Narasingha – the Legend of Padma Purusha (Konark Secrets - Book 2)

By Bhuban Patra

Kalinga is entering its golden period at the beginning of the 13th century. The kingdom has already established itself as a maritime superpower, and now it has to make its mark with its monuments that were built over a few centuries. The temple building spree had already begun many years ago, and after the successful construction of the Lingaraj temple and Jagannath temple, the grandest monument on earth was to be built.

Book two is the story of Narasingha Deva, the King of Kalinga and the constructor of this grand sun temple built in Mundira. The monument is considered one of the most magnificent and among the most mysterious temples of Bharat. The King narrates this tale, as he had experienced it in his lifetime. The book describes his journey about how from an inquisitive prince, he became one of the powerful monarchs of Bharat.

This book covers the many battles fought between Kalinga and the Bengal Kings and why King Narasingha was known as the greatest builder of Bharat. . The book will also answer all questions on the existence of the sun temple built at Mundira which is now known as Konark. Was this temple just a grand monument, or were there secrets behind its construction? Why was an unusual technique used for its creation when tried and tested methods were already there? Did it hold some secret within itself? What is Bishnu Maharana's birth secret? Who was Silpy? This book unfolds all these secrets.

• Language: English
• Publisher: One Point Six Technologies Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Nov 19, 2023
• ISBN: 9789358830200

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

Title

eISBN 978-93-5883-020-0

Copyright © Bhuban Patra 2023

First published in India 2023 by Leadstart Inkstate

A brand of One Point Six Technologies Pvt. Ltd.

Unit no. 26, Ground Floor, A1, Shram Safalya,

Wadala Truck Terminal Road, Near Post Office,

Antop Hill, Mumbai - 400037.

Phone: [phone]

Email: [e-mail]

www.leadstartcorp.com

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the publisher. Any person who does any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. All the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Editor: Chandralekha Maitra

Layouts: Sathish Kumar

Dedi-Image

To my family and friends for being there when I required them the most.

Contents

About the Author

Author’s Note

1. The Prophecy

2. The White Mountains

3. Battle of Katasin

4. The Royal Guru

5. Son of Jambavati

6. Brothers of the Gurukul

7. The Fort of Raibania

8. Kingdom of Kalinga

9. Jewel of the Sun

10. The Chief Architect of Mundira

11. Queen of Kalinga

12. The Land of Immortals

13. Langula Narasingha Deva

14. Konark Secrets

About the Author

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, the capital 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 found through his blog and books. His first book, Lotus Land: The Secrets of Padma Kshetra (Leadstart Inkstate 2020), has garnered wide appreciation.

Author’s Note

Book I of the Kalinga series, Lotus Land, placed the reader at the beginning of the thirteenth century, with Kalinga entering upon its golden period. By this era, the seashore kingdom had already established itself as a maritime superpower, and was engaged in making its mark with grand monuments, built over a few centuries. Temple-building received a great impetus with the successful construction of the remarkable Lingaraj Temple in 1025 CE, and the Jagannath Temple in 1196 CE.

But now it was time to build the grandest monument on earth.

Book II is narrated by King Narasingha Deva, the fearsome Warrior-King of Kalinga. The narrative captures the details of the battles he fought with the Bengal Sultanate, as well as his purpose in constructing the monuments that he did. The book begins with the famous Battle of Katasin (1243 CE), and then moves on. The King revisits his life events, when he was first made aware that he hailed from the lineage of Lord Krishna, through his son Samba, and had been born with a prophecy, the fulfilment of which depended on the construction of a Sun Temple at Mundira (present-day Konark). There is only one person who can help him to do this – Bishnu Maharana, the master architect – for the two men are bound by a special bond of destiny, connected to their respective births.

While this book covers the many battles fought between Kalinga and the Bengal Sultans, it also reveals why King Narasingha was known as the greatest builder of Bharat. It also answers lingering questions about the existence of the Sun Temple built at Mundira. Was this temple just a grand monument, or were there secrets behind its construction? Why was a new and unusual technique used for its creation when tried and tested methods existed? Did it somehow hold Bishnu Maharana’s birth secret? Who was Guru Silpy? The mysteries of Book I, as well as the mysterious figures who helped Bishnu construct and finish this mega structure, are gradually revealed, as is the connection between Narasingha and Bishnu, and the latter’s parentage.

Though the main story ends with the temple inauguration, Narasingha Deva and Bishnu Maharana’s task has only just begun, for they are the custodians of a larger destiny.

