Post # 111
Manikapatna and a tale of the royal sweeper!
Manikapatna is a small village in coastal Odisha, about 44 km away from Puri, on the northern shores of Chilika Lake. It hosts a Shiva temple - the Bhabakundalesvara Temple. It also has archaeological significance as many artifacts have been found here, alluding to trade with ancient Rome, China, Ceylon, Burma and Arabian countries. However, it is best known for being named after a milk-maid called Manika, who was gifted this village by none other than the Gajapati King - Purushottam Dev. Therein lies a tale of tradition, love and devotion, worth knowing and sharing.
Bira Pratapa Purushottama Deva was a Gajapati king of Odisha who ruled from 1467 to 1497 C.E. At that time, the Vijayanagara Empire, the Bahamani kingdom and the Gajapatis vied with each other for regional supremacy in medieval South India. During his reign, the Gajapati kingdom was a force to reckon with. His kingdom extended in the South to Rajamundry, Guntur and Udaigiri forts in Nellore - modern day Andhra Pradesh, and parts of Bengal in the north.
Lore has it that in one of his expeditions down south, he met and fell in love with the princess of Kanchi - Padmavati. What happens next has been compiled as Kanchi-Kaveri Upakhyana and has been immortalized in the Lord Jagannath tradition.
So, Purushottam Dev falls in love with Padmavati. So does Princess Padmavati. Marriage alliances are discussed and both parties are in agreement. A senior minister from Kanchi formally comes to Puri to present the alliance request to the royal assembly of Gajapatis. It is accepted and the minister is requested to stay back a few days, as a guest of the state, to witness the much famed Ratha Yatra that is going to commence shortly.
But on the day of Ratha Yatra, the minister of Kanchi is shocked to see Purushottam Dev, with a broom in his hands, sweeping the chariots, in front of the throng of his citizen. He has just witnessed the traditional act of Chera Panhara, which was instituted by Purushottam Dev himself, a few years back, but has failed to grasp its significance. It is simply unacceptable to him that the future son-in-law of his land would behave like a common sweeper.
The minister rushes back to Kanchi in a huff, reports to his equally shocked king and the marriage proposal is withdrawn. Aghast at this turn of events, Purushottam Dev sends his senior minister to Kanchi to explain the significance of the tradition. The minister explains that Purushottam Dev is addressed as a Routaray. Rout means a servant. Routaray is a royal servant. The act of sweeping the divine chariot means that the king is but a servant of God and through him, his people.
The King of Kanchi is not convinced. The humiliated minister returns to Puri. Purushottam Dev considers this an insult not just to him, but to the people of his kingdom and most importantly, to his Lord. He attacks the kingdom of Kanchi in retaliation. But he loses the battle. His army is vanquished.
Dejected, he comes back to Puri, locks himself in the Jaganath Temple for days, and prays to his Lord to help him and guide him. One day, Lord Jagannath comes in his dream and instructs him to launch a fresh battle. This time, victory will be his.
Rejuvenated, Purushottam Dev plans a fresh campaign and sets out for Kanchi again. This fresh venture is called Kanchi Abhijyan.
On the way, a little distance from Puri, he meets a milk-maid, who tells him that two young boys - one dark skinned and the other, light skinned, passed by some time back, ate all her curd and told her the king himself would pay on their behalf, if she showed the king the ring that they gave her as deposit.
Purushottam Dev took one glance at the ring and recognized it as Lord Jagannath's. His heart soared. If Lord Jagannath and his brother Balaram were joining him in battle, victory was surely his. Delighted, he gifted the village to the milk-maid. Her name was Manika. So thenceforth, the village was called Manikapatna.
This time, Purushottam Dev wins the battle and the King of Kanchi is captured. As punishment, Purushottam Dev proclaims that Padmavati will marry a sweeper! She is brought back to Puri and entrusted to the senior minister's custody, with the dictum that he has to select a sweeper worthy of Padmavati to wed. With a heavy heart, the minister begins his search.
Time flies. The year goes round. It time for the annual Ratha Yatra again. It's time for Chera Panhara again. And lo! The wise minister has found the perfect sweeper-bridegroom for Padmavati.
He quickly summons Princess Padmavati and asks her to garland the king. She obliges. The wise minister explains to the shocked Purushottam Dev that he is the most eligible sweeper in the kingdom.
Purushottam marries Padmavati and the lore joins the pantheon of Indian stories glorifying love, devotion, duty and tradition. There is a beautiful Amar Chitra Katha recounting this story.