Religion, faith, culture… all these elements of society have been created by humans. It not only guides us to a spiritual path but also gives us hope in the most desperate times. When medicine & science fail, we are asked to pray to a guiding force, the gods, by doctors too. No matter how cynical our thoughts are, no matter how artificial our lifestyle is, our beliefs make everything possible. That is the story of Marichi Kund, the wishing well of Ekamra Kshetra.
The temple city houses many stories in itself. Each element in its periphery takes you back to a whole new world & gives you a new perspective to look at the world. One such story is associated with the holy Marichi Kund. Situated inside the Mukteshwar Temple complex, the water from this Kund is considered auspicious with divine abilities.
Water from this Kund is used for washing the chariot of God Lingaraj during Rukuna Ratha Jatra. There’s also a folktale which claims that this water has miraculous properties of curing infertility in women. A day before Rukuna Ratha Jatra, the water from this Kund is auctioned on Netra Utsav. There are a number of underground streams passing through the Old Town touching roots of various medicinal trees in these areas. This way the water of many tanks in the Old Town area is believed to have medicinal values.
The Kund is named after Rishi Marichi, mind-born son (Manasa Putra) of God Brahma. He is one of the Saptarishis & also the grandfather of all Suras/Devas & Asuras. It is also believed that he is a form of God Vishnu. Shri Krishna in the Srimad Bhagavad-Gita says,
आदित्यानामहं विष्णुर्ज्योतिषां रविरंशुमान्।
मरीचिर्मरुतामस्मि नक्षत्राणामहं शशी।।10.21।।
(Meaning: Of Adityas I am Visnu, of luminous bodies I am the radiant sun. Of the Maruts I am Marichi, and among the constellations, I am the moon.)
Did you know the story behind this miraculous Kund? Let us know in the comment section below.
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