BHARAT 1250 CE

CT-IMG

Chapter 1

The Prophecy

‘Y ou know what you must do when you return to Kalinga. If you want to be a good King, you must take care of your people. Your territories are beset by hostiles, and bringing peace should be your first task. You will have to play many roles. Those who succeed will know you as a great King and remember you as a great builder. You will have to depend on your prowess and potential, and use all you have learned during these years at gurukul ¹. Use everything you have within you, and I promise that whenever you require help, you will receive it.’

The words of my Guru reverberated in my mind now as I strolled through the long, stone corridors of the fort. They were the last words he had spoken to me when I completed my education and left for my home in Kalinga.

It was the second phase of yet another never-ending night, but the darkness surrounding me was unlike anything I had experienced in the past. The first phase had brought the dread news of the enemy marching towards Katasin. Our spy network had been very active lately as there was much tumult along our northern borders. If the latest intel was to be believed, we were vastly outnumbered. I had no reason to doubt the information. Though the imminent approach of the enemy surprised me, I had expected it to happen sooner or later. I had summoned my generals to an urgent meeting, to plan our next move. If we wished to succeed with the resources we had, we needed to make a decision immediately.

When my father, Anangabhima Deva, passed away onto the glorious feet of Lord Jagannath, I was crowned as the King of Kalinga. For me, this was not just a title bestowed upon one born of the royal bloodline, but signified lifelong accountability to my land, my people, and Lord Jagannath. I have always considered my position an opportunity to care for and lead the kingdom to prosperity. The entire nation’s fate lay in my hands, hence I did not consider my position ordinary. Any mistake I made could lead to the fall of this glorious kingdom that my forefathers had built.

The corridor of Katasin Fort where I stood now, was a long and desolate stretch of stone. Few people ever came here. This stronghold, which we had recently recaptured from the clutches of the Bengal Sultanate, was a small but strategic fort that guarded the northern frontiers of Kalinga. The Sultan of Bengal, Tughral Tughan Khan, an ambitious soldier of fortune, had begun his career as a slave under the self-proclaimed Sultan of Bharat, Shamsuddin Iltutmish, who had occupied many of the northern territories, and then established the Delhi Sultanate. Pleased with Tughan Khan’s loyalty, he had appointed him Governor of the Bihar Province. Soon after the Sultan’s death, Tughan Khan declared his independence and, after conquering Bengal, declared himself Sultan of Bengal.

But Tughan’s ambition was boundless. With an eye on all Bharat, he began a plundering spree to conquer every kingdom that bordered the Sultanate of Bengal. Much like his predecessors, he too tried every trick and stratagem, fair or foul, to stamp his rule on the land that but a few years before had belonged to the Sena Dynasty. These kingdoms, ruled by Hindu Kings, had been ruthlessly decimated and all their wealth plundered.

The capture of Katasin Fort had happened in a dreadful manner. It occurred on the second day of the Shivratri festival, when fifty of Tughan’s men, dressed as sadhus², entered the fort, seeking shelter. They told the guards they were travelling to Ekamra, to pay homage to Lord Lingaraj, and wished to spend the night. As tradition dictated, the fifty hermits were fed and given lodging for the night.

At the time, the fort was inhabited by about two hundred Kalingan soldiers, and a hundred civilians, mostly travellers, businessmen and commoners, who had taken shelter there. On that dire night, when everyone was asleep, the fraudulent hermits made their play. They had managed to mix poison into the food being prepared for the soldiers of the fort. As the poison took effect, the infiltrators made their assault. Many of the soldiers lay incapacitated by the poison; others were killed where they were found, unarmed. There was no mercy that night, and they were all slaughtered without pity. The civilian men and children who had taken refuge in the fort were brutally massacred, and the women were raped and enslaved.

By morning, Tughan’s soldiers had arrived from the nearby Umurdan Fort, held by the Bengal Sultanate. They occupied Katasin in full strength and proclaimed the fort under their command. They then regrouped to march towards Raibania Fort, which stood further south, beyond the Subarnarekha River.

We too, gathered our forces and within a month recaptured Katasin. I remained here, vowing to make the fort more secure than before. The news of my presence had, of course, reached the enemy, and they probably considered it an ideal opportunity to capture me. The annexation of Kalinga would help them push their boundaries towards southern Bharat.

‘Jai Jagannath³! Long live our King.’

I turned towards the voice and saw Sushanta, who was in charge of my security, standing with head bent, waiting for me to notice him.

‘Jai Jagannath. What is the news, Sushanta?’

Sushanta was my private bodyguard, and over time he had become a friend. He had held this position long before I became King, under my father, who had appointed him to be my personal security when I returned from gurukul. He had been with me ever since, every day for thirty-six years, and was my most trusted man. He accompanied me wherever I went, and was probably the only person, apart from the Queen, who always knew my whereabouts.

