Sakshi Gopal

It is said that the pilgrimage to Puri is not complete unless Sakshi-gopala is visited.

This temple is located in a town named Sakshi-gopala, 20 km from Jagannatha Puri, on the Puri-Bhubaneshwar highway. This town is near Sakshi-gopala railway station. The temple looks like a miniature version of the Puri Jagannatha temple.

The Deity of Gopala here had originally been installed by King Vajra, the grandson of Lord Krishna in Vrindavana long ago. Later the Deity walked all the way from Vrindavana to a place called Vidyanagara in Odisha to end a dispute between two brahmanas by being a witness. Thus, the Deity here came to be known as Sakshi Gopala. Sakshi means witness. There is a story about this temple:

There were two brahmanas, one old and the other young, in a place called Vidyanagar in Odisha. Old Brahman was a rich person and the young boy was from a poor family. Once they went to visit Vrindavana on a pilgrimage. The young brahman assisted the elderly brahmana during their travel. After visiting many holy places, they finally reached Vrindavana. The old man was very much pleased with the service of the young man. They had darshan of Shri Gopala Krishna.

In front of the Deity, the old man said to the young boy that he would give his daughter to him as a reward for his help. But the young boy said that it was his duty to serve the old Brahman who was just like his own father. But the old man insisted and promised to give his young daughter to him in marriage.

After returning home from Vrindavan, the old man informed his eldest son about having selected the poor Brahman youth as the husband for his sister. But when his son and wife strongly objected to this proposal, he became perplexed. After some time, the young Brahman came to the old man and reminded him of his promise before the Lord. The rich Brahman’s son came out and shouted at the youth, accusing him of taking advantage of his father for the help in the pilgrimage.

Now it was obvious to the young man that the old man was facing opposition from his family. He explained to all the people who had gathered there about the old man’s promise before the Deity. Then the eldest son said that he would agree for the marriage if the Lord came and gave witness to the promise of his father.

The young man, who was confident of the Lord’s help, accepted the challenge and went to Vrindavana and prayed to Gopala Krishna to come with him.

Suddenly the Deity spoke to him: “How do you think that I can go with you? I am a statue. I can’t go anywhere.”

“Well, if a statue can speak, he can also walk,” the boy replied.

Finally, the Deity agreed to go with him on the condition that the youth should not look back while the Deity follows him. The Deity also told him, “You will know that I am following by the jingle of my anklets.”

The young man agreed, and they began their journey. Finally, when they reached the border of his village, he could no longer hear the sound of the anklets. He looked back with anxiety, and the Deity stood still without moving further. The young man then ran into the village and informed the people about Krishna’s arrival as the witness. Astonished by this uncommon gesture of the Lord, they built a temple on the spot for the Deity of Lord Krishna who came to be known as Sakshi-gopala.

King Vajra (the grandson of Lord Krishna) had 16 deities of Krishna and other gods carved from a rare, imperishable stone called Braja and built temples to house these deities in and around Mathura so as to feel the presence of Lord Krishna. Out of 16 deities, two were Gopals – one as Sri Madana Mohana, who is now housed at Karoli Rajasthan, and the other Sakshi Gopala, who is now moved to the town of Sakshi Gopal, near Puri in Odisha.