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The Chilika lake is the largest brakish water lagoonin the continent. The panoramic view of the Chilikaand the landscape makes the spectator spell-bound. The scenic splendor and brazen skymakes a man poet. The sunset is quite worthenjoying with the mountains and the sanguinebloodstained sky. The blue watered Chilika is abounty of nature. The poet Radhanath has writtena poetry on it "The Chilika".

Its Origin

As to the origin of this largest brakish waterlagoon, it is an extension of Mahanadi Delta.('Fauna of Chilika' - Zoological survey of India -1995). The other view suggests that the heaps ofsands gathered by the Tidal waves framed it to alagoon. The research scholars and the scientistssuggest this to be the origin of Chilika. In summer,Chilika is at about 905 square kilometres in areaand in rainy season, it is almost 1165 sq.kms.The salinity in summer varies from 1 to 27% andin monsoon it varies from .5 to 5%. Many riverslike the Salia and the Kushbadu meet Chilika. Themouth of Chilika merges with the Bay of Bengal.The confluence is the mouth where the Chilikamerges with the sea.

The Chilika is a holy place of pilgrimage(Tirtha). The reason is obvious. The sacred riversrun and meet Chilika. Second, it was by the lotus

feet of the mother goddess Kalijai (Kali). Duringthe Mohammedan aggression Lord Jagannath wasshifted to the lap of Chilika for safety and security.That is why Chilika is a holy shrine. Third, thehistorical Kanchi invasion during the rule of SriPurusottam Dev was made through this lake andthe legend now stands as the mute witness 'ManikPatna' and 'Dahikhia'. This is the living history ofOrissa's victory over Kanchi. The Chilika washed the lotus feet of Sri Jagannath and Balabhadrain the guise of chief generals of the Orissa army.For this Chilika itself is a holy place.

Nalaban (Birds' Sanctuary)

Nalaban is known as the shrine of birds.Birds from remote places like Siberia, Canada,America and Australia come in flocks to theChilika for food and shelter in winter. Govt. hasdeclared this area in Chilika as Birds' Sanctuary.Birds in lakhs come to Chilika during the beginningof October. Almost 221 varieties of birds are seenin winter. It is a natural habitat for the birds.

A new mouth has been opened recentlyby the Government of Orissa. The present surveyshows that the salinity is increasing day by day. Itmay stake the whole marine world of the lake.The life of the fish and fauna may be jeopardisedin the change of the living condition. The pollution,the drainage and the constant netting alongwith

Chilika and Legend ofGoddess Kalijai

Ramesh Nanda

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Orissa Review * January - 2009

the power driven boats have become a threat tothe animal world of the Chilika who are to beperished in the new living conditions.

Irrawardy Dolphins - Now, the irrawardyDolphins are the centre of attraction to the tourists.This particular variety of Dolphins are seen in theChilika. Chilika is their natural habitat.

The Pollution and Hazards

The ecological condition is fast changingand worsening day by day for prawn culture inthe heart of the Chilika. Though the Governmentof Orissa has banned prawn culture, the ecologicalbase and the living world of fauna and flora havebeen devanged. Many species in the water spaceare on the verge of extinction as the recent surveyhas pointed out. However, not with despondency,but with robust optimism the mission to saveChilika is never bleak. the past which is ebbingaway should be buried for a sanguine future.

The Island Called Parikud

Within the Chilika lake, the island is calledParikud. Parikud consists of 96 Mouzas. It is asum total of about 120 revenue villages and somehamlets. Parikud is confined to the block areaKrishna Prasad Panchayat Samiti. The entire landmass runs some 50 kilometres from Samantraypurto Jahaikuda and Mahinsa Brahmpur. It issorrounded by Chilika and the sea at the other.Parikud is a vast landmass with fertile cultivablelands.

Beforehand this area was under the kingof Bankad (now Banpur). The royal heritagestarted in Parikud from 1774. The defeated Rajaof Bankad Sri Harisevak Mansingh came toParikud and established his empire at Parikud,Gurubai. The capital was known as Nrusinghgarhat Gurubai. After that Raja Bhagirathi Mansinghshifted his capital to Krishnaprasad. There is alegend suggesting that a milkman who informed

the king about the crane killing an eagle, the kingwas fascinated to shift his capital to this place andthe capital was, named after 'Krishnaprasad'. Itwas during the period of Bhagirathi Mansingh whoerected the royal palace in the year 1798. Theking also donated a village for Brahmins (sasan)which is known as Bhagirathipur Sasan.

