Puri: The mysticism and miracles surrounding the Trinity are not limited to Puri Srimandir alone but are shared elsewhere also when the Lord and His siblings had to leave the temple during foreign attacks for 18 times and enacted their Patali Leela (a period of hibernation).
The Trinity twice concealed themselves (Patali Leela) or remained in hibernation from devotees by getting buried under hilly caves and had enacted their Gopanaleela (miracle) for 20 times during the period. During Nabakalebara, the Lord’s Patali Leela is performed in Koili Baikuntha at Srimandir when the servitors bury the old idols and replace them with newer idols on Ratnasinghasan.
During Raktabahu’s attack on Srimandir, servitors secretly carried away the idols in wooden carts to Dobandha Pentha bank of the river Bhargavi from where they were taken in a boat across the Kuakhai to reach Gopalli village in Sonepur (currently Subarnapur).
They arrived at Goghat of the Mahanadi and were taken to Gopalli. The servitors took the deities to the foothills of Chhalia in Baghapalli village and placed them on an altar (Sudhalipta Mandap) inside a hilly cave.
The deities remained underground for 45 years and all his rituals were conducted secretly away from the eyes of the locals so as to keep them safe from invaders. The Baghapalli village draws its name as the place was once inhabited by tigers.
The village has no more tigers now but Dumals (milkmen) are now residing in the village. The altar Sudhalipta Mandap where the deities were worshiped has remained intact.
The Trinity returned to Srimandir but again buried themselves in the Chhalia hill for 99 years taking the total period of his Patali Leela to 144 years. The Trinity, however, returned to Srimandir after King Jajati Keshari and Adi Sankaracharaya intervened.
He remained in temple for 750 years until Kalapahada, the Yavana (Non-Hindu) military commander attacked the Srimandir. During the attack the, Trinity had to escape through river Bhargavi and reached Chlika where they were buried under sand in Hatipada village in 1568.
But, this time the hibernation was for a short period after Bhedua Danapatra Pahantasingh informed the whereabouts of the Lord to Kalapahada.
Legend has it that Kalapahada attacked Hatipada village and killed all the Paikas in the village following which the blue waters of Chilika lake turned red with the blood of warriors. Kalapahada carried the Trinity on elephant back to bank of the river Ganga and ordered his generals to burn the idols on the banks.
This was perhaps wished by the Trinity to give their darshan to goddess Ganga. While moving from Srikhetra to Chilika and from Chilika to river Ganga, an ardent devotee Bishar Mohanty closely followed the Lord, away from the prying eyes of all. This was perhaps wished by the Lord himself as none could have any inkling about Mohanty till their arrival on the banks of river Ganga.
Later, Mohanty carried the Bramhas to Puri. Later, Gajapati Ramachandra Deb retrieved the Bramha from Mohanty at Kujanga and reinstalled these in the deities at the Ratna Mandap.