I had long cherished a deep wish to visit the revered temple of Chhatia Bata Jagannath, where the mysteries of divinity and prophecy intertwine. Ever eager to uncover more about this sacred site, my heart yearned for darshan, and recently, by divine grace, my prayers were fulfilled.
My fascination with the Kalki avatar began when I first encountered the verses of Kavi Jayadev’s Gita Govinda. In these verses, he foretells the arrival of Kalki, the tenth and final incarnation of Lord Krishna, destined to manifest in the future. Even as a child, this prophecy sparked my curiosity, leaving me eager to understand the mysteries of this promised saviour. Later, under the guidance of my Guru, I learned to dance the Dasavatar Stotram. Each movement was a prayer, and every gesture held the spirit of the ten divine incarnations. When showing Kalki, the avatar who will one day ride forth on a horse, sword gleaming, to restore dharma in an age of darkness, I felt a surge of energy and awe. Goosebumps would arise as I portrayed this yet-to-come saviour, feeling the pulse of divine resolve to protect and uplift. Through this sacred dance, the timeless promise of Kalki echoed powerfully within me, stirring a deep reverence that transcended words. When I discovered that Sri Jagannath is venerated in the form of Kalki at Chhatia Bata, my desire to visit this temple only grew stronger. This sacred place, where the past, present, and future meet in devotion, called to me.
Nestled in the historic lands of Jajpur district in Odisha, Chhatia Bata stands as a unique confluence of faith, prophecy, and the divine mystique surrounding the future avatar of Lord Vishnu, known as Kalki. This temple, with its distinct traditions and symbolism, captivates pilgrims and spiritual seekers alike.
The temple of Chhatia Bata is deeply intertwined with the life and teachings of Mahapurusha Saint Hadi Das, a revered sage and the prophetic author of the Malika. The Malika is no ordinary text; it is an enigmatic work filled with predictions of the world’s future, hinting at the decline of Kaliyuga and the eventual arrival of Lord Vishnu’s Kalki Avatar. According to the Malika, this sacred event will bring forth a great purification when Kalki, mounted upon a divine steed and wielding his celestial sword Nandaka, will restore order and dharma to the world. Hadi Das foresaw that Chhatia would be the last standing temple after the world’s upheavals, sheltering devotees and serving as a sanctuary of divine presence when the tides of cosmic dissolution rise.
Chhatia Bata’s central temple is dedicated to Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra, and Devi Subhadra. Here, the deities are placed in an unusual sequence—Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra—breaking from the tradition seen in the Jagannath Temple at Puri, where Devi Subhadra sits between her two brothers. This seemingly small shift in positioning carries deeper philosophical meaning, suggesting a new cosmic order that aligns with the prophecies of Chhatia as the stage for Kalki’s arrival. The arrangement also echoes the way devotees verbally invoke the Lords’ names, creating a bridge between spoken devotion and physical reality.
Unlike most temples, which are dedicated to past or present deities, Chhatia Bata is, in a way, a sanctuary for the future, embodying a spiritual anticipation of events yet to unfold. The temple’s architecture hints at this with figures of Kalki riding his divine horse, displayed prominently atop the fortified walls, a constant reminder of the avatar yet to come.
Hadi Das, who is believed to be an incarnation of Sant Achyutananda, conveyed timeless truths through his writings. In one of his famous lines, he prophesied, "Jiba Jagata Hoieba Lina – Baishi Pahache Kheliba Mina," foretelling a time when all creation would be submerged, and fish would play upon the steps of the Puri temple. In this vision, Chhatia alone stands untouched, emerging as the final refuge for the faithful. This message has resonated deeply with devotees, some of whom see it as a warning of future floods that may engulf Puri, leaving Chhatia as the sacred ground where Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra would eventually reside.
A grand banyan tree, or bata, is central to Chhatia’s identity. Revered as sacred in India, this banyan tree not only lends its name to the temple but is believed to hold the soul of the temple within its ancient, twisting branches. The tree is entwined with the legacy of Hadi Das, who meditated beneath its canopy and entered samadhi here. The tree thus serves as both a symbol of endurance and a connection to Hadi Das’s spiritual energy, ever-present at Chhatia Bata, guiding pilgrims through his wisdom.
Entering Chhatia Bata is like stepping into a sacred fortress. Tall, resilient walls enclose the temple grounds, suggesting the enduring protection and anticipation of Lord Jagannath’s eventual residence here. As one passes through the main entry, greeted by a striking mural of Devi surrounded by divine beings and demons, a rich tapestry of mythology comes to life. Inside, the temple complex features numerous shrines, each dedicated to deities like Ma Kali, Yama (the rarely-seen deity of death), and Ganesha, each bearing intricate artwork that vividly captures Odisha’s traditional artistry.
The main shrine of Chhatia Bata, considered the second Srikshetra, follows the ritual and spiritual order of Puri’s Jagannath temple. In an intriguing twist, the murtis of Jagannath, Balabhadra, and Subhadra do not face directly outward; instead, they are slightly turned, inviting pilgrims to view them from unique angles. Lord Balabhadra’s shrine, in particular, has a mirror positioned before it, allowing devotees to see his face by standing behind him, a symbolic act of reflection. The Lords sit on horses, their feet distinctly visible on either side of the horse, holding swords in their hands, a direct connection to their anticipated transformation into warrior deities at the time of the Kalki avatar, with the blades said to lengthen over time.
At Chhatia Bata, construction and renovation are ongoing year-round— a timeless legacy of eternal preparation — a unique preparation that embodies the faith in Kalki’s arrival. Workers continue these efforts ceaselessly, maintaining the temple’s resilience and splendour as if in a perpetual state of readiness. For the people of Odisha, Chhatia Bata is more than a shrine; it is a sacred site that transcends time, awaiting the day when Lord Jagannath and his siblings will journey from Puri to reside here.
No pilgrimage to Chhatia Bata is complete without savouring the famed Chhatia Peda, a sweet treat prepared as an offering to the Lord. These pedas are distinctively stamped with decorative punch marks. Vendors, stationed outside the temple, offer these sweet confections in generous portions, each peda carrying the sacred essence of Chhatia to devotees who bring them back to loved ones.
Chhatia Bata is not merely a place of worship; it is a witness to enduring faith, an anchor in the uncertain flow of time. For believers, it embodies the promise of divine order and cosmic balance. As the world moves forward, Chhatia Bata stands still, awaiting the prophesied dawn of a new age.
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