Rajiv Lochan Temple, Rajim – Legends

Rajiv Lochan Temple, Rajim – Legends

Rajim:

It is said the town is named after Rajim Telin. The town was known as Padmavati Puri in ancient times. As the town was situated at the confluence of rivers Mahanadi, Sondhur and Pairi, this place was fertile, especially for oilseeds. The villagers cultivated oilseeds and extracted oil. Dharma Das, an oil dealer, lived with his wife Shanti in the town. Both of them were ardent devotees of Lord Vishnu, both were great devotees of Vishnu. The couples had a daughter named Rajim. They got their daughter married to Amar Das.

Rajim was also an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. There was a Temple without the idol in its sanctum. She used to visit this temple and worship Lord Vishnu. There is a story behind the absence of idol in the sanctum. In the Satya Yuga, there was a king named Raja Ratnakar, performing yajna, but the yajna was not completed due to the continuous harassment of the demons. King Ratnakar performed penance on Lord Vishnu to help him in completing the Yajna. Lord Vishnu reached the Yagna place in time and helped the King.

King Ratnakar remembered Rajiv Lochan, the incarnation of Vishnu and began to perform harsh austerities. The king's enthronement reached Vishnu, he also heard Lakshmi. Lakshmi requested that Vishnu reach there at the same time to help Ratnakar. Vishnu reached there and completed the yajna. Lord Vishnu left a lotus flower on the earth and instructed Vishwakarma to build a Temple on the Lotus flower. Vishwakarma built a magnificent temple overnight. King Ratnakar worshipped Rajiv Lochan at this temple.

After many years passed, Kandra Raja of Kanker came to see the temple on hearing the greatness of the Lord. During his visit, the place was converted into forest.  The King of Kanker decided that such magnificent idol should be enshrined in his Kingdom. Then the king of Kanker forcibly lifted the idol and placed it in a boat and sat himself in another boat and started going towards his kingdom Kanker in Mahanadi River. A heavy storm ensued and the King of Kanker along with his boat sank in the waters of Mahanadi.

Once, Rajim went for a bath, she saw a black stone in the river. She decided to use the black stone on top of the oil extractor. Her business started to grow after the black stone came into her possession. A King named Jagatpal was ruling over the surrounding area. Lord Vishnu appeared in King Jagat Pal dreams and asked him to get the black stone and install in the temple. King Jagatpal demanded the black stone from Rajim but she refused flatly.

Then, King Jagat Pal offered Rajib gold equal to the weight of the black stone, but she refused. At last she agreed to exchange the stone with queen’s nose ring and on promise that the temple should be named after her. Jagat Pal constructed this temple and named it after her name as per his promise. One day, Rajim sat at the temple door of Rajiv Lochan and attained Jeeva Samadhi. Devotees celebrate Rajiv Bhakti Mata Mahotsava on Basant Panchami.

Rajiv Lochan:

According to a legend, Lord Vishnu in the sanctum sanctorum was actually called as Lochan and was once moved away by Goddess Rajiv. The villagers were so worried about the disappearance of their favourite Lord and protector. Villagers begged Goddess to return the Lord’s idol. Appeased by their humble request, Goddess Rajiv agreed on condition that her name would henceforth be associated with the Lord. Hence, the deity came to be called as Rajiv Lochan.

Aswamedha Yagna by Lord Rama:

When Lord Rama performed Ashvamedha Yagna, a King named Rajiv Lochana was ruling over the region. When the sacrificial horse reached this place, the king seized it and handed over to sage Kardama. Shatrugna was accompanying the horse with his army tried to take it from sage Kardama by force but was reduced to ashes by him. Lord Rama on hearing the news of the death of his brother soon reached Rajim. However, King Rajiv Lochana met him and pacified him. Lord Rama ordered the king to set up an image in his name and call it Rajiv Lochana. He further pleased Sage Kardama and got back Shatrugna to life.

Lord Vishnu granted a boon to Rajba:

As per legend, a lady named Rajba, a Telin (oil dealer), used to worship Lord Vishnu regularly. She was worshipping Lord Vishnu continuously  for 12 years. Pleased with her devotion, Lord Vishnu granted a boon to her. She requested Lord Vishnu to stay in this place permanently and her name should precede Lord Vishnu in worship. Lord Vishnu granted the boon as per her wish. Hence, her name is uttered first before invoking Rajiv Lochan.

Poojas performed by Kshatriya community:

Local King Ratnakar was an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu. and his ardent devotion to Lord Vishnu. Pleased with his devotion, Lord Vishnu in the form of Rajiv Lochan, appeared before him and granted him a boon that King Ratnakar would continue to see the Lord in this form forever, and after him, his descendants would continue to serve the Lord in the temple premises. This is perhaps the reason why even to this day, the puja and archana at the temple are offered by the Kshatriya community, the descendants of Raja Ratnakar, ably assisted by purohits.

Panchakoshi Dham:

As per legend, Lord Vishnu asked Lord Vishwakarma to find a place on earth where nobody was ever cremated within a five-mile radius. Lord Vishnu wanted to build a temple there. Lord Vishwakarma failed to find the place as requested by Lord Vishnu. Frustrated, Lord then picked up a lotus and proclaimed that his temple would be built wherever the lotus fell. The drops of nectar fell in Rajim, exactly where the famous Rajiv Lochan temple stands, while the five petals became part of what is known as Panchakoshi Dham - Kuleshwar, Fingeshwar, Kopeshwar, Patneshwar and Pateshwar.

Jagannath Temple:

Jagannath Temple is situated near northern entrance of Rajiv Lochan temple. There is a tradition that people belonged to various castes ate together without any difference similar to Jagannath Temple. Once, Lord Rajiv Lochan appeared in a dream of a priest and asked him to discontinue this service, as the pilgrims are not at all going to Puri Jagannath Temple as their wishes were getting fulfilled here. Since then tradition of eating together without differences was discontinued.

Temple built in single day:

As per local folklore, Jagat Pal, a mythical king, is supposed to have built this temple in a single day. His idol, resembling like sitting Buddha, is housed in one of the sanctums of the temple.

Lord Vishwakarma established the Shrine:

It is believed that the shrine was established by the celestial architect, Lord Vishwakarma, who sculpted the four-armed Lord Vishnu with his consort Lakshmi on the right side and Yoga Maya on the left. Further, between a pair of arms, he carved the episodic Gajendra Moksha with the elephant holding aloft the lotus flower, offering it to the Lord.

Kamalkshetra:

Rajim is believed to stand on a lotus-shaped surface was referred to as Kamalkshetra and Padampur in ancient times.

Prayaga of Chattisgarh:

Rajim is probably the holiest place in Chattisgarh as it is situated at the eastern bank of Mahanadi  river, just below its junction with Pairi and Sondhur rivers. Due to its location, on the junction of three rivers, it is often classified as Prayaga (Allahabad) of this region, Chattisgarh.

Mahanadi equivalent to Ganga:

Mahanadi enjoys the same status as that of Ganga in Chattisgarh hence taking bath and performing rituals at the bank Mahanadi is considered very sacred.

Rajim Mahatmya:

Rajim Mahatmya mentions that Mahanadi is known as Chitrotpala below its junction with Pairi and Utpalesvara before the junction.

Journey to Jagannath Temple:

It is believed that journey to Jagannath Temple of Orissa is not complete without a visit to Rajim.