Chhatia Bata Temple – Harbinger of Satya Yuga

Chhatia Bata is a unique temple located in the village of Chhatia, midway between the towns of Jajpur and Cuttak.  On the face of it, it is a regular temple dedicated to Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra. We know there are such temples everywhere in Odisha and wherever Odia people live.

What makes it unique is the sequence in which three Murtis are placed. At the Jagannath Temple in Puri, Devi Subhadra is placed between her brothers Jagannath and Baladeva. This is usually the sequence most temples follow.

However, at the Chhatia Bata temple, the order is Jagannath, Balbhadra and Subhadra. Did you notice that this is how we take their names when we speak? Yes, so in a way this temple follows an oral tradition, literally giving shape to how we address the three. In modern parlance, it is the case of – What you say is what you see!

Philosophically, it signifies a new world order.

Kalki Avatar

Chhatia Bata is also a futuristic temple as it is dedicated to the Kalki Avatar of Vishnu. This tenth avatar of Vishnu as we know is yet to take place, but in India where time is always cyclic for us, we have temples like this reminding us of him.

Legends of Chhatia Bata Temple

Sant Achyutananda or some say Hadi Das wrote –  Jiba Jagata Hoieba Lina – Baishi Pahache Kheliba Mina. It literally means All the living beings will vanish one day, on the 22 steps of the Jagannath temple at Puri, the fish will play.

This refers to Pralaya or floods that come at the end of the creation cycle, engulfing every living and non-living entity. It further says that Chhaitia only will stay above the water.

When the injustice in the world reaches unbearable levels, Vishnu will take the avatar of Kalki holding his long sword called Nandaka and riding his horse. He will bring order to the world and bring back the Satya Yuga or the age of righteousness.

And, all this will start from Chhatia Bata temple.

Bata & Sant Hadi Das

Bata or Vata is the Banyan Tree, which is considered sacred in India. Sure enough, this temple is home to an old Vata Vriksha or Banyan Tree. In fact, it is so integral to this temple that it is a part of the temple name.

This temple is also the Sadhna Peetha of Mahapurusha Hadi Das, who lived from 1772 – 1830 CE.  This temple is where he did his meditation or Sadhna. It is also his Samadhi Peetha where he continues to live after leaving his mortal body. He was believed to be an…