A Trip To Keunjhar- Place of Nature💕💐#Keonjhar #OdishaTourism #Sanaghagara #ExploreOdisha

The Kanchi War Expedition (15th Century) ​The origin of Maa Tarini’s worship in Keonjhar traces back to around 1475–1480 CE, during the reign of Gajapati King Purushottama Deva of Kalinga (Puri). ​According to legend, King Purushottama Deva sought to marry Princess Padmavati, daughter of the King of Kanchi. However, when the minister of Kanchi visited Puri during the annual Rath Yatra, he saw the Gajapati king performing Chhera Pahanra (the humble act of sweeping the chariot floors before Lord Jagannath). Deeming him a "sweeper king" (Chandal Raja), the King of Kanchi called off the wedding alliance. ​Deeply insulted, King Purushottama Deva launched a military campaign against Kanchi but was initially defeated. Seeking divine help, he prayed to Lord Jagannath, who directed him to appoint Sri Govinda Bhanjadeva, the prince of the Keonjhar royal Bhanja dynasty, as his Senapati (commander-in-chief). Under Govinda Bhanja’s leadership, the second expedition proved victorious. ​Journey from Kanchi to Keonjhar ​During the return campaign, deities and idols were brought back to Odisha. Prince Govinda Bhanjadeva, having developed deep devotion to the Shakti deity Maa Tarini, requested permission from King Purushottama Deva to escort the goddess to his homeland in Keonjhar. ​Maa Tarini granted his prayer on one strict condition: ​The Condition: The Goddess agreed to ride on horseback behind him toward Keonjhar, as long as Govinda Bhanja rode ahead and did not look back under any circumstances. She assured him he would know she was following by the sound of her horse’s hooves and jingling anklets/ornaments. ​The Halting at Ghatgaon ​Govinda Bhanja guided the journey northward towards Keonjhar. After crossing the Baitarani River and entering the dense sal forests of Ghatgaon, the sound of the galloping horse suddenly went silent because the ground was soft and muddy. ​Fearing that the Goddess had stopped or vanished, Govinda Bhanja could not resist checking and turned around to look behind him. By breaching the sacred condition, Maa Tarini instantly ceased her journey and manifested as a sacred stone. ​Despite Govinda Bhanja’s remorseful prayers, Maa Tarini declared that she would make this forest her eternal abode as the protector of the wild, directing him to worship her right there. Govinda Bhanja formally consecrated the shrine in Ghatgaon, laying the foundation for what would become one of the most revered Shakti peeths in the region. #Keonjhar #OdishaTourism #Sanaghagara #ExploreOdisha #WaterfallVlog #IncredibleIndia #TravelVlog #KeonjharDiaries #NatureTravel