Sakshigopal Temple is a medieval temple dedicated to Lord Krishna also known as Gopal. This temple is situated in the town of Sakshigopal on the Puri-Bhubaneshwar highway in Odisha India. The architecture of this temple is done in the Kallinga style.
The story of this temple is related to two brahimins. The younger one was poor but fell in love with the daughter of the second brahimin who was the village headman. Due to higher economic status the headman opposed the marriage. Once the villagers went on a pilgrimage to Kashi including the headman and the young man where the headman fell ill and was abandoned by fellow villagers. The young man served and took care of him so well that he soon got well and finally they reached Vrindavana. Pleased with the service of the young man, the headman in gratitude promised his daughter’s marriage with him. But the headman went back on his promise asking the young man to produce a witness in support of his claim.
Young man returned to Vrindavana and asked Lord Gopal for help. Pleased by the young man's devotion lord agreed to come and bear witness to the promise on condition that he would follow the path the young man lead but the young man should never look back. The young man started leading the Lord but near the village they passed through the dune of sand, where the young man could not hear the Lord's footsteps and turned back. As the young man turned the Lord turned into a stone statue immediately. The villagers along with the headman were however so impressed that Lord himself came to back the young man's claim. The young man got married to headman’s daughter and appointed as the first priests of the temple built in honor of Lord Gopal. Witness in Sanskrit means Sakshi and Lord Gopal himself came to bear witness, due to this fact this place famously known as Sakshigopal or “The Witness Gopal".
The Temple is famous for celebrating the annual Amla Navami Festival. Amla means Gooseberry and Navami means Ninth day in a lunar cycle. This festival is related with the practice of touching of Radha's feet the mythological lover of Lord Krishna .As per legend originally the temple was without a statue of Radha. But when a girl named Lakshmi claimed to be the incarnation of Radha a statue from northern India was brought and installed here as it is believed that Lord Krishna should not be without his true love Radha. The statue was adorned originally with Ghagra and Choli but when the statue was attired with the traditional Sari of Odisha, the feet of the statue were visible which was taken as holy sign by the priests. From that day the festival of Amla Navami started and devotees are allowed to touch the Goddess's feet inside the temple. The food offerings at Sakshigopal temple are made of wheat instead of rice is one of exceptional fact among the Vishnu temples all over the world.
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| Sakshigopal Temple of Puri India |
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| Lord Gopal with Radha |
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