Let’s Know the Legends Related to Sakhigopal and Radha Pada Darshan

Sakhigopal: Thousands of devotees have reached the Satyabadi Gopinath temple in Sakhigopal today to have the coveted ‘Radha Pada Darshan’ on the auspicious day of Amla Navami. Interesting legends are attached to the deities of the temple as well as the annual Radha Pada Darshan ritual conducted at this temple. As Odias we should be proud of these legends that also depict our cultural heritage and belief. Let us rekindle the memory of these popular legends related to this famous temple.

Folklore:

A popular Odia folktale related to the deity of this temple has survived for centuries. This folktale describes why Lord Krishna is worshipped as Satyabadi Gopinath or Sakhigopal at this place. As per it, long back a poor young man had fallen in love with the daughter of a village head. The youth had accompanied the village head during his pilgrimage to Vrindavan. When the headman fell ill in Vrindavan, he was abandoned by fellow pilgrims. The youngster from his village served him till became healthy. In gratitude, the headman promised to get his daughter married to the youth.

Truth incarnate:

But when the headman returned back to his village, he preferred to intentionally forget about his promise. He denied that he had ever promised to get his daughter married to him. He asked the youth to produce a witness in support of his claim. But there were no witnesses for the promise made in Vrindavan. The poor youth felt Sri Krishna, the lord of Vrindavan was the invisible witness of the promise made by the village head. He started praying to Lord Krishna.

Impressed by his earnest faith and devotion, Lord Gopala of Vrindavan appeared before him and promised to accompany him to become his witness. But there was a condition attached. The Lord of Vrindavan would follow the youth to his village, but the young man should never look back to ascertain the lord’s presence. Just outside his village, the youth had to cross a sandy stretch. The young man failed to hear the lord’s footsteps. Instinctively he turned back to ascertain whether Sri Krishna was with him or not.

Immediately the Lord turned into a statue of stone rooted to the spot. It is believed that the statue of Lord Gopala is still worshipped there as Sakhigopinath or the Gopinath, who came down to become a witness.

Pada Darshan:

It is believed that ashtasakhi (eight female friends) of Sri Krishna had once asked him, why he was more attached to Radha than them. Sri Krishna did not answer them immediately. Once teh vaidya treating ailing Sri Krishna prescribed that he can be cured by consuming dust from the feet of his ashtasakhi. Due to various reasons, none of ashtasakhi agreed to allow Lord Krishna swallow the dust from their feet. But Radha was only worried about the health of her beloved. Forgetting all mental blockades she immediately handed over dust from her feet. Radha Pada Darshan makes us remember this eternal love of Radha and Krishna.

Real History:  

As per historians, the Gopinath idol worshipped in Sakhigopal temple was brought here from Kanchi by Gajapati Purushottam Dev. This idol was earlier worshipped by the King of Kanchi, Salva Narasimha Dev. After defeating the Kanchi king in battle, Purushotatm Dev brought the deity to Odisha as a mark of victory.