By Our Correspondent
CUTTACK/BHUBANESWAR: The Holy Prachi River is renowned for its association with the worship of Lord Vishnu in the form of Madhava. Once a thriving watercourse, the Prachi River is now nearly extinct, though it is referenced in numerous Puranas, and countless Vaishnava shrines line both of its banks. According to the Prachi Mahatmya, the worship of Dwadasha Shambhu and Dwadash Madhava was prevalent in the Prachi Valley.
Throughout the region, one can still find ancient Vishnu idols and temples scattered along the river’s shores. Regrettably, many of these sacred sites, which bear the legacy of Vishnu worship, are now in a state of disrepair due to neglect and a lack of preservation efforts. To address this, the ‘Rediscover Lost Heritage Group’ and the ‘Silver City Cuttack Public Charitable Trust’ have joined forces to identify such sites and appeal to the government for their restoration and protection. As part of this initiative, on Sunday,
March 16, a group of heritage enthusiasts visited several significant temples, including the Dadhibaman Temple in Kuanarapur, Gangeswara Gada’s Narayan Temple, and the Janardana Deva Temple in Arilo, all of which are located within the Prachi River basin. They gathered important information regarding these historical landmarks in Cuttack district.
Deepak Kumar Nayak, a heritage researcher and founding member of the Rediscover Lost Heritage Group, emphasized, “The Dadhibaman Deva Temple in Kuanarapur village is in a severely neglected condition. According to local legends, the temple was built during the 15th century, under the rule of Gajapati Kapilendra Deva of Suryavamsi dynasty.
The temple’s subsidiary deity sculptures like the Varaha, Trivikrama, Narasimha etc. display the art techniques of Eastern Ganga period. The temple structure, which follows the Kalingan architectural style, features a Rekha Vimana and a Pidha Jagamohan. Sadly, due to years of neglect, the temple is in a dilapidated state. Trees have grown on its outer walls, and cracks have appeared in both the Vimana and Jagamohan. If immediate restoration work is not carried out, the temple may collapse. It is imperative that the State Archaeology Department recognizes the temple’s historical significance and begins repairs without delay.”
Akash Ashok Pattanayak, President of the Silver City Cuttack Public Charitable Trust, shared, “Our organization is spearheading a campaign called ‘Save Our Heritage,’ aimed at preserving and restoring neglected temples, monasteries, and historical monuments throughout Cuttack district.
Many ancient archaeological sites in the Prachi River basin remain in neglect due to a lack of care and attention. Our primary objective is to identify these sites and raise public awareness for their maintenance and conservation. We urge the State Archaeology Department to officially recognize the Dadhibaman Temple in Kuanarapur as a protected site, acknowledging its historical value.”
