Erasama: Ibrisingh village of Tirtol block in Jagatsinghpur district has its presiding deity Maa Uttareshwari. This shrine is famous for two things: One, ‘magical cure’ of children suffering from epilepsy; and two, offering of brandy as prasad.
Devotees believe that epileptic children get blessed and cured after their mothers roll the kids down on the shrine premises. It is also famous for another age-old — unique as well — tradition that Maa accepts brandy from her devotees. True to that belief, the devout coming from far and near offer brandy as prasad.
Ask locals about any miraculous incident regarding the Goddess. They have so many legends and Maa’s miracles to tell.
A legend has it, a Brahmin named Janardan Pani used to live at Paika Sahi of Ibrisingh during the time of jamindari of Kanungo Krupasindhu. He earned his livelihood by begging. As communication facility was poor at that time, he used to go out for begging only during summer. Goda, Gadaharisapur and Marichapur of Balikuda block were among the villages he frequented during the four summer months. It was his usual practice to spread a piece of cloth and enjoy his siesta under a tree after having some food offered to him.
One day when he was enjoying the nap under a tree a fairy woman appeared in his dream and expressed her wish to go with Janardan.
As he himself would often go without food, her wish put him in a quandary. A worried Janardan walked straight to his home. The invisible fairy that identified herself as Maa was following him, with the tinkling sound of anklets falling on his ears.
When they reached Siha village of Erasama block, it was already dark. They spent the night there. During their stay, Janardan narrated the incident to the villagers who were deeply moved by the narration and established Uttareshwari shrine.
Janardan resumed his journey for Orali where Maa’s shrine was also set up. When he reached his village, the local Jamindar heard all about Maa Uttareshwari and expressed his desire to worship Maa.
Sculptors carved out Maa’s idol as per the description given by Janardan. Initially, Maa’s idol was put up in a thatched house. After the house got damaged in 1967 cyclone, Braja Kishore Kanungo, one of the Jamindar’s family members, got the temple constructed which exists till today.
Following Maa’s direction in dream, fruits in the morning and non-boiled rice and fish curry at noon and night are offered as ‘prasad’ to Maa. Later, along with non-veg food, somras (beverage prepared from grapes) used to be offered. Now, somras has given way to brandy.
PNN
