had a Jatamukuta crown on his head. Several Vidyadharas flanked the sides and celebrated the lord’s presence. The Vidyadharas represented the happy spirits of the world and a vital part of every celebration concerning the gods. The entire depiction stood in front of a Makara Torana and the Lords Vahan Anindya, the mouse mounted near the pedestal.

The western side had the image of Lord Kartikeya and was shown guarding that side of the temple. This standing four-armed image of the Lord stood in the same Tribhanga position over a decorated podium. He is the eldest son of Lord Shiva, and his story of birth is quite fascinating. He held a cock in his upper left arm, and his divine spear was in his lower left arm. While his lower right arm was resting over the beak of the peacock, his upper right arm clutched a lotus.

The northern side was enshrined with the image of Goddess Durga, who is the consort of Lord Shiva. She stood there with her imposing posture and was depicted with her ten ferocious arms, an avatar that she acquired to kill the demons. The demon Mahisasura, below was shown in a frightful form trying to escape from the decapitated carcass of a buffalo. There were two other demons, Sumbha and Nisumbha, who were also shown