At first, I had been surprised by his appointment as my personal sentry, for his physical appearance belied his suitability for such a post. He was perhaps just over five feet tall, of lean build, and looked like one born to be a merchant and spend his life in trade. He was about my age, and even now, in his fifties, looked much the same as he had when we first met. But his physical appearance was deceptive, for he possessed enormous energy. His determination and competencies in performing various tasks had often surprised me. I was sure he possessed some special powers I was ignorant of for he had kept me safe through all these years.

‘They are waiting for you, my King,’ Sushanta said.

I had asked him to summon my two Generals of the northern army to an urgent war council.

‘Good, then let us go at once,’ I replied. ‘We must not keep them waiting.’ We began to walk quickly towards the southern end of the fort.

Katasin was not as large as the fort in Barabati, the capital, but it was compact and strategically placed to keep intruders at bay. The coastline of the Kalinga Sagar stretched along one side, and the dense forest of Katasin lay on the other. These not only provided natural fortifications, but also provided a spectacular backdrop to the place. The city itself lay to the south of the fort, whereas to the north the land stretched bare and unpopulated for quite a distance. This was the direction from which the enemy would certainly march towards us.

‘Jai Jagannath,’ I said, announcing my entry into the small chamber to which I had summoned the two Generals. It was an underground chamber, a place once known only to those who had been part of its construction. The fort had been built nearly two hundred years ago, and knowledge of the existence of these chambers by Tughan’s men, who had overrun the fort earlier, was doubtful. After we captured it, I decided to strengthen this fort, and began renovating it. While the work was in progress, I discovered some old architectural maps, which led me on a journey of exploration to several new places, and I discovered many such underground chambers within the fort. They had remained till then buried within the walls, and included many safe sections, and even a secret passage leading to the Subarnarekha River. As these spaces were not in general use, they had been gradually forgotten and had remained buried in the walls and the earth. When I disclosed these concealments to my trusted Generals, they suggested we make better use of them.

‘Please be seated. I have summoned you both for a particular purpose,’ I said as they settled themselves on the wooden chairs around a square table of the same wood. ‘I have just received some disturbing news from our spies. Tughan Khan is marching towards Katasin with his army. He has not forgotten the humiliating defeat you both gave him. Now he wants to win back this fort and restore his position and honour.’

I paused, looking at the intent faces, then said, ‘I see an opportunity here. This time his march to loot and plunder our land must be halted.’

I waited for their response, noting the quick change in their expressions. The first to speak was Samrat Shiladitya. He was one of the youngest and most able Generals in the Kalinga army. His youthful energy was evident not just in his actions, but also in his voice. He had been an indispensable part of the northern army for quite some time now and I had fought alongside him in the attack to reclaim this fort. His vigour and bravery had made it possible to seize the fort.

‘Maharaj, if that shameless Tughan is marching towards us, my unit and I will make sure he does not return this time. The last time we fought him, he sacrificed his men and escaped like a coward. I will not give him that option this time, but avenge the blood spilt by his tricksters.’

I could hear the pain lodged deep within Samrat. He and his younger brother had both been part of the northern army, but whereas Samrat had been stationed at Raibania Fort on that terrible night, his younger brother Tej had been at Katasin, where he had been butchered by Tughan’s men.

My heart too, was full of pain, yet I knew this was not the moment to give in to emotion. ‘I know you will Samrat,’ I said quietly, ‘but this time the situation and challenges are different. The last time we fought, they were almost twice the number we were. They have an even bigger army this time. If we are to believe the information, they may have five or six times the soldiers we have here in this fort. I am told that they have nearly five thousand horses, a hundred elephants, and thirty thousand men. This further widens our number gap, and we cannot take this casually.’

I stopped speaking, allowing the gravity of the situation to register with the Commanders. Then I continued to share my views. ‘If we fight a regular battle like last time, the odds are not in our favour. We have to be smart, and this time put up a fight keeping our strengths in mind. Let us plan a workable strategy whereby our chances of success will be high. Our main aim must be to crush them, with fewer casualties on our side.’

Once again it was Samrat who spoke first. ‘Maharaj, we have four thousand soldiers under both our commands, and we have the fort under our control. I would prefer to attack them upfront. But I agree we should not expose ourselves unnecessarily. We have had too many casualties in the past and must come up with better ways of fighting them this time. Another option is to stay put within the fort and restrain them for a few days without much loss. During this time we can bring in reinforcements from Raibania, and even Barabati. Then we will be in a position to counter the numbers they have.’

