Stories of Odisha: The First Martyr

 

The Background

Jayi Krushna Mohapatra was born in 1739 to Haramani Devi and Chandrashekar Rajguru. He was born in Biraharekrushnapur, a village near Puri and was educated at the Emaramath and Gobardha Peetha at Puri. Upon coming of age, he journeyed to Kasi (Patna) to debate with the scholars there. From there, he went to Benaras (Varanasi) to learn from a Tantrasadhak. Finally returning to Khurda, he immersed himself in social work.

The king in those days was Birakeshari Dev I. In 1760, the Gajapati of Paralakhemundi, Jagannath Narayan Dev invaded Khurda. To repel his armies, the king of Khurda sought the help of the Marathas. Alas, the price of this help was to give up the prosperous paraganas (districts) of Lembai, Sirai, Rahanga and Chabiskud to the Marathas. The loss of these lands weakened the economy of Khurda and drove the king mad.

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