In the year 1803, British General Harcourtwas marching from Madras. In Madras wewitness the North Harcourt and the SouthHarcourt district. The Army General Harcourtwith his large troop started from Madras towardsKhurdha. As there was no communication toKhurdha, he marched on the seashore. They didnot know the way to Khurdha. The people ofthat time were patriots. They were not preparedto show them the way to Khurdha for their ill-intention. One person from Malud, FatehMohammad who was in charge of the ferry,agreed to show them the way with someconditions. Fateh was in charge of the ferry. Itwas near Kandakhai where Chilika was very muchdangerous General Harcourt agreed with Fatehwho made the condition and Fateh showed theway to Puri. In turn he was rewarded with a vaststretch of land from Malud to Sunamuhin. This isknown as the 'Namak Haram Jagir'. It is a sort ofJagir or gift in token of love for playing treacherywith the mother soil. This Namak Haram Jagirwas awarded by the British Government to FatehMohammad of Malud.

The area of Parikud and Malud was verymuch under-developed. But with the advent ofthe new time a road has been constructed fromHumma to Puri which is a very short route to Puri.Now in Parikudgarh at least 5 telephone towersare installed. Before the Government banned theprawn culture, people of Parikud at least earnedsomething handsome for their livelihood. Forviolence and unnecessary law and order situation,

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the Government of Orissa banned the prawnculture.

The population of Parikud is now at about1,20,000. The main occupation of this place isfarming and fishing. The fishermen community liveon fishing in Chilika and others are farmers. Forcatching prawn and cultivating it, the controversyhas started ending in firing. However theGovernment of Orissa has banned this and peaceis prevailing. The Mother Goddess Kalijai andChilika is under the Tehsil of Parikud (KrishnaPrasad Tehsil).

Due to the communication link and thespread of education Parikud has advanced at leastand no more a place for punishment.

The Kalijai

The Kalijai, the goddess on the mountainsorrounded by the vast stretch of blue wateredChilika lagoon is a scenic beauty and a holy shrine.

People from time immemorial areworshipping the deity. The faith in general is thatshe saves the life of the crew on the deck. She isthe centre of all hope, assistance and aspirationof the crew on the vast strtch of water where lifeis helpless. She is the symbol of symphony of life.This maritime expedition is only possible by thegrace of the deity.

The Mother Goddess, the Kalijai is thecentre of attraction. People in lakhs come to seethe holy place of 29 acres of mountain within theChilika lake. It is a unique spot in the state fortourism. Mother Goddess Kalijai is Kali, thesource and the first 'Mahavidya' of"Dasmahavidyas". According to a poem by PanditGodavarish Mishra, Jai - a girl was coming tomarry in Parikud. The boat was capsized in therough stormy water. She met her tragic death andbecame the deity Kalijai. It is the imagination of a

poet but there is no supporting fact or a legendcorroborating the whole state of affair. It is onlythe creative imagination of the writer. A girl,without fulfilment of her dreams, desire andambition can never be a deity or a Goddess. Itcan either be termed as a spirit or a spectre. Agirl of Banpur coming to marry at Parikudgarh, ifat all is true, we would have been able to tracethe exact nativity of the both, the bride and thebride-groom. Hence it is a fiction. Themetamorphosis of Jai to Kalijai is that is why nota tenable proposition. But the poetry is a uniquework of art. "The History of Parikud" (1930) byRadha Charan Panda states that Sri HarisevakMansingh, the king of Bankad (Banpur) came toParikud in the year 1779 after being defeated bythe Raja of Khurdha. His son Sri BhagirathiMansingh was attacked by the king of Khurdha.The king of Parikud surrendered in the lotus feetof the mother Kali. Dr. Panda has stated that thistemple was erected by Sri Jagannath Mansinghof the then king of Bankad in the year 1717. TheState of Parikud is also a part of Bankadgarh.

During that period, a large number ofFlamingos (a kind of bird 4'6" in height) alightedin the Chilika and marched forward. The army ofKhurdha presumed it to be a vast army deployedin the Chilika and fled away. The people opinedthat Kali made the king victorious (Jayi). So Shewas named Kalijai.

Makarmela is celebrated with great pompin the holy shrine of the Kalijai. This is the onlypopular festivity here. Lakhs of devotees flockhere for celebrating Makar Sankranti. The Rajaof Parikud worships the Mother Goddess as hissaviour. Let the Mother Goddess Kalijai blessus.

Ramesh Nanda lives at 403LB, Bhimatangi,Bhubaneswar-2