Sangram Balahari spoke for the first time. He raised some valid concerns, wanting to check the authenticity of the information we had received. He was another trusted General of the kingdom and had served Kalinga for a very long time. He had been appointed by my father, and now served under my leadership. Sangram Dada, as I called him, had been part of several conquests led by my father Anangabhima Deva, in the North, and was considered a veteran in the field. He was also Samrat Shiladitya’s maternal uncle.

He had recently retired from his role as Commander of Raibania Fort, which served as the headquarters of the northern unit of the Kalingan army. This stronghold stood beyond the Subarnarekha River, and was the administrative centre for our northern army. Though he had resigned his post, the veteran General was not yet ready to retire. He had requested that he continue to serve his motherland till the current hostilities had been checked, and I had agreed. Samrat had been appointed the new Commander-in-Charge of Raibania Fort.

Sangram Dada now said in the deep voice that had been raised in so many battle cries, ‘Maharaj, there is one thing I do not understand. How has that slave diverted thirty thousand men to this fight? The Sultanate army has about forty thousand men in all, and more than half are stationed to guard the northern and western borders. And there must be over five thousand soldiers protecting their capital, Lakhnauti Fort, on the other side of the Padma River. Sending thirty thousand men here must surely be considered an act of foolishness, leaving the capital scarcely defended. With such scanty protection, even King Damodara Deva, who now shares part of their western border, could attack and seize the Bengal capital.’

Sangram Dada was the most experienced person and eldest among us, but his strength and vigour could match that of a young man in his prime. He spoke rarely, but whenever he did, his words always made sense. I had gradually figured this out about him, and today too, his concerns were valid.

‘You are right, Sangram Dada. I too, had similar reservations, so I sent our spies to revalidate the news. I have already checked and verified its authenticity. Tughan has declared a jihad⁴ this time, and every soldier is prepared to die for the cause. They have made this into a holy war. The message of fighting infidels has been conveyed in a very persuasive manner to the general public. The resonance is that Allah wants them to fight for him. The people have been told that their religion is being threatened. Commoners belonging to various professions have joined the army that is now marching towards us. The good and the bad thing is that of the thirty thousand men, more than half are not regular soldiers. It would be easy to fight them, but it will be difficult to identify them in the group. It is a grievous thing that these people have been brought together only to be butchered because one man wishes to prove his dominance and rule.’

I paused, always saddened by how religion was used to influence the human mind towards destruction. People were ready to risk their lives without thinking that life itself was a blessing of the Almighty. For me, I believe that in this new age a great leader cannot be determined by despotism.

‘Samrat, the option of staying put within the fort will not be a practical approach. Though we can easily fight them till our reinforcements arrive, this time I want to be belligerent and infuse fear in the minds of our enemies, and end this regular hostility. There is one more drawback to staying put here.’ I paused.

‘If they surround this fort and manage to get reinforcements, we will come under siege. They can surround us using some of their forces, and the rest could march towards our capital. If such a thing happens, it will further complicate matters. There is one more option. We can retreat now and regroup at Raibania, and wait for reinforcements from Barabati. But that course of action will tarnish the image of Kalinga, which we are all proud of. I do not wish to make a decision that will destroy the reputation built by my ancestors. But fighting the enemy upfront would be foolish, for we would be outnumbered. The enemy would be knocking on our door in two days. But whatever we decide to do, it must be done today. We have to plan an aggressive strategy using our existing resources.’

I looked at the two Generals, one face so young, the other grizzled and lined with age. They had shed some of their tensions on hearing my words, and looked much calmer.

‘Maharaj, I believe you have already thought of something? In this short period that I have served under you, I have always known you to have a solution to every problem. I know well how you deal with atrocities too, as I have seen it. During the battle for Katasin, I witnessed your valour, and was proud to be part of the distinct strategy you used to capture this fort. A battle that could have been fought for months was over in a week. I truly appreciated the brilliance and foresight of my King then, and I am sure you have thought of a strategy to deal with this situation too,’ Samrat said and waited for a response.

‘You have praised me over much Samrat, for the truth is that I have not yet come up with a solid strategy. That is why I called this meeting, so that we can think of a solution together. Let us improvise on the plan I have, and for that, we need to have a thorough understanding of this place. Send someone to fetch a detailed map of the fort and the land around it, so that we can figure out the possibilities. Let us take the time to think this over.’

Orn

The meeting went well and we discussed various strategies to combat the enemy. Hopefully, the plan we finalised, if executed well, would win us the battle. If our calculations were right, the enemy would be at our door by the next morning. There was much to do in the little time we had. Though we had a full day and a night to execute our plan, it was not enough. We had to act fast and hope events would turn in our favour.

I walked back to my chamber with Sushanta my shadow, as the Generals began