Berhampur: After theft from famous Tara Tarini shrine in Odisha’s Ganjam, burglars decamped with a golden ‘Bela’ leaf, many brass utensils and cash from Neelakantheswara temple and Jagannath temple at Nirmaljhar in Khallikote area of the district.
Resentment prevailed amongst the devotees as the burglars struck at these two temples just two days after the loot in the famous Tara Tarini temple in the district.
Priest of the temple Nilanchal Panda stated that burglars took away one golden ‘Bela’ leaf and a brass ‘Gara’, five ‘Thali’ (utensil) from the Neelakantheswara and Jagannath temple. All the brass utensils from the kitchen after breaking the lock. The articles inside the temples and the kitchen was lying scattered, said Nilanchal. The Neelakantheswara temple walls have sculptures of Goddess Parvati and her sons, Ganesh and Kartikeya.
The miscreants entered the temple complex by scaling the walls, said Naresh Kumar Sahu IIC Khallikote Police Station. Police team arrived on the spot and started the investigation after the priest Nilanchal Panda informed the police at 5 am today.
Nirmaljhar which is one of the famous tourist destinations in Ganjam is situated 2-km away from the Khallikote Royal Palace. This is famous for its perennial stream amidst nature. This stream forms two natural pools within the temple premises of an architectural masterpiece consisting of Lord Neelakantheswara, Lord Jagannath, Goddess Vimala, Lord Radhakrishna, Lord Ganesha and the Sun God. Raja Aparjita Sri Balukeswar of the Mardaraj Dynasty in Khallikote built this elegant temple in the year 1676.
Nirmaljhar is derived from Sanskrit words Nirmal (pure) and Jhar (stream). This sacred stream originates from the foothills of Marua hills, a part of Badaghati mountains of the Eastern Ghat.
Meanwhile Goddess Maa Tara Tarini, the ruling deity of Ganjam district, had the ‘Mahasnana’ or the great bath ritual as the thieves touched the goddess and it required a purification ritual.