Sakhigopal is a Hindu temple in Puri Odisha, the main deity is Bhagwan Shri Krishna. Sakhi (also called Sakshi) (witness) Gopal mandir is not to be missed when you visit Puri Jagannath temple. The temple is just 20 kilometers away from Puri on the Puri-Bhubaneswar highway. Darshan of beautiful Bhagwan Shri Krishna and Devi Radha in standing posture looks very enchanting. The temple is built in the style of the Jagannath temple.
Bhagwan Krishna’s idol here is made up of a rare kind of imperishable stone called Braja.
Pouranik Katha:
The name Sakhi Gopal is derived from the Poranik Katha that Bhagwan Krishna had come as a witness to testify in favor of the marriage of a young devotee in a love affair, which was being questioned.
According to the story, a poor youth of the village, who fell in love with the daughter of the village headman. However, being of high economic status, the chief opposed the marriage between this young man and his daughter. The villagers including the chief and the youth had gone on a journey to Kashi. The village headman fell ill and was abandoned by fellow villagers. The young man tended to him so well that he soon got well and, in gratitude, promised his daughter in marriage to the young man. As soon as they returned to the village, the headman went back on his promise, asking the young man to produce a witness in support of his claim.
Bhagwan Gopal, impressed by the young man's devotion, agreed to testify by promising on one condition: that the young man should lead and he should follow, but the young man should never look back. He took his way to the village, passing through a dune of sand. As they passed, the man could not hear the footsteps of the god and turned back. Immediately Bhagwan turned into a stone idol inlaid on the spot. The villagers were very impressed that the Prabhu himself supported the young man's claim that the youths were then married off; He was later appointed as the first priest of a temple built in honor of Bhagwan Gopal, who came as a Sakshi (known as Sakshi in Sanskrit).
Prasad: At the Sakhigopal temple instead of rice, Prasad is prepared with wheat. This is one of the exceptional things in Vishnu temples all over the world.
Festival: Anla Navami(Amla Navami) is the prime festival, Radha Pada Darshan festival is also held on the same day. Thousands of devotees visit the temple for the annual Radha Pada darshan in the month of Kartik.
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