Mahavinyaka 1908
Mahavinyaka
This article has been extracted from THE IMPERIAL GAZETTEER OF INDIA , 1908. OXFORD, AT THE CLARENDON PRESS. |
Note: National, provincial and district boundaries have changed considerably since 1908. Typically, old states, ‘divisions’ and districts have been broken into smaller units, and many tahsils upgraded to districts. Some units have since been renamed. Therefore, this article is being posted mainly for its historical value.
Sacred peak of the Barunlbunta hills in the Jajpur subdivision of Cuttack District, Bengal, situated in 20° 42' N. and 86° 6' E., and visible from Cuttack city. It has been consecrated during ages to Siva worship by ascetics and pilgrims who penetrated the surrounding jungles, braving the wild Savaras and other forest tribes. The Vaishnavas, in later times, have built a monastery on the northern slope of the hill. A massive piece of rock, 12 feet in circum- ference, still bears the name of Mahavinyaka, the great Ganesh or Vinayaka, from its resemblance to the elephant-headed god. The right face of the rock is considered to be his fatlier Siva ; the left face has a knot over it, fancied to represent the bound-up tresses of his mother, Gaurl or Parvatl. The rock is accordingly worshipped as the union of Siva, GaurT, and Ganesh. A waterfall 30 feet higher up supplies the temple and its pilgrims. On the south side of the hill are the ruins of a fort known as Teligarh ; the walls and inner rooms are of laterite and the doorways of gneiss.
